Gumbo Social

To Chef Dontaye there’s no doubt: Gumbo is the most important food to American culture. It’s a dish that comes from the soul, and it’s social at its core. Much like the ingredients that come together to make a good pot, gumbo has the power to bring people together and establish community.

Gumbo is nothing new for Chef Dontaye. His grandma first served it to him when he was eight, and it made a deep impression. He recalls her cooking the roux slowly with a wooden spoon in a cast-iron skillet. As soon as the gumbo was ready, he remembers his neighbors eagerly gathering for a taste.