Big Mama (Emma Sue), a dynamic and very inspirational
individual, started cooking when she was a little girl. When the family moved to Altadena,
California, in the 50s, Big Mama would cook for her friends. As her sons, Dargin and Sam
McWhorter, would say, "When the neighbors finished eating Big Mama’s
inspirational soul food, they would take more than they ate so they could take it home in
a doggie bag."
For years, everyone
encouraged Big Mama to open a rib shack, so one day, Dargin and James McWhorter, Jr. and
Big Mama opened their rib shack. Folks from all over Pasadena and surrounding areas would
travel to get their taste of those finger lickin’ ribs and chicken.
No one knows for
sure just how Big Mama put her recipes together. That is, except for Dargin McWhorter.
"Big Mama got her recipes from her ancestry. A bit of south Georgia, Louisiana and
Virginia," he states.
The McWhorters have
always been a musical family. It was natural for them to have music at their facilities in
Altadena. As a result, Sam McWhorter, who used to hang out in Tennessee with the likes of
Little Richard, decided to open 54 Street Sound Recorders in Pasadena. Wow – Prince,
Donovan, Electric Light Orchestra, Mighty Clouds of Joy, Little Richard, Earth, Wind and
Fire, Dr. John, Chakka Khan, The Isley Brothers, Stephanie Mills, Curtis Blow and the New
Edition were but a few of the artists that used to record there. Quite naturally, Big
Mama’s ribs and chicken with black-eyed peas and apple and peach cobbler would be
delivered to the studio. The aroma of Big Mama’s cooking inspired sweet making music.
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"Big Mama is
somewhere up in heaven, and has left her sons with the memories of two important
factors," states Sam McWhorter. "One, always be the best at what you’re
gonna do, and two, always cook your food fresh, and use the best products."
 So it is that Big
Mama’s continues to cater to people of all walks of life from their new location on
Bonanza at Rancho. Big Mama’s is pleasing folks locally and nationally. Bar B Que
tender as a Mother’s love. Cajun and Creole cooking, BBQ ribs and much, much more, is
what you can expect from Big Mama’s Soul Food Rib Shack. For catering and banquets,
call (702) 597-1616. LVN |
