As Rhonda Pierce and Billy Russelburg reflect on their first year of ownership with Bubba Gandy Seafood Cajun Market, they are pleased with how well they have been received by local customers and even the ones driving from more than an hour away to get their fresh seafood.
“Owensboro has never been able to offer this before,” Pierce said. “No where around here can you find fresh seafood like this. Our customers seeking fresh oysters come from as far as Land Between the Lakes.”
This holiday season they added a new item of interest to the menu — smoked alligator. The 14-pound alligators, wrapped in bacon, are stuffed with about two pounds of crawfish cornbread dressing and has a cornish game hen in the mouth.
“It’s one of my favorite dishes; it looks good coming off the smoker,” Pierce said. “It tastes delicious. It’s wrapped in bacon — what’s not to love?”
Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, they sold more than a dozen smoked alligators, mostly for private family gatherings, but a few of the unique dishes debuted at holiday parties or work-related events. Pierce said local reactions to their Facebook post surprised her.
“I have been enjoying the reaction of people around here to things I did not consider would even be noticed,” Pierce said. “Who knew that the dish would be a hit? We got 40,000 views on just one post about that alligator!”
In addition to the oysters and alligator, Pierce said they offer live crawfish when in season, salmon, grouper, scallops, crab legs, shrimp, lobster, homemade gumbo and much more. Their suppliers bring up the fresh seafood once a week.
Although there is no indoor seating, the fresh fish market does offer some prepared food such as their most popular meal, the Cajun boil. Pierce said that she is proud of the products they offer.
“I am not a salesperson at all by trade. If I don’t believe or have confidence in what I sell or what I am trying to get people to buy, I would not be good at it. I can sell what I do here because I know it’s quality,” Pierce said.
Pierce, who has lived in Owensboro for her entire life, says she has always loved to cook. After working in a hospital for 23 years, she recently stepped down to start focusing on the business full time.
“I have not been able to market very much, but now I will. Hopefully, the community will receive me well. It’s scary and exciting all at the same time,” Pierce said.
Pierce believes that when it comes to fresh seafood, customers can definitely taste the difference. She has a customer who travels for the military and he says he can’t have salmon anywhere else because he can tell the difference.
“With customers like that, it’s what makes it worth it and gets me excited,” Pierce said. “It makes me confident in my product.”
Bubba Gandy Seafood is open Tuesday- Thursday from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.. For more information, visit them on Facebook or call 270-240-1016 for more information.
