Julie Gibson - R & J's Southern Homecooking
Our speaker was Julie Gibson who owns and operates a restaurant, R & J’s, in Downey where the southern tip of Downey touches Bellflower, at 8852 Rosecrans, Avenue, Downey 90242. It’s just west of Lakewood.
Julie began by saying she wanted us to know her, and feel comfortable with her, so she read some poems she has written. She has worked hard, and she used the metaphor of hard travel, with God helping and encouraging her.
In her restaurant, her mother and sister helped her get started. Their ad says they serve southern home cooking, real down home. It’s a casual family style restaurant that’s all soul food. Try the gumbo, or the smothered pork chops with cabbage over a bed of rice and gravy, and of course, collard greens and corn bread. There’s catfish filet, shrimp Po’ boys and chicken with dumplings. Wash it down with muddy water – that’s lemonade and iced tea, to you northerners. Julie emphasizes the friendly service.
They also offer boudain, which is a Cajun traditional sausage stuffed with pork, liver, rice and aromatic herbs and spices, not often served here. Theirs is imported from Louisiana.
Julie has been an entrepreneur in Downey for sixteen years. She loves her work, but says the best job in the world is being the mother of two. The greatest way to learn? From your failures. Roosevelt Grier, one of the Los Angeles Rams’ Fearsome Foursome frontline, has been a partner with her for the last three years. She attributes her success to hard work and God.