Meet Ms. Fontenot | Founder and CEO of Gather Gumbo

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ms. Fontenot and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ms. Fontenot, what do you want people to remember about you?
I am passionate about bringing people together and giving and I enjoy doing that through great meals. Cooking gumbo is one of my favorite meals to make. It’s a meal I enjoyed with my family growing up; it brings back so many memories of my childhood in Port Arthur Texas. I remember when we would all gather for gumbo. We ate, talked, and laughed. I want Gather Gumbo to be of service to the community and a gift of love from our family. Both of my grandmothers and my mother cooked for friends, family, and their community. I come from a legacy of giving and serving through southern cuisine and I would like to continue that through Gather Gumbo. One of my grandmothers owned a juke joint in Port Arthur called Fontenot’s Jazz Land. The other had eight kids and she would have them all invite their friends over and cook for them at her home. I always thought, whenever I do start a business, it has to be something I love to do, and it has to be fun. The goal is to be able to create something to be able to share with my children. My daughter, Jazz, is the first to join me in this business, and we are having a ball sharing it with others. I want people to remember that a bowl of Gather Gumbo can help bring friends and family together to create great memories.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
The idea behind Gather Gumbo is to gather family and community together where we are stronger and more creative. I’m a grandma’s baby; I sat at the kitchen table and watched my mom, my grandma (Muh), and my aunt (Nanny) make great meals with skill and love. I grew up watching them cook but didn’t pick up a pot on my own until I got to college at UNT. I found myself cooking for all my friends, we didn’t have much, but we would put our pennies together and made great meals and special memories the same way I did back home. I became known for my cooking and all my friends would come faithfully for meals and kept coming even after college. I still have lasting relationships with some of those people to this day who still ask for my Gumbo because they know anywhere else it will not be quite like Gather Gumbo. People that know gumbo know that you can find it in many places, but it can be hard to find it done right. My family and I have been making gumbo for generations, we know our Roux and our recipe is tried and true. It brings me great joy to be able to share that with my community.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If I was entertaining my friend for a week, we would be all over the metroplex. I would take them to Breakfast Brothers in Arlington for a hearty southern breakfast and good vibes. For lunch we would go to Spatch Kitchen and Cocktails where it’s always a good time. Ida Clair is also a good lunch spot with great service and music. I love some good music, so we would also have to pop into The Daiquiri Shoppe one evening for a nice laid-back vibe. On a sunny day with great weather, we would visit Clyde Warren Park for scenery, dog parks, food trucks and maybe grab a city scooter to take a roll around the city and visit the museum of art for some great artist. For a nice dinner we would definitely have to go to Roots Southern Table for some great food and drinks. Finally, for some rest and relaxation, we could book with Brenda at Now and Zen Body Works in Addison for a few of her many services from body wraps to deep tissue massage to reflexology to end the week with some much-needed self-care.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to dedicate a special shoutout to God, I believe that God gave me a gift to share with the community and that gift is cooking and spreading love through a smile and a word of encouragement. It gives me great pleasure to be able to do this every single day of my life. I would also like to give a special thanks to my husband, Robert, who has been the driving force that pushes me toward the best version of me. And shoutout to my children (Robert, Desmond and Jasmine) who always compliment me and encourage me in all my endeavors. I wouldn’t be the woman I am today if it weren’t for the powerful matriarchy exemplified by my grandmothers (Esther Fontenot and Olivia Sinegal). My grandmother Esther was a great inspiration to me as a black businesswoman, in a time where black owned business was discouraged, who stepped out on faith and fed her community via a very successful juke joint frequented by black seaman that were not allowed in other establishments. My grandma Olivia served in a convent cooking for nuns and priests and instilled in me the value of giving. Last but not least a shoutout to my mother and father (Ida Mae Fontenot and Lewis Russel Fontenot) for placing me in a loving and nurturing environment.

Instagram: www.instagram.com/gathergumbo

Facebook: www.facebook.com/Gathergumbo

Other: gathergumbo.@yahoo.com

Image Credits
Jasmine Taylor