About Us

One day when I was just a kid, I was invited to eat at my friend’s house. I had never eaten with another family before and I was nervous.

When we sat down at the table, I was surprised by the color of the food, bright green beans, orange carrots, white potatoes , and a beautiful browned roast, it looked like a picture from a magazine.

When my friend’s daddy sliced into the big slab of meat I was shocked to see pink meat and red juice running into the dish, I was afraid but I didn’t want to act like it so when he asked me how I liked my meat I said “Ah uh yes sir”. He cut a piece from the center and put it on my plate , there it set in a red puddle, there was no way I could put that thing in my mouth. 

I didn’t know what to do, I squirmed in my chair , drank some drink , and picked around at the potatoes ,they tasted alright so I tried the beans and carrots ,they tasted good too. I watched the others cutting and eating that raw looking meat , what was I going to do, I knew they were watching how I was enjoying my meal ,I was trying to act like I was cutting a piece thinking to myself “if you eat that you’re going to get worms”.

At my house everything had to have the life cooked out of it. My mama’s recipe for everything was, “ when it’s smoking it’s cooking and when it’s black it’s done”. So this was a real place of decision for me .At last I took a bite ,praying I wouldn’t die or gag ,when it hit my tongue I was amazed how good it tasted , it didn’t taste like burnt wood at all. I couldn’t stop eating it . they were pleased to keep giving me more. I was a changed person, that evening I became a connoisseur of cuisines, even though I didn’t know what that meant.

I made a promise to myself to always try the food where ever I was at. Keeping that promise has been quite an adventure, traveling around in this world as a merchant seaman I have found many wonderful dishes and some never to be repeated ones.

I had just returned from a trip to Madagascar and went to Louisiana to work off shore with some guys that lived in West Monroe. While working construction jobs around Louisiana and Texas I really enjoyed the different food flavors from the Tex Mex , creole and cajun dishes in the area. 

At lunch on the job site one of the guys welding with me was eating something out of a paper bag, it was sort’a round, had a flour crust ,and smelt good . He’d pull one out crack it open and suck on it ,looking like it was the best thing he’d ever had in his mouth . He saw me starring at him and asked “ja want sum” “I don’t know . what is it”? I asked. I have learned,[ it’s a good thing to ask first]. 

He look up at me with a big grin and said ‘fried squirrel heads’ and cracked open another one. I started to say “I’ll pass” when I remembered my promise. I took one from that greasy bag ,thinking about what it was I was having a hard time getting up the courage to try it. But once It was in my mouth all that spicy hot flavor took over my mouth “man tha’s good “ .I tried to say suckin on that head just like Joe was doin. “what”s that seasoning on it?” “Good ain’t it , it’ll make dirt taste good.”Joe said. “”Yeah, but what is it?. Joe said “ I don know , my sister makes it ,I don’t know what she puts in it. I think it my be some voodoo stuff “ and cracked open another one. “Come home with me and eat diner with us and you can ask her”.

That evening, sitting at the little table, in a old log house, I was starring at Joe’s sister ,she was tall and slender,not like her brother who has obviously been enjoying her cooking a lot . She had long dark hair braided in the back down to her waist ,she had dark black eyes that sparkled from the lamp light . she was stunning , 

I realized I’d been starring and tried to look away before she noticed but she had already seen me, I began to eat the gumbo and the first taste hit my mouth like lightning . I was stunned ,the flavor and the fire was so intense I couldn’t control myself , I feasted on that food till I was embarrassed at my gluttony. She and Joe both were smiling at me. “Guess I don’t hav ta ask if ya liked it” Joe said,”” Oh man, that was the best thing I’ve ever had hit my tongue” I sputtered out after finding my voice again.” What is that seasoning “ I asked her. With a fire in her eyes and a smile on her lips ,she whispered to me “If I tell you I will have to kill you “. I didn’t think she was kidding.

Latter , when Joe went outside , I asked her again to tell me the secret of her spices , She grabbed me and gave me a deep hard kiss and all the flavor and fire of that seasoning was seared into my soul. I became frightened like I’ve never been before , I ran out of the house , back to my place got all my stuff and left Louisiana. 

For many years I tried to match all the memory of that kiss with different combinations of spices. then one night I was trying a new combination .That aroma stirred my senses I tasted a pinch and I was immediately looking into those coal dark eyes again .I knew that I had at last found her secret.

For you who dare to try this seasoning all I can tell you is “ Be careful or you may find yourself lost in a cajun bayou.”

Bayou Billy