Ma Harpers Creole Kitchen (Texas Country Reporter)

Meet a woman who at 90 years old is still serving up hearty bowls of her famous gumbo.

Alice Harper
Ma Harper’s Creole Kitchen
1816 N New Braunfels Ave
San Antonio, TX 78208
Phone: 210-226-2200

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Video Script:: 

[Music] I don't know about anybody else but real gumbo we do the Trinity onion bell pepper garlic that's Creole hundreds of miles from the heart of the French Quarter people are enjoying ball harpers food just like they have for years after all she's been serving up Creole creations since she was just a little girl where you from sweetheart Georgia on my mind I'm the second oldest of 16 I started really cooking at 12 years old and I've been cooking ever since we love my harpy's that would you say my heart for love y'all too I'm originally from New Orleans so you know folks we send Cajun I'm not a Cajun I'm a Creole that's why it's called my hopeless Creole kitchen and not cake well there's no mistaking what kind of dishes you'll get it the Harper's Creole kitchen in San Antonio fresh fried filets a fish with red beans and rice on the side is a big draw but it's the gumbo that keeps people coming back time after time even Guy Fieri couldn't get enough of the stuff couch that is every bit of what you want a gumbo to taste like I'm known for my gumbo the fried pork chop the red bean and rice my slogan is imitated by many but duplicated by now that mean there's a lot of it but it's a hard to duplicate because cooking actually not something you run in the kitchen and you has to come from the inside hello this is mom have no fear I'm here at nearly 90 years old ma Harper hasn't lost a step so what do you recommend well you know by goddess Pecola reckon you can buy it out she shuffles around the restaurant greeting customers and taking orders creating a down-to-earth experience as authentic as her food but for her it's about more than just the crispy fried catfish or gumbo it's about the relationship she's built with her customers and the happiness they get with each and every bite how's everything delicious or malicious when my customers leave I want them to feel free to come back that they fooled and got their money's worth and now I'm just beginning to tell them you know I thank God for them come in because God gave them a favor when he woke them up and he gave me a blessing when they walked in uni hello will you do this I want to keep cooking until he since died I'll be 90 the second of August and I'm asking God to let me live 129 I love cooking [Music] you