Former hairdresser Shondra Johnson opened her own restaurant, Pivot Cajun Kitchen, in October 2024 to bring a taste of New Orleans and Cajun culture to the area, with family recipes created by her late mother, Dorothy Johnson.

The backstory

Prior to COVID-19, Shondra Johnson said she was a hairdresser for 25 years before she fell ill. Once she fully recovered, Johnson said she felt a calling to change her career path and became an event planner.

“I planned my first event when I was eight,” Johnson said. “My mom gave me $50 and was like, ‘Okay, you can plan your own party.’ But from there on, I have been doing events for my family.”Her inspiration to join the culinary field came soon after she became a professional event planner. While planning an event for a client, Johnson said the caterer she hired canceled on her the day of the event. Instead of canceling the event, Johnson catered the event herself. Mesmerized by her cooking under the circumstances, her client encouraged her to continue cooking.

After graduating from culinary school soon after her mother passed away, Johnson opened her own restaurant, dedicating it to her mother.

Craving Cajun cuisine?

With her mother’s recipes and her experience cooking for her family, as well as a culinary degree, Johnson perfected her cooking skills and now shares her culture through Cajun cuisine in Magnolia.

At Pivot Cajun Kitchen, customers can enjoy menu items from dirty rice to catfish, Cajun wings and burgers made with Cajun spices. Specializing in serving large parties, Johnson said the eatery prepares large quantities of food daily with recipes made from scratch.The kitchen also serves house-made iced peach tea alongside drinks including Pivot Punch, made with moscato and fresh fruits, and the Bayou Breeze, made with wine.

After a year of serving Magnolia, Johnson said she hopes to earn more local customers and continue sharing her mother’s recipe with the community.

• 5802 FM 1488, Ste. F, Magnolia
• www.pivot-cajun-kitchen.square.site