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Down here in  Lower Alabama, we know that the seasons are changing because the cotton crops are starting to pop. Temperatures are still pretty warm, but the sense of Fall is ever-present.

“Since tomatoes and okra are grown in the Summer months along the sub-tropical zone of the Gulf Coast, gumbo cooks had to come up with an alternative in the winter months. Tomatoes were eliminated, and to add thickness and taste, filé powder was used…Winter gumbos also use more fowl, game, meats, sausages, and oysters, which are at their best when harvested from colder waters…I use almost any tasty ingredient available.”  

Celebrating Women in Business

I write and talk often about hurricanes. They are a part of life for coastal people, and the way the storms come and go leaving everything broken in their wake takes on a metaphorical sense for us that, I believe, strengthens us and celebrates our resiliency, our care for one another, our respect for Mother Nature, and our determination to build back up afterward—to rebuild our homes, our lives, and our personal ties with a new sense of what’s important. So for all of you living through the aftermath of Hurricane Florence, including the LuLu’s family at our new location in North Myrtle Beach, we are thinking of you and wishing you safety, love, and hope. Whether it’s a storm of water and wind or storms of a more personal nature, none of us is completely safe from the dangerous weather of life, and we can call on this shared experience to feel compassion and love for each other.

Today, on Grandparents’s Day I am reminiscing about my two grandmothers and their influence on my life. As well, my daughters have shared with me their fondest memories of my mother who had a major impact on their lives.

My daddy’s mother, known to all as Mom Buffett, lived in Pascagoula MS, was salty and incredibly proud of her brood,  a sea-faring, hard-working bunch. After retiring from running a boarding house, she continued to cook heartily for family gatherings at home on Parsley Street. I learned how to make gumbo from her and give her 100% credit for the Gumbo Love legacy that lives on through me, my restaurants, and my latest cookbook. If you have ever had a taste of my gumbo, you are experiencing a little bit of Hilda Seymour Buffett’s essence!

On the other side, my mother’s mother,  Bessie Thompson Peets (called Granny by all of us) was also greatly impacted my path. She was fiercely independent, lived life on her own terms, carried herself with balanced airs of glamour and proper-ness while working hard in high-volume food service. The work of running three enormous restaurants runs through my bloodline.

Because I was such a young mother, my daughters grew up with a special bond with my mother. Peets was a legendary matriarch and she LOVED a good party (go figure – lol). My children share their  fondest memories of epic Sunday gatherings at Homeport – the house on Mobile Bay where my parents lived during their retirement years and where my mother would regularly host the best
Sunday ‘hang-out’ parties.

They were ultra casual, usually planned the night before by calling a bunch of folks on the phone telling them to “come by and say hello”. Her Sunday gatherings entailed lounge time on the pier for boat rides,  barbeque, swimming, sunning, and her famous frozen Piña Coladas!

Often there would be 20 folks at the house by noon with a progressive stream of friends arriving throughout the day. Grandkids and kids of all ages relished in the fun. Sunburned and happy, everybody would migrate back up to the house in the late afternoon for a spirited game of volleyball. Peets observed on the sidelines, having switched to her gin and tonics acting as a line judge of sorts.  Not wanting to let go of the glorious leisure, finally all the grownups would head down to Judge Roy Bean’s for the epic Sunday party – Peets leading the cavalry. She really was the most fun!

My daughters still talk about these times exclaiming that they had the absolute coolest, kindest, most welcoming grandmother ever!

Now, and I just can’t believe it — I am a grandmother! It is truly the blessing of my lifetime. My aim as a grandparent is to be a mix of the influences that my grandparents had on me and the influence my parents had on my girls. I want to be an example for them that it is possible  to balance hard work, having the life we want, and maintaining a soft side for fun, adventure, kindness, and genuine hospitality.

At this point in the journey though all I want to do is snuggle them 24/7 and spoil them rotten! Lol!!

Today, let’s  all honor our grandparents and grand-parenting. Tell me about yours!

Labor Day was originally created as dedication to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It is a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.
I appreciate this holiday so much. It reminds me of my hard-working parents who instilled a work ethic in me that has made me capable of creating LuLu’s … which has grown to a massive organization far beyond my wildest dreams. It’s an incredible life but it also requires an enormous amount of work from hundreds of people.
This Labor Day I want to honor all of the laborers who make our country run, and especially to the teams and crews at LuLu’s Gulf Shores, LuLu’s Destin, and LuLu’s North Myrtle Beach who keep our businesses vibrant and healthy.
I thank you all for your hard work and dedication to your jobs. Every one of you and the job that you do is integral to the whole operation. Without your care and good work, we would not be able to do what we do. I say it often … “without you I am just one woman with a good idea”. And I can’t say it enough …. I HONOR YOU. THANK YOU. LULU’S CREW IS THE BEST CREW!
All my Gumbo Love, LuLu

I don’t know if y’all saw the Staples back-to-school commercial a few years ago advertising school supplies. It’s the end of the summer and the dad is dancing down the aisles of school supplies to the tune of “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” He’s thrilled about the kids heading back to school while his children are none too happy! It made me chuckle, and I still think of it when this time of year rolls around. The joy of the parents to have the kids off their hands and the misery of the kids to be back in desks no longer enjoying the lazy whims of summer is a cycle that has been going on for generations.

For a barefoot beach girl, going back to school was not that exciting a proposition, but buying those school supplies did help lift my spirits…the smell of new pencils, the crayon box with each crayon tip in the perfect shape, and the lined pages of a fresh notebook waiting for the ink of my new pen and the shape of my thoughts and dreams to grace them.

The back-to-school season even now symbolizes for me a fresh start—books to be read, new things to learn and friends to meet, a blank notebook ready for its pages to be filled, and even if it’s still pretty hot in these parts, the knowledge that fall is on its way with leaves turning colors, sweaters to wear, and warm gumbo, soups, and chili to savor. And football too, of course.

Summer is always fun, and for many of us, it is the most wonderful time of the year, but the back-to-school season isn’t all bad either. Here’s to a fresh notebook full of new ideas and exciting plans!

What’s on your agenda to conquer this season?

All week long Aretha Franklin has been on constant replay in my house. I’ve been singing along with heartfelt gusto to these songs that are really anthems. It’s hard to imagine a world without her, but wow, did she ever leave an amazing legacy of music for us to enjoy until the end of time!
Aretha Franklin was not only an iconic singer and pianist, she was a true Sista. She faced the challenges of single motherhood, and other women’s issues with utter grace. She channelled her struggles through her voice and music and made beauty where pain had been. An icon to her core.
I have been uplifted and felt true connection to something ‘greater’ through her music. Her soulfulness came from real life experiences, many of which I and so many others easily relate to.
Aretha’s voice and the songs that she sang are part of the fabric of America. I feel lucky to be part of this generation that has enjoyed and been inspired by her incredible music and her stellar career.
Thank you Aretha, Queen of Soul, for being part of the soundtrack to my life! You are a ForeverSista in my heart!

R E S P E C T

This week we will celebrate Peets Buffett’s 97th birthday.

My mother was a remarkable lady. She worked for nearly 30 years at the ship yard while being a devoted wife and mother to three crazy kids. She loved a strong gin and tonic, a good party, big band music, live theatre, weekly manicures, and costume jewelry.

She was well-read in the classics and modern literature, keeping company with some of the finest writers of her time. She could impress you with the latest football and baseball statistics, and she absolutely loved her weekly People magazine.

She knew the reality of hard work in the gritty world and encouraged magical thinking in her children and grandchildren… much to the benefit of us all.

My mother had a way of choosing the good life in everyday things. With a penchant for having dessert first and a life-long pursuit of joie de vivre, I often channel her when pondering life’s meaning or if I’m at a crossroads. “What would Peets do?” has become a mantra of sorts that guides me through my own journey and keeps my compass pointing in the right direction.

I miss her every day and am grateful I had her for as long as I did. She left us with lots of wisdom. One of my favorite pieces is her philosophy on life which I hold dear and share often.

Here it is for you all today…

Peets’ Philosophy

8. Love and Family are the best things we have.

Wishing you all a peaceful and easy Sunday. I think I will eat dessert first today in honor of my mama. I hope you might do the same!

Four Things I Learned Growing Up in the South

These four elements of my bloodline and my environment probably apply to plenty other people in plenty other places. I don’t mean to suggest we’ve got the monopoly on any of them. When I’m away from the South, and I see these elements in other cultures, I love studying the similarities as well as the different ways of doing things. Other times I miss these Southern principles and yearn to get back to the place where I learned them by heart.

1. You catch more flies with honey than vinegar. We in the South have sometimes been called fake, sugary sweet. There’s the cliche of us saying “Bless your heart” and “Aren’t you sweet?” when what we mean is the opposite. Sure, we have our share of mean girls and sweet-talking boys who say one thing and mean the other, but from a very young age we are taught our manners, our please-and-thank you’s, and that if you don’t have anything nice to say best not to say anything at all. Sometimes this means we are indeed faking it until we make it. A neighbor we don’t care for comes by to tell us our dog keeps getting in their yard. “Would you like to come in for a drink?” Even if they say no, which they probably will, at least they might change their tone and the way they’re talking. It’s hard to fuss at someone who’s offering you a drink or inviting you to sit down on their porch. As hard as it is sometimes, by using those manners our mothers and grandmothers insisted on, we’ve learned to de-escalate situations rather than escalate them. Sweet-talk, in my opinion, sometimes gets a bad rap. I like to be direct and get to the point, and that has its place, but I also like to be on the giving and receiving end of the magic of civility and how a few forced smiles and hard-to-muster greetings can sometimes wear down an impasse and make friends out of foes.

2. Work hard, play hard. Southerners are known for their independent streak. It’s hard for them to accept help to get things done, so they are often bent over in determined poses fixing a boat motor, building a deck, and earning a living that requires plenty of blood, sweat, and tears. The other side of this, is that we play just as hard as we work. Even a “quick boat ride” requires a cooler full of a variety of drinks and homemade snacks—and the lengths we go to put on a good party no matter how slim or robust our budget or timeline! The playtime is that much more primal—like it’s just gotta be expressed, baby!—when you know it’s hard-earned and you know come the next morning you’ll be back at the grindstone. This “balance of extremes” 🙂 keeps us going!

3. The Art of Hospitality. So, about those lengths we would go to for a good party…it doesn’t matter if we are hosting an impromptu happy hour after work or an elaborate Thanksgiving feast, we love throwing a party and making people feel welcome. It’s funny how you can take a can of nuts, put it in a pretty bowl, and you’ve suddenly created an experience. Those tiny little things we’re known for, that some might call silly or a waste of time, are key to the art of hospitality. It’s like you’re telling the other person, I am so glad you are here! I want to make it special and take the time and effort to make you feel special. We keep cute paper cocktail napkins on hand. We keep a few nibbles in the fridge. We go ga-ga over party invitations. Things don’t have to be fancy in our world of hospitality, they only have to come from the heart and make your guests feel loved.

4. The Power of Food. I don’t need to tell y’all about Southern food! If you’re not passionate about that topic, you’re probably not reading this blog! But what I’m always reminded of in the South is the power of it not just to please our tastebuds but to heal our wounds, bind our families, create alliances, and show our love. Whether someone has passed away and we inundate their home with our homemade specialties or our siblings are converging from far away for a family weekend, food is able to communicate those complicated emotions that are hard to verbalize. I think in the South we not only understand the power of food, we truly appreciate its history and its family origins and the common ground it represents. This line from Gumbo Love sums it up, I think: I have found that food is always the great equalizer when it comes to our family. It has helped us get beyond differences and always brings us together in celebration of our heritage and deep gratitude for our ancestors.

So with deep gratitude for Southern food, hospitality, our extreme work-and-play balance, and our tendency to attract flies with honey, I feel pretty proud to have grown up where I did. Sure, we’ve got our issues, just like any other place (and any other family!), but with these Southern principles in play, I am always hopeful that we can continue to grow and thrive.

What have you learned from growing up in the South?

Photo by Angie Mosier

One of my favorite parts of my first cookbook, LuLu’s Kitchen, is a little section tucked in the back called Boat Food. I might do a whole cookbook one day just on boat food. This time of year, boat food might be breakfast if you’re fishing, lunch if you’re anchoring up for an open-water picnic, supper if you’re enjoying an evening cruise, or all three if you’re lucky!

Here are some of my “tried-and-true” boat food favorites:

LuLu’s West Indies Salad: I’m sure you’ve heard me mention this family favorite before. It’s good at almost any occasion, but there’s something about that cold tender meat on a salty cracker with the juice running down your arm that tastes even better when you’re on the water. Don’t forget to pack the paper towels.

Pimento Cheese Sandwiches: I like to keep mine wrapped in wax paper and then put them in a Ziploc bag to prevent them from getting soggy.

Chilled Peel and Eat Shrimp: Bring along some red horseradish sauce and lemons in small containers. As you peel the shrimp, toss the shells over the side of the boat and use the lemons to clean your hands!

Cherry Tomatoes: Healthy, pretty, and so easy to pack and then pop in your mouth for a burst of juicy flavor.

Watermelon Chunks: When you’ve been out in the boat all day and you are feeling salty and parched, there’s nothing quite as refreshing as ice-cold chunks of sweet watermelon.

Cold Fried Chicken: I pick up the chicken from a local fried chicken place the day before then refrigerate it overnight so it’s ready to go.

Deviled Eggs: This old-school picnic food reminds me of my parents’ summertime cocktail parties, and they are always one of the first snacks to get gobbled up.

Now, you know I am dying to ask…what is YOUR favorite boat food?