Cooking Gumbo With Grandpaw

Preserving Family Heritage Through Creole Cuisine
by Chef Nathaniel Landry, Jr., PhD

Chapter 1

In the Kitchen with Grandpaw

In the sultry heart of a New Orleans summer, the aroma of spices hung heavy in the air. It was a scent that always reminded me of my grandfather, Walter, or as I fondly called him, Grandpaw. Our family home stood as a quiet testament to decades of Creole tradition, nestled in a neighborhood where every corner seemed to whisper stories of the past. It was within these walls, and more specifically, the warm and inviting heart of our kitchen, that my journey with Grandpaw began.

My name is Nathaniel Jr., and this is the story of the day I learned to cook gumbo with Grandpaw. But before we dive into that memorable day, let me take you back to the roots of our family tree, which stretch deep into the bayous of Louisiana.

Grandpaw, born in 1914 in Donaldsonville, Louisiana, had a childhood as unique as the gumbo he would later teach me to prepare. His mother, a deaf mute, carried with her a secret that whispered through generations. It was rumored that she had relations with the white property owner, a man of influence in those times. Grandpaw's birth, a symbol of this forbidden liaison, was shrouded in mystery.

When he came into this world, his mother made a heartbreaking decision. She placed him in a garbage can, a cold and cruel start to life for an innocent child. But fate, as unpredictable as the Louisiana weather, intervened in the form of a woman named Ms. Ford. She heard the cries of a newborn in that discarded can, and without hesitation, she rescued him.

Ms. Ford, a woman of boundless compassion, raised Grandpaw as her own. She became not only his mother but also the keeper of his secrets, a guardian of a story that remained hidden for decades. It wasn't until Grandpaw reached his late twenties that he would be reunited with siblings who shared the same mysterious lineage. The pieces of his past began to fall into place, revealing a family history as complex as the gumbo recipes he had perfected over the years.

Grandpaw's journey was one of resilience and determination. He moved to New Orleans, a city that would become both his home and the canvas upon which he painted his life. Here, he embarked on a culinary adventure that would see him rise to become a respected chef, celebrated for his Creole creations. But his ambitions didn't stop in the kitchen.

In the heart of the city's vibrant culture, Grandpaw found a higher calling. He became the pastor of a missionary Baptist Church, guiding the souls of his congregation with the same warmth and wisdom that permeated our family gatherings. His journey from a discarded infant to a renowned chef and pastor was a testament to the strength of the human spirit, the enduring power of family, and the rich tapestry of Creole heritage.

As I stood in the kitchen that fateful day, eager to share my acceptance letter into Boston University School of Dentistry with Grandpaw, I had no idea that this moment would forever alter the course of my life. Our journey together was about to take a delicious turn, one that would connect me to my roots and unearth the stories hidden within our family's past. Grandpaw's words would echo in my ears, "You are going to have to learn how to cook it because no women outside of Louisiana will know how to cook it." And so, our adventure in the kitchen began, as Grandpaw passed down not just the recipe for gumbo but the history and heart of our Creole heritage.