"When musician and restaurateur Jimmy Buffett passed away in 2023, he left behind a legacy of cheeseburgers in paradise. Though his restaurants specialized in dishes synonymous with island life, one of Buffett's favorite meals came from his childhood days in Mississippi. In fact, his overwhelming love of a classic Cajun and Creole dish inspired his 1999 song, "I Will Play for Gumbo.""
"To get a taste of Buffett's true feelings about gumbo, consider the lyrics, 'It started in my grandma's, in her kitchen by the sea, [s]he warned me when she told me, 'Son, the first one's free'.' References to the rich stew as a 'spicy monkey ridin' on my back' calling it, 'good for the body, good for the soul,' clearly indicate just how much he adored this meal."
"Knowing the impact this favorite food had on Buffett's music, it's worth asking what's really in gumbo? There is some difference between Cajun and Creole varieties, with one of the biggest factors being the inclusion or absence of tomatoes. For Buffett's youngest sister, Lucy, her late brother's favorite dish is a seafood-heavy specialty at her Alabama-based restaurant, Lulu's. If you want to make your own at home, it will take time, patience, and perhaps some Jimmy Buffett music playing in the background."
Jimmy Buffett treasured gumbo from his childhood in Mississippi and celebrated it in song and life. Lyrics portray gumbo as comforting, soulful, and almost addictive, recalling a grandmother's kitchen. Cajun and Creole versions differ, notably by the presence or absence of tomatoes. Lucy Buffett identifies a seafood-heavy crab-and-shrimp gumbo with okra and tomatoes as her brother's favorite, served at her Alabama restaurant, Lulu's. The preferred recipe is a summer gumbo that demands time and patience, takes about two days to prepare, and begins with a rich, dark roux made using avocado oil and flour.
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