Feed Your Soul: Big Momma’s Fine Foods

MONROE, La. (KNOE) - Soul food is more than just a style of cooking in Northeast Louisiana.

Dorothy Gilbert has been known as “Big Momma” for 23 years and owns Big Momma’s Fine Foods, a soul food staple in Monroe.

Both her food and her smile will fill you up.

At the entrance, you are greeted by a picture of Big Momma.

Even when she is not sitting at the seat behind the register, she’s always keeping an eye on things.

The menu at her restaurant is notorious for having classic soul food dishes, and a variety of people go to have a taste of home.

Jeremy Huggins recalls the first time he and his wife Kaitlyn visited to the restaurant.

“So, I was stationed over in Shreveport at Barksdale, and we were looking for a place to meet in Monroe, and we just happened to stumble upon this place on Yelp, and it looked pretty good on the reviews, and we came here.”

And like many others, Huggins says they, “fell in love with it instantly. This place is awesome.”

With many selections and soul food specials, people come for the mustard greens, mash potatoes and so much more.

Huggins says he comes in for specific items.

“The candied yams and the fried chicken, and then the hot water cornbread.”

But there are also pig’s feet, it was my first time trying the dish and I was pleasantly surprised.

Gilbert says that she gets people here from all over the states,

“Now there was a man in here yesterday, him and his family. He said they was from Arkansas,” she explained.

Jeremy and Kaitlyn Huggins currently live in Charleston, SC.

And they keep coming back time and time again.

Jeremy Huggins says he has been here so many times, he lost count.

And his wife Kaitlyn says this is the only restaurant where they know her.

Many patrons know her who have come here for years, but even for first-timers, she makes sure you feel at home.

“And if somebody come in I ain’t never seen before I go greet ‘em and let them know that this is big momma, anything, I’ll come ask them if it is their first time. So I’ll come back out here and ask them if the food’s all right,” said Gilbert.

So, if you are looking for some down-home soul food, head out to 1118 South Second Street, and say hi to Big Momma, and just know you have accepted Big Momma into your family.

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