WELCOME TO TASTE AND SEE FOOD COMPANY – Our Family’s Combination of Great Southern Soul Food, Culture & Art!

At Taste and See Food, we don’t do typical soul food; ours is a work of art. Experience four generations of great cooks in our family. You’ll enjoy recipes from my grandmother, Willie Pearl Williams, a first generation Northern Louisiana Pentecostal church mother, to my daughter, Kaiya, a fantastic new generation cook. Meet the family cooks of Rogers and Willie Pearl Williams of Ashton Hill, Shelby County (Center) Texas.

First, you have delicious tender juicy pit barbeque from my mom, Lois “Sugargirl” Wells and heavenly desserts from her sister, Mary “Pie” Williams, who will make your mouth water 7-days a week for their African-American Southern Belle creations. (I kid you not. Those are their real life nicknames.) Then, I have an Aunt Linda who makes a simply glorious triple layer pure white and snowy Coconut Cake; I didn’t even like Coconut Cake until I tasted hers! And our Aunt Edith from Logansport, La. who fries fish like it came from heaven and makes desserts sing like a country choir. Not to be outdone, there is my mom’s last sister, Aunt Carolyn, who cooks the best chili beans on the planet. Plus, you have my first sister, Sweet Lil’ Nell – known for her Braised Oxtails & Turkey Wings, my second sister, Rodey – the princess of All American foods such as hamburgers and baked macaroni & cheese, and my baby sister, Neki – the Goddess of Seafood who specializes in shellfish, such as: shrimp, crab, oysters, and lobster!

Those are the women of my family cooking drumline. But we also have some drum major men who can throw down in the kitchen. First you have my Dad who raised me, Donald, who if the truth be told, taught my mom all the secrets she knows about great pit barbeque. There are also my uncles: J.W. (the baker), Thomas, and Will – all of whom are fishermen and pitmasters, when it comes to fish, beef, pork, and chicken. Last but not least, my biological Dad, Maurice, of Fresno, California, from whom I got my writing skills. He showed me how to prepare upscale fish with downhome flavor, how to cook fresh vegetables so they’re not overcooked, and how to have a good time serving them up seasoned just right. We have all been cooking since we were about 10 years old. The first grandchild of Rogers & Willie Pearl Williams, I’m better known as the Collard Greens & Gumbo Queen. My name is Merle Hewitt Ray and welcome to my family heritage!

We started this business frankly because we got tired of paying good money for food that tasted less than what we expected. And, we also knew that we could help a whole lot of people eat better soul food by using oils with 0% trans fat whenever possible. So with the help of some of our favorite cookbooks and special touches from our own experience, we’ve come up with our very own version of great tasting southern and international foods. Come be a part of my family doing what we do best – cooking, eating, and having fun! Browse our entire site. You’ll find sample photos of our Today’s Specials Menu which is a list of dishes we prepare everyday, subject to change whenever Mom feels like it. Next, you’ll see some examples of our Full Menu Selections which are just some of the things we can make for you when you call us ahead of time. Soul Food is not fast food! So we take the time to do it right and make it special. All you have to do is give us some time to prepare your desire; we can cook it, even if you don’t see it listed on our Today’s Specials Menu. Please read this important info first:

• Important Food Precautions & Ordering Information

The photos you see on this website are for display purposes only and are not meant to be an exact size or picture rendition of your meal. Our menus are subject to change daily based on availability and other food best practices. All of our foods may contain: nuts, fruit, berries, fish, eggs, milk, salt, spices, and/or shellfish which means people with certain food allergies or on medical restrictions should take the necessary precautions to avoid these foods. Also all our meats, such as: pork neckbones, braised oxtails, fish and/or fish filets, may contain bones, so use caution when choosing and eating these foods, especially if you are an older person, or you are ordering for children and toddlers.

We started this business frankly because we got tired of paying good money for food that tasted less than what we expected. And, we also knew that we could help a whole lot of people eat better soul food by using oils with 0% trans fat. So with the help of some of our favorite cookbooks and added touches from our own experience, we’ve come up with our own version of great tasting southern foods that you can feel good about eating.

On the following pages, you’ll see photos of my family doing what we do best – cooking, eating, and having fun! Browse our entire site. You’ll find our Today’s Specials Menu which is a list of dishes we prepare everyday, subject to change whenever Mom feels like it. Next, you’ll see our Full Menu Selections which are examples of just some of the thingswe can make for you when you call us ahead of time. Soul Food is not fast food! So we take the time to do it right and make it special. All you have to do is give us some time to prepare your desire; we can cook it, even if you don’t see it listed on our Today’s Specials Menu.

Order Holiday Feast Here
	LUNCH & DINNER SERVED DAILY Food you can feel good about everyday. We prepare fresh delicious southern meals with forethought and consideration for your good health and excellent taste. Eat in or take out from our Today’s Specials Menu.
Items on our Today’s Specials Menu may change from day-to-day, but they usually include an array of southern favorites like: garlic-smoked neckbones, smothered pork chops, baked turkey wings done right, and delicious braised oxtails. Plus, we offer our “Better than Catfish” Louisiana Fried Sole, and Succulent Shrimp and Catfish Platter everyday!
	SPECIAL EVENTS, BUSINESS OR PLEASURE When you want someone who ‘sho can’ cook, call us.We are your best choice for business or pleasure cooking - for all your important events.
Whenever you want something else that you don’t see in our Full Menu Selections just ask and we’ll see about accommodating you from our favorite cookbooks and southern recipes. We also do excellent foods for formals, weddings, anniversaries, banquets, conventions, picnics, barbeques, and galas.