How did you learn to cook?

I learned to cook through my mother and grandmother—they taught me how to cook. My mother retired after 30 years cooking with Orleans Parish School Board. I had 25 years with Orleans Parish but after Katrina I lost my job. I was fortunate enough to be doing catering for Tipitina’s. They brought me back from Texas, and I am forever grateful for that.

Even though you’re known as ‘The Ya-Ka-Mein Lady,’ you won a Food Network award for vegan gumbo. What’...