MURRIETA, Calif. (KABC) — Sharon Cunningham was diagnosed with cancer in 2017. A few years later, the pandemic caused her restaurant to close just days after opening. Now, she's cancer free and Sharon's Creole Kitchen in Murrieta is thriving.
Popular restaurant brings the French Quarter to Southern California.
“It's really about family and hospitality,” said Zolton Cunningham, Sharon's husband and co-owner of the restaurant.
Zolton said Sharon was the lifeblood of family gatherings from a young age, and everyone wanted a bite of what she brought to the party.
“I always wondered why people waited until she arrived before starting to eat,” he said.
The traditional Creole restaurant opened in 2020 and serves Sharon's famous family recipes.
Dishes range from big bowls of gumbo and jambalaya to shrimp po'boys and rice and beans.
The owner recommends ordering family style if you want to sample a variety of dishes in small portions.
There's also a “2 by 2” option, which includes two pieces of chicken, two pieces of fish and two side dishes. Another choice is the “ragnap,” which means “a little extra” in Louisiana French.
Fish can be blackened, grilled or fried.
There are plenty of sides to choose from, including fried okra, candied yams and mac and cheese.
Afterwards, refresh your palate with warm, floury beignets: crisp on the outside, soft on the inside, served with homemade caramel sauce, which the owners recommend dipping in candied yam juice.
They've been through a lot of hardships, and Zolton says he's lucky to be in business today.
“We take a lot of things to heart. This is a family-run restaurant. My staff are like my children and my brothers,” he said. “When someone calls and says, listen, check this out, it makes us so happy, because we're not just trying to serve food, we're trying to serve an experience.”
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