Emeril Lagasse celebrates the Sunshine State in 'Emeril's Florida'

Emeril Lagasse celebrates the Sunshine State in 'Emeril's Florida'

BAM!

Emeril Lagasse, the TV chef famous for his colorful catchphrases and lip-smacking Cajun and Creole dishes, is taking his act on the road in a new travel show that aims to uncover the best cuisine in Florida.

“Emeril’s Florida” debuts Sunday on the Cooking Channel at 10:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. and follows the chef as he rolls from Kissimmee to Key West, highlighting local cuisine, fresh fish and agriculture across the Sunshine State.

“Florida is not only about theme parks and water slides,” Lagasse told the Daily News. “Sure we’ve got a little bit of that, but we’ve really mixed it up here, we’re following wine, food and farmers.”

If the show works out he may profile other states in future seasons.

“But right now, we do things on green beans, stone crab and Gulf shrimp,” he said.

In restaurants profiled on the show, Lagasse learns about restaurant specialties â€" like the famed conch fritters at Alabama Jack’s in Key Largo.

“It’s in the middle of nowhere and the place is packed and has been for the last 30 to 40 years,” he said.

Lagasse also whips up some dishes of his own and said he was blown away variety of foods available.

“There’s this great connection between the growers and the kitchen down there,” he said.

Among the places that stand out for him was a farm stand he and his crew stumbled on that offered a range of fresh smoothies made of exotic tropical fruits grown in a nearby field.

Lagasse added that this show is far harder for him to do than his old studio show on the Food Network, which featured him cooking in front an audience â€" alongside a house band.

“I wish I could knock out a couple of these episodes in a day, but it just doesn’t work like that,” he said.

“We’ve put on a lot of miles so far â€" and it just get more fun.”