Like Peas and Carrots: Bubba Gump Shrimp Company Restaurant and Market Introduces New Dishes

Bubba Gump introduces a new line of dishes celebrating rustic southern flavors inspired by the iconic film, ranging from starters and salads to mains along with new specialty cocktails. That's more than enough reason to make you run like Forrest to Bubba Gump...

Inside Bubba Gump, the award-winning film is recreated with various props, memorabilia, photos, costumes and even a map tracing Forrest's epic run across America, adding to the homey and comforting vibe. The rustic feel of the American south is perfectly captured in both the interiors and the food at Bubba Gump...  

...and this is perhaps how Forrest and Bubba would have built their restaurant down south anchored by their flourishing shrimpin' business. Start your dining experience with a refreshing Summer Slush (L), a blend of apple, pineapple, and lemonade, or go for the new exciting cocktails like the Mango Mosh Pit (R) and the Rhythm & Booze (R).

The new Summer Slush is served in a special glass with flashing lights, guaranteed to bring a smile. While the new cocktails like the Mango Mosh Pit, a top shelf mango and peach margarita, and the Rhythm & Booze, a soothing Bacardi Limon, watermelon, and cranberry concoction, should get you in the groove for a hearty southern style feast. And the new dishes also include shrimps, just the way Bubba would've wanted it. "Anyway, like I was sayin', shrimp is the fruit of the sea. You can barbecue it, boil it, broil it, bake it, saute it. Dey's uh, shrimp-kabobs, shrimp creole, shrimp gumbo. Pan-fried, deep-fried, stir-fried. There's pineapple shrimp. lemon shrimp, coconut shrimp, pepper shrimp, shrimp soup, shrimp stew, shrimp salad, shrimp and potatoes, shrimp burger, shrimp sandwich. That-that's about it..."as I recalled Bubba's reverent litany on the versatility of shrimp, and the first dish was served. The new Shrimp Quesadillas highlights Southwestern flavors with soft and chewy quesadillas stuffed with shrimps, jalapenos and rich and creamy cheese, with sides of sour cream, fresh shredded cabbage, and guacamole. The rich notes of the cheese are punctuated by the tender and delicate flavors of the shrimp, making this an excellent starter.

Fresh flavors come through with Bubba Gump's Lobster Louie Salad, with crisp Romaine, hard-boiled eggs, avocados, and sliced tomatoes topped with indulgent chunks of chilled lobster tossed with a creamy seafood salad dressing. The eggs and avocados add a layer of richness to the salad, while the crisp greens add texture, completed by the soft yet firm chunks of lobster.

Craving for more shrimps? Bubba Gump's new Shrimp Bruschetta takes on classic Italian flavors with a fresh sliced baguette, grilled and topped with shrimps, fresh tomatoes, garlic, and basil, drizzled with olive oil and a sharp yet sweet balsamic glaze. The blend of distinct flavors combine for complex yet balanced notes, another perfect starter before the mains. As you wait for the next dish, check out Bubba Gump's gift shop, or "The Market," and grab a few Forrest Gump key chains or "I Love Bubba" shirts.

Leave it to Bubba Gump to infuse more shrimps in their other new dish, Jenny's Club House Sandwich, with layers of ham, bacon, fresh lettuce, and tomatoes draped in their very own shrimp-pineapple-mango salsa spread, served with a side of crispy fries. A meal in itself, the layered sandwich delivers bold notes from the bacon and ham tempered by the sweet and tart shrimp-pineapple-mango salsa spread for fresh and vibrant flavors.

Complete your feast with the new Forrest's Surf and Turf, with a hefty 9 oz. tender USDA New York Strip topped with succulent grilled shrimp and served with a side of mashed potatoes and coleslaw. The New York Strip is perfectly grilled, while the shrimps are grilled just the way I imagine Bubba's mama would've grilled it. The delicate briny sweetness of the grilled shrimp, with just a hint of smokiness, contrasts with the robust, beefy notes of the tender New York Strip for a classic surf and turf combo.

The dish has a festive vibe, and I imagine both Forrest and Lieutenant Dan enjoying this after a day of shrimpin', or celebrating the rewards of their investment in a "fruit" company. Like peas and carrots, the new dishes are a welcome addition to the extensive menu at Bubba Gump. Hearty and comforting new dishes, a refreshing new drink, and a pair of new cocktails, just like a box of chocolates, go open it up and head over to Bubba Gump...