The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-01-28
Gopher Gurnbo
And Why.

In answer to the letter below The
Journal takes pleasure in giving, the
information requested
Editor Pensacola Journal: Pardon
ignorance, but the writer would like to
know something about the origin,
composition and dietetic value of .go-
pher gumbo." Is 1t real, tangible, ma
terial and molencular, or does it be-
long in the category of the evanescent,
incorporeal, mythical and iridescent
things we can go into ecstacies about,
but cannot ensnare? I viii undertake
to swap you something rare for more
light on this subject.
Fraternally.
c. H FREAS,
Secretary BrooksviIle Board of Trade.
The Journal will not attempt to de-
scribe the delicious flavor of gopher
gumbo. for It cannot be described any
more than the Florida moonlight or
the fragrance of the honey -suckle can
be described. Who can describe 20
nance? And yet. can you find ole
who has experienced it who will say
that it is not real?
Such is gopher gumbo, and with all
of the indescribable qualities which ii
possesses it is a tangible institution.
It is the one diet which the baby of a
few months, the laboring man in over
alls, and the society belle may all par
take of from the same dish and feel
that God is good.
We do not know of the origin of
gopher gumbo-the presumption IS
that it was given to Pensacola as a
birthright. The gopher-not the gum
bo-was here before Pensacola, how
ever, and there is a legend to the ef-
feet that Pensacola got her name from
a coincidence in which the gopher
played a prominent part. The story
says that when the Spaniards landed
on the shores of Pensacola bay, one
Of the first things they saw was a
gopher and, as the gopher started
toward clump of nearby palmettos,
some one said catch 'em by the tail"
the which. the story goes, in Spanish
sounds like Pensacola-a1though we
ask any Spanish scholars not to cor
rect us if that is not right. Frankly
we doubt the incident because a GO
piers tail isn't a thing that stranger,
even, would pick out to catch him by,
the shortness thereof governing this
part of the story.
If there is anything in the world
better than gopher gumbo properly
made, we don't want it. 1t is the
quintessence of perfection and is the
real Fountain of Youth.
That the world may know of the
delightfuIness and the genuineness Of
gopher gumbo The Journal herewith
gives recipe for the dish as used by
one Of Pensacolas matrons, who en-
joys the distinction of making the
best gumbo in the land. In order that
those not familiar with the gopher can
make the dish properly the directions
for killing the gopher are given as
i-wel as making the gumbo after he is
killed and ready to be cooked:
killing the gopher-Pull his head
out and cut it off, then crack shell on
| either side from front legs to back
legs, pass the knife under the cracked
shell and loosen it up from hind legs
/ to front ones. After removing this
| shell, cut the four legs out, then skin
1t and cut it up into joints, then wash
/ IL ana season as much as considered
necessary with salt and pepper.
Making the gumbo-Put your pot on
and let it get hot, then take kitchen
/ spoon full of lard and heat it until il
melts, then take the same spoon full
Of flour and pour it into the pot with
the lard and stir until it makes a nice
rue. After the rue browns put the
gopher into the pot and let it fry
Then cut up one onion in the pot and
stir until it browns, then pour suffi-
Gent water in as required, then a few
spice to taste required after the water
Half an hour before serving put 10G
| is in.
oysters in, then when it is time Il
serve, put in file pronounce fe-lay, Z