Born in the 1920s in small-town Oklahoma, Mamoo grew up during some of the toughest years in American history. By the age of nine, she was already hard at work in her mother’s café — a humble little spot with a dirt floor in St. Louis, Oklahoma. Her mother, known to everyone as Big Mamma, ran the café during the oil boom, feeding hardworking folks who came through town chasing opportunity.

When the Great Depression hit and the boom faded, the café closed its doors — but Mamoo’s fire for honest, good food never dimmed. She went on to work in the restaurant world, helping launch new kitchens and sharing her recipes with anyone who asked. Wherever she went, she cooked with heart, grit, and an unshakable belief in clean, quality ingredients.