This Creole cafe serves what just might be the Holy Grail of LA gumbo. The roux is dark, rich, and impossibly silky. It’s thick enough to coat a spoon and packs just the right amount of heat - enough to remind you that it’s there, but never so hot that it overwhelms the rest of the flavors at work here. And the meat - we’re talking juicy, plump pieces of shrimp, crab, and sausage - comes well-seasoned, making for a properly hearty stew. Served over a bed of white rice and with some French bread, this is the kind of comforting, nourishing meal you need to get you through the cold winter days - or what passes for cold here in LA. Oh, and the smoky fried chicken is incredible, too.