Dedication

Dedicated to my grandparents

Eat with Gigi is dedicated to my grandmother, Emma Lee Chenault Sperling, who was born in Rowlett, Texas on May 11, 1905. Gigi was a strong, savvy Texas woman with lots of spunk. She could walk into anyone’s kitchen and whip up something for everyone to enjoy. She kept to the basics and yet everything was mouthwateringly good. While I regret that I don’t have recipes for her chicken and dumplings, Thanksgiving dressing, and so many others, I’ll always remember how they tasted.

Growing up, everyone said that I was just like her, and I’m proud that everyone now calls me Gigi.

The Spirits portion of Eat with Gigi  is for my grandfather, August Nicholas Sperling, who was born August 6, 1899 in Texas. He was a large, tall, distinguished man with a gentle soul. His family came from Germany, so he’d lapse into German when he got mad.

When I spent long weekends at their home, he’d take me everywhere. I’ll always remember the ride in the front seat to the local liquor store. I remember the dark, hardwood floors that greeted us as we walked through the old wood doors, and the rows of bottles lining the walls up to the top of the ceiling. The distinct wonderful smell of liquor hung in the air as we walked through the store.

Though my grandfather only had one foot through the door, the old man behind the counter already knew what my grandfather wanted – a quart of his favorite whiskey. Placing it into a paper sack, the clerk had it ready for him before we got to the counter. Seeing that I was admiring the Cokes in the ice-cold cooler box, he said, “Go on, pick ya out something.” Walking out the door with a cold pop, I was in tall cotton as they’d say back in those days.

Climbing back into their 1955 (same age as me!) red and white Chevrolet Bel Air, I stood in the middle of the front bench, my arms stretched out across the back of the seats. By the time we got home, the decorative plastic had etched impressions into my skin. I can still picture them today.