RioMar-Best shrimp I've ever eaten

[RouxTheDay]

I had dinner at Rio Mar last night. I orderd the oyster app and my DC ordered the empanadas...we didn't share and I didn't think I could eat that whole app by myself. WRONG.
For entrees, DC had the 5 hour pork and I had the shrimp...which was a special and I can't remember what they called it but it was like bbq shrimp. Heads on, small piece of the tail on and served a la carte in the most scrumptious juice that I'm pretty sure was olive oil based (rather than butter) The serving was a pound and they were HUGE. They were bigger than Royal Reds. I was certain that these were NOT Louisiana gulf shrimp but the waiter informed me that they were and that Chef gets them from a special supplier.
The heads were full of fat (yes, I suck the heads on shrimp...it would be a sin not to do so with these) and the shrimp were cooked perfectly.
I am drooling as I type this.

They don't have this dish everyday but if you are a shrimp lover, it's worth calling to see when they will have it and go! I ordered a side of saffron rice which I barely touched. I wished I had not eaten bread before the apps came and just had that with my shrimp.

Damn, now I'm hungry.

[hungryone]

Why on earth would you think that big, beautiful shrimp WERE NOT gulf shrimp? We're in the thick of August shrimp season--it's prime-time for gulf white shrimp.

[RouxTheDay]

Because I have NEVER seen them this big....and we used to trawl and do whatever it is you call it when you hang those nets off of either side of the boat overnight...-Butterfly? "Mamou-ing" I can't remember what my ex used to call it.

One of the heads was as big around as a long neck bottle...I swear.

God bless you if you're catching them that big! PM me and I'll buy some from you.

[Oyster]

Roux, guess you've never been to the Shrimp Lot? And I thought you were on the WB! They always have monsters for about $5-$6 lb. Beautiful! Straight out of the Gulf. I bought some U-8's 2 weeks ago for $5. Yum! And heads full of fat!

Those peanuts you were catching were mostly brown shrimp from the bays and bayous. Good for gumbo and those tiny shrimp Po-boys. They are juvenile, post larval phase. Those move offshore, and they really grow! Reminds me of Carlin's old routine on "Jumbo Shrimp."

Funny thing while comming back from Destin to the WB after Katrina. GNO bridge was closed, so had to come from Hwy 90 to Expressway. Not a store open, but the Shrimp Lot was packed! Almost every booth open and selling fresh shrimp.

Yep...we ate shrimps!

[Suzy Wong]

Speaking of large shrimp, I was in Dorignac's yesterday and they had a free standing cooler with ice and a sign that said LA Gulf Shrimp 7.49 a pound, WOW THEY WERE MASSIVE.