Emeril opens up a seafood restaurant at the Sands Casino

If you want to eat at an Emeril Lagasse Restaurant on the east coast, your only option is to travel to the Lehigh Valley. Despite having grown up in Massachachusetts and working regularly in New York, Lagasse has chosen the Sands Casino in Bethlehem as the site of three of his restaurants — Emeril’s Chophouse, Burgers and More by Emeril, and now, Emeril’s Fish House.

“I’ve had a Fish House in Las Vegas for 22 years,” he says. “I grew up on the ocean and live on the ocean now. I’m a fisherman and there’s this connection I have with the sea.”

When it comes to freshness, Lagasse is a self-professed fanatic and buys from 16 different purveyors to ensure that fresh fish comes in if not daily, then at least every other day.

“There’s nobody that does fish better than us and I don’t know where you can go [here] to get really outstanding fish, unless you go to Philadelphia,” Lagasse says.

And how about the menu? You’ll see a lot of comfort food favorites to appeal to the local clientele but Lagasse is also “kicking it up a notch” with some Creole flair as well.

The Lobster Rockefeller bisque is definitely comforting, creamy and warm made of spinach, fennel, cream and a touch of Pernod (which is absinthe if you didn’t already know.)

The melt-in-your-mouth Miso Glazed Seafood Scallops are prepared with baby bok choy, vegetable fried rice and miso butter.

Finally, if you’re a crab cake fan, Lagasse’s take on the popular food item includes Creole remoulade, arugula and pickled red onion. Bam!

For more on Emeril Fish House, visit: pasands.com

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