Do Not Post Gumbo if you Can’t Cook it Right

by Justin D. Howard

I was at home asleep dreaming of how comfortable my life would be once I graduate and launch a few of my ideas. The sun came up on my smooth face. Suddenly, my alarm came on and I jumped up. It was a beautiful Louisiana day yet again. As I was getting dressed I started to speculate how wonderful the fall time will be. I am excited about dressing up and wearing my jackets. Fall time is the best time for comfort. School starts, football season, and the food in Louisiana are the main subjects we like to speak of once September gets here. Red beans and rice, gumbo, jambalaya, or ox tails. You name it. The people of this are get restless when it comes to cooking here. It is not like any other place. We cook it and try to make sure it is seasoned.

I made my way to my bathroom to wash my face and brush my teeth. My phone had a few notifications. It even had notifications to my video I posted last night. A few people laughed and a few people loved it. It was in regards to a rather infamous topic in Louisiana during the fall. People have a tendency to post gumbo when they can’t cook it. Not this year. This is a public service announcement. Take a look:

You do not mess up gumbo and post it. It is bad enough if you actually mess it up. Do not post it on social media if you can not cook it.

The point I am trying to make is that gumbo is a food of comfort. It is meant to be used to express love, care, and enjoyment. It is not meant to be used as a joke and should not be taken lightly.

There are some games in which the New Orleans Saints ought not lose. The Falcons or perhaps the Cowboys when they do their Bayou Rivalry.

We certainly don’t want to see LSU get beat by Alabama or Auburn.

Hell….even some high schools adopt this principle. This is something you don’t do. We need to stop giving our culture up to time. Time is simply a measure of existence but if we measure our existence with the proper respect of character and culture what we do can become timeless. Gumbo is a treasure that time should not be allowed to eat away. Come on now.

Hey…..don’t blame me. I didn’t make the rules. This so happens to be a rule I am fond of dearly because I see a lack of respect across the board.

DO NOT POST GUMBO….IF YOU CAN’T COOK GUMBO.

It does not matter if you believe you can or if your neighbor’s dog will eat what you concoct up and toss to them. Don’t think you cook a good gumbo if you have a store brought roux either. It doesn’t count. No tomatoes, squash, corn, deli meat, wieners, etc. are to be used. Chicken, sausage, shrimp (don’t mix them together), deer meat, or craw-fish are acceptable. A few other meats maybe but you get the point. Don’t do if you can’t do it right.

DO NOT POST GUMBO……IF YOU CAN’T COOK GUMBO.

Some people are laughing but some people are nodding their head because they agree that the foolery has to stop somewhere. I understand that you want to be a family. You want to be the “go to person” but you don’t mess up a dish that is precious and dear to this part of the world. It is not laughable or permissible.

DO NOT POST GUMBO…..IF YOU CAN’T COOK GUMBO.

My next blog will cover: Good gumbo cooking tips. Please feel free to add me on Facebook or Instagram.