Due to recent conversations, photos, videos and shows I’d happened to stumble upon, and things I’ve randomly read, I’ve had a hankerin’ for New Orleans food for months. Crawfish, in particular. I’ve never had boiled crawfish, but I’ve been curious. Mr. W felt like going out for dinner last nite, so we did an online search for local authentic Creole food restaurants near us. We found one about half an hour away near Newport Beach called “JACKshrimp.” Turned out their crawfish was seasonal, meaning only served during Mardi Gras. We found another menu item of interest, however. It is the restaurant’s namesake: “shell-on gulf shrimp in Jack’s savory spicy sauce with french bread for dunking.” Sounded like Killer Shrimp, one of our favorite restaurants that we don’t get to very often because it’s deep into downtown LA territory in Marina del Ray, so we decided to try JackShrimp in hopes that it’d be a good local substitute for Killer Shrimp. I still remember the first time I had Killer Shrimp, and the glowing faces of friends who shared that evening with me. JackShrimp’s broth didn’t really compare; it was very lightly flavored and did have some fire as an afterburn, but mainly was melted almost-frothy butter. If it’s bland to me, it must taste like water to everyone else. But low-sodium is a good thing, considering all the fat I was taking in. The serving was also smaller and cost more. We decided Killer Shrimp’s recipe is still king, except…

I found out yesterday that on my birthday this year, while I was busy feeling myself turn 1/3 century old and checking for white hairs and wrinkles (while being relieved that I didn’t find any) and making jello shots for my upcoming party, Killer Shrimp closed its doors for the final time. There is no more Killer Shrimp, anywhere. This was the last remaining branch. According to gossip on Yelp, the owner the business building opted not to let the restaurant renew its lease, and the proprietors of the restaurant have not indicated any plans to reopen elsewhere.

Oh, Killer Shrimp, there were imitators that didn’t come close to your succulent secret recipe, how can you now forever deprive the world the experience of you? There are friends whom I’d intended to introduce you to, and now they’ll never know the warmth that is the Cajun burning in their stomachs after an hour basking in your Creole love. I blame myself for only intending to bring these friends and not having taken more initiative to have actually brought them; I blame you for not warning us of your impending death; I blame my friends for not more readily availing themselves to me to embrace you. Why? Whyyyyyyyyy?! *shaking fist in air*