BRIEF HISTORY
The word Gumbo is derived from African word for okra, a pod like vegetable introduced by African slaves and often used to thicken the stew. It has an incomparably rich flavor and texture and derives from the cooking of French, Spanish, Indian, and African residents of the area. Gumbo has been called the greatest contribution of Louisiana Kitchens to American cuisine. When the first French settlers came to Louisiana , they brought their love for bouillabaisse, a highly seasoned fish stew. Having none of the usual ingredients necessary to make a typical French bouillabaisse , they substituted local ingredients. After about a century, with the Spanish, Africans, and natives of the region offering their contributions of food, the stew was no longer recognizable as bouillabaisse and became GUMBO. What started out as second best became better than the original.