Renauld and Gabriela Porter with LeRoux’s Kitchen | Tulsa Is Home Podcast Interview

The entertaining and heartfelt story of LeRoux’s Kitchen as they talk about the highs and lows of running a restaurant and the inspirations of their signature dishes!

Show Notes:

Guests: Renauld and Gabriela Porter, Owners of LeRoux’s Kitchen

Topic: Renauld and Gabriela Porter discuss their journey from New Orleans to Tulsa, the inspiration behind LeRoux’s Kitchen, and their passion for creating delicious food.

Key Points:

• New Orleans Roots: Renauld and Gabriela are originally from New Orleans and brought their love of Southern cuisine to Tulsa.
• LeRoux’s Kitchen: LeRoux’s Kitchen is a popular spot for authentic New Orleans food in Tulsa, offering dishes like gumbo, mac and cheese, and cornbread.
• Hospitality: Renauld and Gabriela emphasize the importance of hospitality and creating a welcoming atmosphere for their customers.
• The Power of Food: The couple believes that food can be a powerful tool for bringing people together and expressing love.
• Tulsa Love: Renauld and Gabriela have grown to love Tulsa and appreciate the city’s unique culture and community.

Additional Notes:

Follow LeRoux’s Kitchen on social media for updates and specials.

LeRoux’s Kitchen is located at Mother Road Market.

The restaurant is open Tuesday to Sunday, with late nights on Fridays and Saturdays.

Transcript:

And by the way, , we will love to fix an error. Let me just use this moment to say that. We will love, we will be honored if there’s anything wrong with your meal, because things do happen. We would love to fix it. Allow us to accommodate you if you will. Please. Thank you. Known as the biggest town you’ll ever experience.

With its unique historical background, Tulsa is home to a diverse range of people and businesses with a thriving economy, delicious eats, nightlife, and entertainment for all ages. Tulsa is also home to business Titans, entrepreneurs, artists, and foodies. Whether you’re considering a move to Tulsa or just wanting to learn more about the place you call home, the Tulsa is home podcast is for you.

Welcome to another episode of the Tulsa’s Home Podcast. , I’m excited about today’s episode. , you know, we get to sit down with Renauld and Gabriela , , Porter, , with LeRoux’s Kitchen. And, uh, I’ve been there. I’ve had several things on the menu. I love the, well, probably the gumbo is. The thing that you get, right?

Yeah. Um, yeah. Yeah. The mac and cheese with, oh, that with the bacon. That was really good. I’m a mac and cheese snob. You do you keep the green onions on there, right? Oh yeah. Okay. Gotta, that’s how it’s supposed to come. And I do understand folks might not like eat it. Yeah. And that’s cool. Have your thing pro-choice.

But to get the full throttle, that is simple. Oh yeah. That’s really good. Yeah. So we’ll get into, you know, the, the name kinda the background and all that stuff, but, Mm-Hmm. tell us about. You guys, just where you’re from, family. , yeah. So the, just the background of how you ended up in Tulsa, man, Louisiana native.

, so all the way from new Orleans to Laplace, you know, that’s , my upbringing places. And I learned a lot. I learned a lot from them. Didn’t think I’ll be.

Honestly, I never would have thought I’d be in Oklahoma. That was, you know, as a kid and experiencing and everything that, you know, what we know in our environment from Mardi Gras to the way we do our food and the whole nine, just our living in general. Being here was the last thing I thought. And my mom just came in the room one day and was like, we’re going to Oklahoma.

Like God told me we’re going to Oklahoma. Told her to be exact. And I’m like, Whoa, yeah. But looking to where we’re at now, and from then. I’m glad she listened. Yeah. Yeah. Awesome. So, I mean, I know New Orleans, you know, comparatively with Tulsa, are we, we a little too uptight for you? Yeah. They don’t speak it.

I ain’t go front. You know, it’s, it’s cause going, like, it don’t matter where you at, right? All the way through that boot. We know off the rip, how you doing, what’s up baby, what’s going on. Whatever it is. Right. And I’ll hear you do that. And you’d be like, how you doing? It just, I’m like, you just looked me in my pupils.

I know you heard, I know you heard me. And so that’s something that was like a real adjustment to like, like, I gotta get used to that. I gotta get used to people that don’t even want to speak. Like, yo, that was different. But, and they cool. They turn out to be cool people. Right. I don’t want them to feel like Oh, he said we’re dudes.

Like, no, it’s not. It’s not. But the, the initial, right. That, cause we all know first impression is everything. Right. And in New Orleans, that’s that, that warmup. It’s like that. Right. And all through again, not even New Orleans, Kenna Laplace anywhere within in those, in that area throughout that boot, like I said, it’s something about.

The respect in that hospitality, that’s just, that’s the first thing off the rip. And when you throw that to the side, like, man, what are you doing? Yeah. Yeah. So how does new Orleans do hospitality? Oh man. Like I love you. Yeah. Yeah. Like, how I want to be, like how I want to be treated when I come to that. I want that red carpet.

Especially if you can cook, man, lay it on, yeah, yeah, lay it on me, right? And, and that’s what you want. When you getting to these places, like, when you really see how it is, all the way throughout that region. ,, once I let you in, like, my house, we let, , you in my house. Right. Yeah do you understand what I’m, I’m inviting you into my life.

Even if it’s for five minutes, you are here where this is my domain. This is my safe retreat. And from that initial point is I’m going to let you be treated exactly how I want to be treated. So if it’s the food. Yeah. If it’s the good energy. Yeah. And that’s what it’s about. We ain’t here to make you feel all crazy.

Cause if that’s the case, Don’t bring your ass in. Yeah. Yeah, just don’t don’t come in here. You know what I’m saying? And I don’t know if I, I don’t know if I could, I’m on mute. No, you’re fine. But that’s just a saying, that’s what it is. It’s like, you know, don’t do it. And they’ll talk over you too. You go there and don’t eat?

What’s wrong with your people? What’s, yeah, what’s wrong with your people? , we’re there on a diet? Yeah, that’s funny. Yeah. What’s your favorite meal? Stuffed bell pepper. Garlic stuffed roast, , baked spaghetti. We do the spaghetti noodles , with the cheese sauce and then put a layer on that one.

It is very good. I like to start doing that more often at the kitchen. , the peas with potato salad. Yeah. That is like the ultimate. And if somebody really feeling gravy, put some rice dressing or some cornbread. , not cornbread, but some, , crawfish and shrimp rice and we good to go. Yeah, that’s it.

That’s it. I take that plate any day. Any day. Any day. I’m telling you. Any day. It’s fine. Or some chicken and rice. Right? But that’s gravy. It’s like chicken and gravy and rice. It’s nice little brown, skillet gravy. You ain’t got to do too much. Right? You put the old rice with some peas and potatoes in it.

Simple, but deadly. So the, you mentioned kind of the, the hospitality. And, , you know, when you invite somebody into your home. Yeah. , even in just like your social media stuff with, , with LeRoux’s Kitchen. Mm hmm. , what’s the slogan? Translating love through food. So how do you do that through, like what, what does that mean practically?

Intent, right? , Watching people cook coming up. , it’s a way that like, when you go by your grandma’s house, right, you ain’t go by your mama’s house, you ain’t go by your auntie’s house, you go by your uncle and them, they get down in the kitchen. , it’s something about that energy. Like, as soon as you walk in the house, it ain’t even, you ain’t even put your mouth on, , none of the food.

Nobody ain’t, ain’t, right? You just, it smells and it’s vibes. And it’s something about that feeling. Like, that you just get. It’s calming. You could have had some crazy stuff going on, right, before you got there, yesterday, last week, whatever. Some, you know, are just chilling. And it’s something about the way it enhances you.

The way it just, it hugs you, and that embrace through the air, and then once you get the food, it’s like, Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. This is why we had come on house every Sunday reporting live. We don’t care what’s going on. This is, you know, , and to any family that experienced the Sunday dinners, they know, right?

That feeling to be able to go there, right? Thanksgiving, that feeling that you just, you feel, you know, It’s a certain energy that’s just calming and it’s embracing. And so seeing the power in that, that was how could we put a hug in the plate? How could we put a handshake? How could we put a how you doing?

How could we do a I love you, I appreciate you, thank you? Right? And even more essential, she had me watch this movie called Like Water for Chocolate. And have you ever seen it? I haven’t. Okay. Watch it. And it’s, really dope. And in, in his movie, every time that she cooked, whatever emotion that she bet was translated through the food.

So she was sad. If she was having arousal, if she was just, you know, a love interest or whatever the kids would be, right. She’ll do this. And the people at the table, like, Ooh, yeah. Like, wait, hold on. Like they, they feel a little seductive and whatnot, but it’s, it’s just showing you. the intent and how that could be just translated and transferred into what you’re doing.

So it make you be more careful as well about your intent and your integrity and how you handle the food and what you give people. Yeah. It’s based off a book of , Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Como Agua Para Chocolate. Like Water for Chocolate. Boom. It’s one of my favorite books. Yeah. Yeah. I’ve been checking it out.

It’s really, it’s like, The whole thing. You gotta watch it. It is interesting. It really is. And it just makes you think about your intent and what you do with it. Whatever it is that you’re putting your hands on, you know, how do you, how, like, how do you want it? Yeah. Right? That’s a great point. Like, it translates across.

Whatever anybody is doing or yeah, their trade and what they’re yeah What they put their time and energy into and yeah, you’d be mindful. Mm hmm. You know, I like it. Yeah And then so you are from LA. Yep born and raised in East LA. Yeah, and then so when did you make your way to Tulsa? About maybe about 15 years, maybe more.

My first time, the first time I came was in 2001. My father lived here and I had a brother and a sister here. Okay. And that’s how I came first. Awesome. Now I just have a sister here, a few nieces and nephews, and that’s it. Yeah, well good deal. Hopefully, Tulsa has been a good home for you the last 15 or so years.

Yeah, it has. It’s crazy to see it grow and develop as it has. And the driving is the worst thing. This is a one place that there’s like no reason to be traffic, but somehow there is traffic. No one knows how to merge. Two days off the horse. And I don’t know why. I was like, what’s going on? I feel like put that pedal down, man.

I love the traffic. Well, I love the lack of traffic , when people drive like these supposed to, cause back home something that’s 15 minutes away, we wouldn’t, We wouldn’t have been here in time. We would have been here in about an hour. You know, so, it’s a different, yeah. I just found out this weekend that, , Tulsa was ranked 13th of the most dangerous roads to drive on in the U.

S. I believe you. I believe you. I don’t know if I should question the rank for if it’s 13th or not. It’s too high or too low, but, and it just be like, you know, I ain’t go front. It’s really a lot of elderly on the road out here. I see way more elderly on the road than I thought. I’m like, yo, we need to put together some kind of shuttle program.

We need to get Shirley on this shuttle. So we get to where they need to go and make sure they got all their groceries and all that. Just get them taken care of. Cause I’m like, yo. Two of my exes had had that. Oh my God. Yeah, man, what? Wasn’t even, look, just, wham! I’m like, she out here playing bumper cars.

Yeah, Hopefully it wasn’t my grandma. Oh, man. That’s sad. Man, I was poked. , that was literally like, you know, you ever heard the joke when they say your momma’s so stupid she can hear the pork hockey? Yeah. Bruh, that happened in real life. Real life. I was like, what? I was getting ready to Uber. Just accepted a ride.

And it was like, wow. Yeah, it’s crazy. It’s crazy. Yeah. But other than that, I think that’s pretty much it. It’s really, it’s different from home for sure. For me, it’s calm. I mean there’s crime, but not like a lot. Not like, you know. He’s in a decent sized city. Yeah. Yeah. And I love the green. It’s , there’s a lot of nice little areas where you can just go and kind of, if you do ever feel like overwhelming you can go and kind of like shut it out.

And yeah, so that’s pretty nice too. Awesome. So with the menu at LeRoux’s kitchen How’d you guys come up with that and kind of the different offerings that you have pop ups? Yeah, it kind of just What was like? most popular What would sell the most stuff and what people kind of gravitated to which is I come for food We don’t just cook that.

We could cook anything. This guy is great. But that’s how we found it though. Yeah, but that’s how we kind of narrowed it down. Some, you know, it was kind of like basically people’s favorites. So we just kind of narrowed down our menu. to that. Mm hmm. Yeah, I mean, you, you, doing the pop ups, you get a chance to really see it.

You get to, you know, experiment, see how this work out, what stick, what don’t, that, and doing our other things around the city. So we was like, Doing things with dispensaries. We was doing events doing caterings. Um, Also, even on the sidewalk. We didn’t have man. We had nice where we didn’t pop the tent. Mm hmm So in the city and we just get it gone and we had all our Man, I’m telling you, we had everything except the walls, we had everything except the walls.

But that and those interactions and paying attention to what people look for, like she said, that really did help out. So honing on that, but also leaving room to experiment and put new things out, you know, try, you know, this and get creative, man, cross utilization. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Awesome. Oh yeah, that was definitely a factor.

Yeah. That cross product utilization, it really is a factor. It truly is. You know, because it, you get the, it’s pretty much like when you’re doing math, you know, your grades come a factor, so it’s like how many times can I break this down and figure that out. , it’s somewhat of a challenge at first when it’s new to you, but yeah, it’s been worth it.

Yeah. , is the, the honey jalapeno cornbread, is that like a staple or is that something that you came up with? Or that’s how we’re chocolate chip cookie. Okay. That’s how we’re chocolate chip cookie. A beautiful accident. It was a beautiful accident. We was getting ready for me to make us. She was doing everything like everything.

Like we normally do it. She was making a cornbread and it was no, I mean, when I say You know how you do something and it’s like that one time, you’re like, bro, I know, I know, I didn’t get it. I did everything right. I know I didn’t did this the same way I done this yesterday and it came out beautiful. What is that?

And it was one of those moments and we had some ingredients made a sauce real quick and all right, cool. We’re going to put this on and it was originally just , for the cornbread. It worked out that night because the cornbread actually, it actually ended up being like 10 times better. And folks, like even the people who had it before was like, yo, hey, I don’t know what y’all did to that cornbread, but this is it right here.

And so that’s where it started at, but it was a beautiful accident, man. That’s funny. Yeah. Do you have any more, like, , just kind of like that, where something came about that wasn’t intentional? The chicken! Yeah, the chicken. That was, you want to tell that part? Yeah, well, no, you’re funnier. I got you. So, we had the table, and, Right.

, we just cool. And we just got back from the event. Mm-Hmm. . We had the corn bread that night and we had some sauce left over. Right. So we had some chicken. Was it the wings? It was wings. That was the wings, right. We had to be some plane. She came by and she just dipped it off in there and ate it. And me, I’m just, he’s like, what are you doing?

I’m als at this moment I’m realizing how conventional I could be. Yeah. Like, ’cause I’m like. She just really dipped that chicken in something. She came back, she was like, Listen, this is good. She was like, this is good. We gotta put this out. So I’m like, for real? She’s like, you need to try it. Like, I’m telling you, you need to try this.

So I tried it. And I’m like, wait, hold up. This smacking. Like, this for real smacking. And we tried it out. We put it out. At the trap kitchen. And we did it at an event we was doing. Was at Studio 30. We had an event. We was popped outside. Man, we got one of them three basket fryers. Man, pull that big thing out there.

Oh man, we had it going. People was buying, they was like, yo. Like, you know, what is this? Like, what is going on? Y’all didn’t snap. Like, and so from now we knew. And she did the same thing with the fish. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. There we go. Yeah. So she, yeah, she definitely extended that from just because for a little bit, I say for a few weeks after Meet the Makers, , we ran a just cornbread and then she, like I say, popped it open and it turned from there.

And then the next thing I know, she was just like. If it’s good on the chicken, it gotta be good on the fish. And lo and behold. That’s how you got the opinion you were playing your baskets. Yeah. That was good. Yeah. Huh. That’s a good story. I wasn’t anticipating all that. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You got to find out.

I would definitely have a chocolate chip moment. Yeah. Definitely. I love it. That’s awesome. Mm hmm. , so what else do you want viewers, listeners to know about the, backstory, , just kind of where. Why should people come visit you?

It’s a loaded question. No, it’s not. , it’s really not. Honestly, for a man that’s usually having many words, I put it like this we put our energy and our love for reciprocation, meaning when you come there, we want you to feel like you should feel like you spend your money. You won’t feel good, right? It’s pretty much like a pit stop. So, How can we change the tires? How can we gas you up? How can we get you, get you going for the rest of your day and whatever it is you’re about to do?

So, that’s our intent because that’s what we want. We’re still customers at the end of the day. Regardless of what we’re doing, titles, all that, when those lights off at LeRoux’s, when we’re away from LeRoux’s, we’re customers just like them. We’re customers just like you. So, we need to, uh, Have that exchange in their understanding and be mindful and that’s why they should come.

Yeah, that’s why they get it. Translate love through food So they can eat like LeRoux. You get what I’m saying? Yeah, that’s what they want. I like it. For sure. Also, he’s like the friendliest. Yeah, we can, yeah. I’m more serious. Uh huh. Yeah, definitely. I’m not mean. That’s just my face. I’m not being rude. I’m not rushing anybody.

I just like to get everything done. Yeah, you ordered. Let’s get it. I want your food. Let’s get it out in the zone. Yeah That’s how I am and I feel like people sometimes misinterpret that yeah, but I it’s just it’s just my face y’all pretty much Yeah, it really is and it’s it’s not like New Orleans. I ain’t go front like I’ll be honest like back home Man, listen, how people be all in the line and like you, you been waiting, you already been in a line like 10 minutes and then you get up to the counter and you still, uh, uh, uh, like you ain’t figured out nothing, you don’t have no blueprint on where you want to go.

Baby, you didn’t, you didn’t still in the line like five, 10 minutes and you still don’t have a clue. Like, yeah, you, you about to have a big roofer and it’s, it’s that, and it’s not, it’s not It’s not, we was like, come on bro, don’t, don’t get in the line playing. We got a bunch of hungry people back here. What you doing?

You know? So we way, way calmer, way nicer than you. We don’t rush. We don’t rush anyone. We’ll just ask you. Okay. Let us know if you have a question. If not, like, I don’t want to hover and be looking at you at the register like, yeah. You know? Yeah. do that. So I go find something else to do. And sometimes people take offense to that, or they take it wrong, and it’s like, no, I’m really just not trying to rush you.

And uh, it’s actually nerve wracking. I, it’s very nerve, I get nervous, you know, to, to speak to people and stuff. So he’s not, he’s like, Hey guys. But yeah, but that’s, that’s it. Uh, but yeah, no, we love what we do. Awesome. Well, you can tell it’s, you’re very intentional with everything LeRoux, so. It’s mandatory.

I ain’t, you know, like, my mama still call me and say something about that. Like, if it ain’t on point, oh man, she ain’t from the Spare Your Feelings generation. What? She’ll say, what’s happening? Yeah, if the gumbo off, if the gumbo off, She’ll show up, she’ll send that call. Like, yeah, I had the gumbo today.

, this ain’t with the consistent, this ain’t the You know, and you need that, and you want that. Even from the people that’s been, you know, alone this journey with us , from the start. They know. They like, Aye, bro, I came in. This Hey, I came in and with, you know, so we get that from my phone and that’s, that do help because especially being public, you got all the, it’s easy to comment as easy to, I went down and some folks don’t even give you a chance.

Like they don’t. And by the way, . We will love to fix an error. Let me just use this moment to say that we will love, we will be honored if there’s anything wrong with your meal because things do happen. We would love to fix it. Allow us to accommodate you, if you will. Please. Thank you. For real. For real.

Like it. Yeah. Because people really don’t think they in this day and time we have this, this device. So it’s divisive as it is. Hide behind the device. Innocent. Avoid conflict. Yeah! They don’t even give you a chance, man. It’s nuts. Just like you guys, you forgot. This or oh, I ordered this or hey, is this supposed to be just whatever, you know, that’s fine We won’t take it back because we can’t do that.

We’ll definitely get you right. We’ll fix it We’ll remake the food or however it is you guys want it, you know, but um, yeah Food business is tough. It is. Yeah. Yeah. It’s definitely not for the faint of heart. , and as trite as that statement is, I just say that because that’s the emphasis for all emphasis on that.

And it really ain’t. It’s, it’s something that you really have to love. Like you gotta love it. And you watch it. It’s moments you do see a lack of integrity in this business and not everybody give a, you know, not everybody, not everybody there, man. Everybody ain’t trying to make sure the procedures is.

Right, and , these are things that’s really crucial, like they crucial, and you gotta understand man, you got somebody life in your hand. , when you making that money, it might seem simple to you, you might be thinking about a little 10, 20, 25, 30, whatever you charging, but that’s somebody life. So that, whatever, even if you made a thousand dollars off it, the person ain’t breathing, it ain’t worth shit.

You know what I’m saying? So , , that’s worth you getting that little bit, right? Because the kids and the elderly is what you really have to worry about, right? They could, that could easily get to them. So what’s your level of care? And that’s something that we really take time to focus on.

Because I know one thing, if I could see people kissing, I would love to, because I’d be like, man, I’m serious. I don’t need nobody talking about. So I’ve got to, whoa. time out flag on the plate. Yeah. Yeah. So that’s pretty, yeah, that’s, that’s that. And that we’re just, we’re grateful. Yeah. Yeah. We see the businesses, unfortunately, you know, a lot have closed lately.

Yeah. Unfortunately. Yeah. , but, uh, yeah, no, we’re grateful. We’re grateful for, yeah. The support. Yeah, definitely . Yeah, man. Well, , we’re glad that you’ve, you know, chosen Tulsa to be home and, , whether it’s, you know, long term , or for a season and, , yeah. So we just, I mean, your food is phenomenal.

I’ll say that. Thank you. I can, I can vouch it’s, it really. Sure. It is a, it is, man. It’s an honor and a blessing to be doing it, truly. And that’s the thing, like I put, I’ve been out here. I’ve been out here 20, 23 years, bro. 23 years. And I still have friends from when I first walked into that high school and they still, right, we still have relationship now.

And that, and these are the things that like mean a lot. This is what you carry with you, but also the people that you meet along the way that like embrace you. And there’s so many people I could say that about. I’ve, I’ve had way more. Way more beautiful experiences than I’ve had bad out here. So I love Tulsa.

Even when people be like, man, he’s tripping. Like you don’t see like, it’s, it’s a way out. I always looked at Tulsa as it’s a way to create. It’s really a space to where it’s what you make it. And you hear that about your New York City, you hear that about your new Orleans, you hear that about your Miami’s and LA’s and you know, all the things like that, this where the populism metropolis, we hear that.

But. Here is some unique about. Which you can put together and which you could like if you put your mind to it for real for real Like you could sculpt some things and you can make connections to if you’re willing to do it It’s a lot of traffic that go here and it’s the perfect place for import export What we could do to move around right equal as it is North, South, East, West, right?

And so these things is what you look at. If you really encompass what being out here and the significance of it. And you get to experience all the weather. Man, I feel like crazy. Keep pulling the ice though. Pull the ice. It’s a place where you really do get to, and like she said, the zones that you get to escape right, the lakes, the mountains, it’s a lot.

So you can find peace here if you looking for it. It’s really a place that if you looking for it, if you looking to build, you could do that. If you looking to find some escape zones, you could do that. If you’re looking for love, you could find that. And if you’re looking for the right, you could find that too.

So if you’re looking for the best. Come see us at the Rooms, man. Yeah, yeah, for sure. Alright, well, you guys heard it, and , just go, visit at Mother Road Market. Right on. Are you at any other locations or food trucks or any pop ups or anything that We’re pretty much at Mother Road. So, Mother Road is, , every Tuesday to Sunday.

We take our last order at 8. , and then Fridays and Saturdays, we’re starting our late nights also, where we’re open from 11pm to 4am. Look at all those trap kitchens. Bando 66. Shout out to Super Secret Donuts. Yeah, and then, , we just basically, we’ll put our menu for those nights in the times and you’ll text your order or your DM your order on IG and that’s it.

Awesome. Yeah. Well, good deal. So yeah, hopefully we can get some people in through your door , and just kind of, you know, we really appreciate the, the service, the attentionality that you bring. Yeah. So we’re appreciative. We appreciate y’all for real. And thank you for, you know, reaching out. We don’t just say that lightly.