My Mama, Josephine Spallino, was born November 18, 1923. In true Italian tradition she was a force to be reckoned with; the Matriarch of our family.  She raised us to respect ourselves and others, and to understand that success comes through hard work and striving for excellence.

Mama showed her love for us in more ways than I could possibly list. As a room mother, Girl Scout and Cub Scout leader, prom dress maker, sibling combat referee, loving mother, spoil-the-child-rotten grandmother, and preparer of wonderful dinners, she was always there for us. She filled our home with love and laughter, and left behind a legacy of family loyalty and togetherness that lives on today. So, why name a restaurant after her? Because one of the ways Mama showed her love was through the delicious meals she prepared. She cooked all day for others, first in her Café, and later for the children of the West Memphis Public School District.
You would think that after doing all that cooking, she would just want to come home and rest, but she never did.

Our dinners were always an occasion. Every meal included meat, green and yellow vegetables, rice, pasta or potatoes, and hot bread. Nothing came out of a box. Everything was prepared by hand and with love. Each meal was a gift from her to us; a way to show us that she cared. And what gifts they were! Her Italian heritage, combined with all the years spent in Louisiana, led her to develop dishes that combine the very best of Southern cooking with a bit of Louisiana flair.

As I grew old enough to help, Mama taught me how to prepare her recipes, but more importantly, she passed on her gift of cooking with love. When mama left us in 1989, she left behind a rich legacy of recipes and dishes that she developed over the years; recipes meant to be served to families as they sit together and enjoy a warm delicious meal and talk about their day, just as we did growing up. Those same recipes are what you will find on the Mama Josephine’s menu. So heed Mama’s words, "Wash your hands and pull up a chair. It's time to eat."