hey ya’ll, it’s national gumbo day, by KL

Hey y’all!! Happy National Gumbo Day!! Gumbo is one of my favorite meals for many reasons, not just because it’s super yummy, but it is important to my family and our history!

My mom was born and raised in New Iberia, Louisiana. As a child, her parents would make her authentic cajun gumbo once a week. To her, the warm spicy soup is a symbol of a loving and genuine family. 

Now, even though my family is spread out and we all don’t live near each other, we make a point to come together and share a large pot of gumbo from time to time. My Aunt Kristy has mastered the craft of seafood and chicken and sausage gumbo. It begins several hours before it’s time to eat. As my Aunt Kristy begins the process, the aroma of cajun spices that fill my house, transport me to the streets of New Orleans, ready to devour a bowl of gumbo.

Gumbo is more than a dish to my family, it is the backbone of our history and a reminder of where my mom and aunt came from. To my mom, it reminds her of fall and winter days, football games, and holidays. All the time spent with her family, laughing and loving.

Gumbo is actually Louisiana’s official state dish and embodies the region’s cultural “melting pot” with roots in African, French, Spanish, and Native American traditions. With Gumbo being a diverse dish that symbolizes many different cultures, each family usually has their own recipe. The uniqueness of each family’s recipe is significant to their background and values.

It may not be the most beautiful dish, but its true beauty is in its taste! So, whether you are hot, or cold, sad or happy, with your family or by yourself, Gumbo is the perfect dish to enhance your life!!

This post is written by one of our Ambassadors, 17 year old, KL. Check out a couple of her posts… “why I love green juice!” and “my step sisters are not like Cinderella’s step sisters”.