The Gumbo Shop Story
From the Bayou to Chico -
A story Stirred with
Love, Heritage,
and Resilience
Some love stories start with a look across a crowded room. Ours began in 2004, in the bustling kitchen of The Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite National Park.
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Steven — born and raised in Louisiana, where gumbo isn’t just a dish but a birthright — was working the line and crafting menus for elegant events. His gumbo recipe came from his grandmother, passed down through generations, seasoned with family tradition as much as spice. Lacie — a pastry chef from Port Angeles, Washington, who had called Chico home since 1995 — was on her externship, perfecting the art of desserts.
We came from different corners of the country, with different culinary traditions, but in that legendary kitchen, our flavors, skills, and lives began to blend — slow and steady, like a good roux.
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After Yosemite, we moved to Chico together in 2006, and soon after, to Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, where Steven took a sous chef role that grew into resort administration at Lake Crescent Lodge. In the midst of that chapter, we welcomed our first child — a moment that forever deepened our sense of purpose.
In 2008, we were married beneath the snowcapped peak of Mount Shasta, surrounded by family, friends, and the beauty of Northern California.
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By 2010, Chico called us home again. Steven went on to manage the kitchens of several of Chico’s finest restaurants, eventually branching into private dinners, catering, and restaurant consulting in 2012 — the same year we welcomed our second child into our lives.
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In 2018, we were living in Paradise, California, when the Camp Fire struck. We lost everything and had to start over completely. Through all the loss, one thing remained: our commitment to family and to the joy of feeding others.
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In 2020, as the world faced COVID, we welcomed our third child. We chose to focus on raising our young family above all else — but we never stopped dreaming.
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By 2022, that dream began to take shape. We started planning The Gumbo Shop, blending the bold, soulful flavors of Louisiana — anchored by Steven’s generational gumbo recipe — with the warmth and community spirit of Chico. We poured years of experience, trial, refinement, and love into our recipes, building not just a menu but a vision: authentic Cajun food that tells our story, one bowl at a time.
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Now, we’re ready to share that story — and that gumbo — with you.
Our Team
Meet the Duo
Steven Perrot
Steven hails from Grand Isle, Louisiana, where the Gulf Coast’s flavors first inspired his culinary passion.
After classical training at Nicholls State University, he refined his skills in New Orleans working alongside renowned chefs Emeril Lagasse, John Besh, and Duke LoCicero. From 2004, he expanded his experience at The Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite National Park, mastering high-volume and fine dining operations. His career has since taken him from Washington’s Olympic Peninsula to Northern California, where he’s led kitchens at local favorites and brought fine dining into homes through private chef services.
At the heart of his cooking is a cherished gumbo recipe passed down from his grandmother — the soul of The Gumbo Shop.
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Lacie Perrot
Lacie is a talented pastry chef and graduate of Le Cordon Bleu in Portland, Oregon. She began her career as an extern at the iconic Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite National Park, where she refined her craft blending classic French techniques with creativity and precision. Her creative touch and meticulous attention to detail beautifully complement Steven’s bold, rustic flavors.
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After the birth of their first child, Lacie embraced the role of house mom, homeschooling and managing their household with dedication and love. Throughout it all, she has continued to nurture her passion for cooking, cultivating a deep appreciation for food’s power to bring family and community together — values that lie at the heart of The Gumbo Shop.