Guam - Cajun Delight owners Pearl "Mama Peaches" and Ernest Turner are just like the food they serve up at the restaurant - warm and full of love. The couple opened Cajun Delight about eight months ago in Maite with dreams of bringing Louisiana closer to Huam with some of the local food fare.
"Originally I came to Guam for the Marine Corps JROTC program at Okkodo High School," Ernest recalled. "I was here a year before Mama showed up and I knew the first question she asked me was, 'Where's the Cajun food?'"
The couple fell in love with the island and ultimately decide to stay. They both agree that one of the main reasons was because of the amazing people they have met and how they are able to relate to the locals. "I think that culture somewhat the same, the family the fiesta remind me so much of home, we always bring a lot of food to the table and everyone gets together and no one leaves hungry and in fact everyone takes food home," Mama Peaches noted.
Whether it Louisiana or in Florida, Mama Peaches was always cooking for big groups. So when she arrived on Guam, she thought opening a restaurant would be ideal. Now what makes Cajun Delight so special is the young staff. Mama Peaches has a heart for kids and explains why, saying, "I'll just begin to mentor children and open them up to their lives and I thought food would make them happy, if you made something special , it was just because you thought about that person."
When they started hiring employees, they opted for high school seniors and recent graduates hoping they would be given some sort of direction in their life. She has instilled in her staff leadership skills and the importance of teamwork. Ernest says the locals will enjoy the menu because of its similarities," saying, "I think the culture is so similar to Louisiana - everybody in Louisiana cooks, everybody in Guam cooks the cuisine is a little different, the food is prepared a little different but we like the same things - pork chops, ribs, ham hocks, smothered, things in gravy things over rice."
He insists that you have to taste it to understand, saying, "Once you taste it everything will just…I can't really explain how good the food is, you have to taste it and see. The people that have heard about Cajun delight and have come, have been really positive and really kind. My heart has just rejoiced in the kind of response we get here."
From the parking lot, the windows outside are covered with images of jazz players. When you enter, the music from New Orleans fills the air and large murals of Lousiana sites adorn the walls. Oh and of course the food! The Turners actually import a lot of their ingredients including spices, catfish, crawfish, red beans and black eyed beans. Ernest said, "With our hamhocks, they are cooked for two hours and they fall off the bone, smothered in my special gravy which I've made for the past 10 years. The et u fe - actually crawfish tails, the meat is put in a special sauce and put over white rice or over fettuccine noodles, cornbread, eat it with beans and there is gumbo soup- with sausage, chicken and shrimp in the soup."
Mama Peaches says what fuels her desire to help and give back, is that at one point in her life she was abused and was even homeless, saying, "I just want Guam to know whether or not I have a restaurant - I love Guam. I've met some wonderful people. We love the children. This restaurant was brought about of course, everyone wants to make money but it was brought about to help the youth. I have about four employees now and they will be going to college and my prayer is that we do well so we can help them with their college education."
The turners believe in having a college education and helping children by paving the way - whether it be through guidance or example. "School is everything," said Mama Peaches. "I don't want them working long hours if they plan to go to college. I want them to do well, it's very important - Ernest and I are ex-Marines, although your never an ex-Marine - once a Marine always a Marine. Ernest is a retired Marine - hoorah! - and I'm a retired marine- hooah! I still have the heart of a Marine, as always."
So if you are in the mood for some good ol' Creole Cajun comfort food, then make sure to stop by Cajun Delight located next to Shell gas station on Route 8 in Maite. They are open Monday through Friday for lunch from 11:30am- 2:30pm and for dinner Wednesday through Saturday from 5:30pm-9:30pm. You can also give them a call at 472-0471.
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