In the heart of Irving, there's a place where the aroma of hickory-smoked bacon mingles with the laughter of folks savoring the luckiest legume—black-eyed peas. Welcome to Po' Melvin's, where the LeMane family turns a New Year's Day tradition into a flavorful feast.
Po' Melvin's
4070 N Belt Line Rd #100 | (972) 255-3919
Serving Up the Luckiest Legume
Owner Mel LeMane, with humor as rich as their black-eyed peas, quips, "Some people eat to live. We live to eat." And their secret to turning skeptics into believers? An award-winning recipe that's been a family legacy (since 1981).
Decades ago, Mel's dad clinched the Best of Show title at the State Fair of Texas with their black-eyed peas recipe. "We had a stand in the Tower Building for five years," reminisces Mel, revealing the roots of their culinary success.
The magic begins with a pound of hickory-smoked bacon sizzling in the pot. "Any time you have bacon involved, it's gonna be good," Mel chuckles. Add a generous sprinkle of finely sliced green onions, six cans of fresh-shelled black-eyed peas, beef bouillon, and black pepper. Simmer to perfection, letting the gravy thicken and the flavors meld.
Mel spills the beans on their simple yet delectable recipe: "The best part of the black-eyed peas is not the actual pea. It's the gravy that it's cooked in."
Feeling Lucky?
Photo Credit: Crystal Lynn, A Taste of Irving
As for the luck factor? Mel's skepticism comes through, "Maybe it doesn't work for me because I cook them, but maybe if you eat ours, you'll have good luck."
For those craving luck year-round, Po' Melvin's serves up their renowned black-eyed peas on the menu. Visit them at 4070 N Belt Line Rd #100 and savor a taste of tradition, sprinkled with a dash of family history and a dollop of Southern charm. Black-eyed peas are now on sale at Po' Melvin's for $29.99, which includes two quarts and four pieces of jalapeno cornbread.
Savor the Flavor of Irving's Award-Winning Black-Eyed Peas Tradition
As always, they aren't stingy with their recipes but are kind enough to share with the community. Should you want to try your hand at the luckiest peas in all of Dallas-Fort Worth.
Po’ Melvin's (Irving) Black-Eyed Peas Recipe:
Ingredients:
- 1 lb. hickory smoked bacon, chopped
- 2-3 bunches green onions, finely chopped
- 6 small cans of fresh-shelled black-eyed peas
- 6 cubes of beef bouillon
- Water
- 2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco, and salt to taste (optional)
Directions:
- Sauté the bacon until brown and crisp.
- Add the green onions and sauté.
- Add the black-eyed peas, 2-3 cans of water, bouillon cubes, and pepper.
- Bring to a boil, then simmer for 20 – 30 minutes.
- Taste and add salt if desired, and/or a dash of Worcestershire sauce or Tabasco.
Enjoy the luck-infused goodness!
