Princess Texiana’s Roux House was born from more than a recipe — it was born from lineage.

The story begins in the kitchens of Morrow, Opelousas, and Ville Platte, Louisiana, where gumbo was never simply a meal, but a gathering place. The late Selena Laviolette of Morrow passed this soul-enriching recipe to her daughter, Hester Fregia of Ville Platte — teaching her that cooking was an act of love, resilience, and cultural preservation.

As life carried Hester from Ville Platte to Port Arthur, Texas, and eventually to Houston, she carried that pot with her. What began in Louisiana kitchens traveled across state lines, feeding family, strengthening community, and preserving ancestral tradition along the way.

From Hester’s hands, the recipe was passed to my father, Clyde Williams.

My father honored that legacy and continued it in Houston. Not only did my daddy cook a mean gumbo, he enjoyed experimenting in the kitchen where he perfected a roux so enchanting you’d wake up out of your sleep to get a spoonful. This roux was also used to make my all time favorite meal, delicious slow simmered beef tips and rice. His pot was patient. His seasoning was bold. His cooking brought people together — not just around a table, but around shared history.

I was born & raised in Bryan, Texas — growing up on the flavors, the stories, and the foundation laid before me. The gumbo, the roux, and the beef tips that once simmered in Louisiana and Southeast Texas kitchens became part of my own upbringing, even from the womb as that’s one of the many dishes my dad fed to my mother, Wanda Smith-Williams, during pregnancy. It shaped my understanding of family, love, culture, and community.

But legacy only survives when someone chooses to carry it forward.

With a clear vision to honor my ancestors and preserve what they built, I made the decision to crown this tradition forward. What started in Louisiana, migrated through Port Arthur and Houston, and was rooted into my life in Bryan now lives on through me — with intention, gratitude, and purpose.

Every batch I simmer carries the hands of Selena, the journey of Hester, the strength of my father, and my commitment to continue what they began.

This is more than food.

This is migration.

This is ancestry.

This is Bryan, Louisiana, and Texas in one pot.