craigdailypress.com

Stepping out of the blustery snow and into Gabriel and Joy Daigle’s restaurant, Mom and Pop’s B.B.Q., is like visiting grandmas.

Warm food, great smells and friendly faces invite visitors to come in and make themselves at home.

The Daigle’s have reopened in the old Pankey’s B.B.Q. location at 1740 E. Hwy. 40 — a building Mom and Pop’s occupied before Pankey's — and are serving Cajun style barbecue, along with malts, shakes, ooey gooey cakes and famous cheesecake.

It’s famous for a reason.

Gabriel said they would also do catering.

Hailing from Louisiana, the Daigles have spent 13 years in Craig and have owned a few restaurants during that time, including the first incarnation of Mom and Pop’s.

“We love to serve and being Cajuns we love to talk to people,” Gabriel said. “We don’t see our customers as a number. When people are here we want them to feel comfortable and at home. They’re somebody here.”

And while they say they’re happy to be serving customers again, they’re not the only ones.

“I’m sure glad to see them come back,” said regular Bill Morgan.

Morgan stops in to swap stories with Gabriel and Joy.

Aside from a homey atmosphere and great conversation, Gabriel said the food served is always good and quality.

“If it wasn’t superb we wouldn’t serve it or put it on our menu,” Gabriel said.

Gabriel and Joy both do the cooking, and in a very clean kitchen nonetheless.

Visible to customers walking in, Gabriel said he likes the ability for customers to see their food being prepared, so they have no doubts about what they’re getting and how it’s being handled.

It seems the restaurant business was the natural route for the Daigle’s to go.

“My wife and I, we both love cooking and we both love people,” Gabriel said.

But the Daigle’s know no matter what, with their trust in the Lord, they know he’ll provide.

“We give God the glory and honor for everything we do,” Gabriel said. “That’s why we’ve always made it.”

The Daigles said they appreciate the opportunity to serve Craig again.

“We are grateful for all the support and business in the past and present,” Gabriel said.

Darian Warden can be reached at 875-1793 or dwarden@craigdailypress.com