Husband, wife team serve home-cooked family recipes in Norco

MaMa is That You sits on Apple Street in Norco

If you mistake James Wilson’s cooking with your mom’s, that is just fine with him.

In fact, if you are eating the red beans and rice, or the shrimp stew, or the pot roast at his restaurant and you call out to James in the kitchen, “MaMa Is That You?” James will happily reply, “Yes, baby!”

James and his wife Cheryl opened MaMa is that You on Apple Street in Norco on Aug. 8 with the vision of serving what they call “feel good food” to St. Charles Parish. Since then, they have received overwhelming support from the community, they said.

James and Cheryl Wilson opened MaMa is That You in August.

“It’s so fulfilling to see people enjoying my food, genuinely enjoying my cooking,” James said.

The restaurant is open Monday through Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., with daily specials each day. Menu staples include things like fried fish or chicken plates, homemade hamburgers, shrimp salad and po-boys. On Sunday Oct. 27, the restaurant will host a brunch with bottomless mimosas, buffet style breakfast and gumbo. Tickets are $25.

James and Cheryl, who have been together for 44 years, are longtime New Sarpy residents. James moved to the parish from Metairie after he met Cheryl when they were teenagers. James and Cheryl’s three children graduated from Destrehan High School, Cheryl’s alma mater, and one of their 10 grandkids is now on Destrehan’s football team.

“There is no better place to raise your children,” James said of St. Charles Parish. “It’s family oriented, especially Norco and New Sarpy. If you need a hand, your neighbors will help you. Everyone looks out for one another.”

James said they feel blessed to have a business in the parish.

“The people in Norco have shown us so much support and love,” he said.

The restaurant is a family affair. Cheryl spends her mornings working at the Arc of St. Charles as a vocational specialist and her afternoons at the restaurant (“checking the register,” James joked). Their daughter, Jasmine, also works at the restaurant, and on Thursdays, Cheryl cooks the greens. The potato salad they serve is a recipe from Cheryl’s mom.

James and Cheryl Wilson are longtime St. Charles residents. They’ve been together for 44 years.

James said he hopes the restaurant reminds people of good home cooking.

“When you go to Mom or grandmom’s house, they want you to get full,” he said. “They don’t want you to leave and, by the time you’re outside, you’re looking for something to snack on. I want your experience here comfortable, clean, friendly, with great hospitality. I want people to come here and enjoy food as if it’s your momma’s cooking.”

James learned to cook from his mom, who learned to cook from her dad. James’ grandfather owned the Metairie restaurant Hot Spot for 30 years.

“It’s almost as if its hereditary,” James said of his knack for cooking.

The first thing James learned to cook was his mom’s pot roast. He still uses her recipe today.

“My mother was the greatest cook God has every blessed this earth with,” James said. “It didn’t matter what she cooked – everything she cooked was outstandingly delicious. I try to embody her spirit when I’m cooking.”

He also remembers visiting his grandfather’s restaurant, feeling comfortable and eating good food. He wants patrons of their restaurant to have the same experience.

“I hope this is a place where people can enjoy coming to and hopefully it’ll be something that they’ll remember – like I remember eating at my grandfather’s restaurant,” James said. “I do this from my heart and my soul. It’s a passion.”