Emeril and E.J. Lagasse Share Their Thanksgiving Coin-Toss Custom (Unique)

For many households, deciding who cooks Thanksgiving dinner usually comes right down to a matter of volunteering. However for Emeril Lagasse and his son, E.J., the selection is set by one thing much more ceremonial: an annual coin toss.

“We flip a coin yearly. Heads, he cooks. Tails, I prepare dinner,” 22-year-old E.J. defined to PEOPLE completely through the Meals & Wine Traditional in Charleston. “Final yr, I did prepare dinner, after which he managed to take it over about 6:30 p.m., which was nice. So I had lots of assist and reverted to my function of sous chef with him.”

The ritual has change into such a cornerstone of their household holidays that even the toss itself has guidelines. “It’s a ceremony factor we do on a Sunday,” E.J. mentioned. “We’ll do it subsequent week or one thing and kind it out. Identical components, similar dishes — it’s simply who’s doing it.”

No matter who wins, the menu stays largely unchanged. Thanksgiving within the Lagasse family usually consists of turkey, ham and the return of a favourite: E.J.’s grandmother’s Portuguese-style stuffing with chorizo, peppers and French bread. “We’ll in all probability do the turkey and the ham and the entire thing,” he shared, including that the stuffing is sort of assured to make an look.

Emeril says the vacations are likely to observe custom — with a number of twists. “Household, a number of buddies. I am undecided but who’s cooking,” he mentioned. “We usually do the normal issues for Thanksgiving, then we often do some kind of theme.” 

Christmas Eve usually contains a seafood unfold “form of just like the Feast of Fishes,” whereas Christmas Day leans basic. “We may have a ham and we’ll have in all probability roast beef. That often satisfies the desk.”

Whereas vacation planning is underway, a lot of the father-son duo’s consideration is already on the yr forward, particularly as E.J. leads Emeril’s flagship restaurant in New Orleans — now with two Michelin stars underneath his path. For him, the following milestone is a giant one.

“The following massive one for us is the fortieth anniversary of Emeril’s,” E.J. revealed. “I bear in mind sitting there on the twenty fifth anniversary, the thirtieth anniversary, serious about the restaurant in 5 years and what we wish to attempt to accomplish. We’re developing on the thirty sixth anniversary now, so I’ll be very excited to see the place we’re on the 40-year mark.”

His father echoed that focus. “Proper now, the principle focus is Emeril’s,” he mentioned. “We’re simply attempting to do it a bit bit higher than we did yesterday, and we’ll see what that brings.”