Page 68 - Blues Festival Guide Magazine 2016

Cookin' In Louisiana

With a Side of Blues

Photo by Ÿ Joseph A. Rosen

By Kenny Neal
Not only was I brought up with the blues – playing guitar and for our hometown folks, playing the blues. At the end of the night,
beating drums around the house as a kid – the kitchen was the it was time for more food, and that’s when my Aunt Gert would
next room over and there was always something stewing on the be ready to sell you a potato salad, a fried chicken sandwich or a
stove. In Louisiana, we have a passion for music, food and fun. hot sausage link boiled, with a side order of crackers and mustard.
My family loves to cook outside on burners and in big cast I was brought up with different types of cooks in my family. My
iron skillet pots – that way, nobody gets left out, there’s enough grandmother was a slow cook, she believed in taking her time
food for everyone. We also like to compete against each other and letting the food simmer. We’d run into the house and ask if
when cooking. Nowadays, being the eldest of 10, I sit back and the food was ready, and she’d say, “No, and get out of here. Go
watch my younger siblings cook because they all think they’re back into the yard and play.” We would be really hungry when it
the best in the world. They show up for a big cookout, each came to eating time, but it was well worth the wait. My mom is a
bringing their own burners and covering their seasonings with fast cook, she can whip it up in no time like magic and still does it
duct tape so no one will find out their secret recipe. I have a today – but I guess that’s what happens when you have 10 kids.
great time because I leave it up to the young ones now, and I go Everyday it’s like a meeting at my mom’s house. We go by to visit
around tasting the food, telling each one they are the best… to and there’s always something on the stove. She can’t help it, she
stay on everyone’s good side. just has a passion for cooking and loves to see people enjoy her
The biggest day for me as a kid growing up was the 4th of food. We had a restaurant at the night club called Neal’s Place,
July. That was the day my mom relaxed and let my dad do the and everybody came to buy Mommy’s food. When I’m out and
cooking and barbecuing. After a great day of food and fun, around town, my friends don’t ask me about my touring, they ask
we’d pack up the instruments and go to my uncle’s club called me what my mother has cooked, what’s on the menu for today.
Spooners Place, the only spot where teenagers could go to My favorite dish is okra, shrimp and sausage over rice.
dance and listen to live music. It’s also where my mom and dad When I come off the road from touring, I go straight to my mom’s
met each other. We always had a great time performing there house and she always has okra prepared for me. This dish has
been passed down from generations. I learned something about
okra when I toured Africa back in the ’90s. I went to a restaurant
in Nairobi and noticed the cook was preparing okra, so I asked
the waiter about how they prepared it. He said, “This is not okra,
this is gumbo.” That’s when it all came together for me, making
my connections with Africa. After all the years I’ve been enjoying
okra, I never knew it was called gumbo in Africa. Now I know
why we’re all so big on gumbo down here in Louisiana – it’s
our roots. Gumbo is my other favorite dish to make. A gumbo
recipe is mostly just a guideline, it’s really a hands-on situation,
eyeballing everything. I think it’s the most fun dish to make
because it’s always different every time you make it.
I still do most of the cooking here at home, but I have changed
the way I cook. I use less grease, I stay away from frying, but I
can still have the same flavor and taste and enjoy my Southern
The legendary musical Neal family, circa 1970s Photo courtesy Kenny Neal dish. I remember my mother having me stand at the stove stirring

66 Blues Festival Guide 2016