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Leah Chase: The Queen of Creole Cuisine

Louisiana Public Broadcasting・39 minutes read

Leah Chase is a highly respected and iconic chef known for her culinary skills and leadership at Dooky Chase's, inspiring many with her passion and resilience. Her restaurant played a significant role in racial integration, civil rights movements, and community support, making her a beloved figure in New Orleans.

Insights

  • Leah Chase, the Queen of Creole Cuisine, has been a culinary icon for 70 years, known for her exceptional gumbo and leadership in the kitchen, inspiring individuals of all backgrounds to pursue their dreams through her life story.
  • Dooky Chase's restaurant, under Leah Chase's guidance, became a symbol of unity and a hub for civil rights discussions during the '60s, hosting meetings between blacks and whites, despite facing threats like a pipe bomb, showcasing the transformative power of food and hospitality in fostering social change.

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Recent questions

  • Who supports Leah Chase's funding?

    Various entities like Whitney Institute and Dillard University.

  • What is Leah Chase known for?

    Being a renowned chef at Dooky Chase's.

  • How did Leah Chase impact society?

    By transcending race and inspiring individuals.

  • What is served at Dooky Chase's?

    Exceptional dishes like gumbo and stuffed eggplant.

  • How did Leah Chase's upbringing influence her?

    Instilling values of hard work and resourcefulness.

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Summary

00:00

Leah Chase: Culinary Icon and Cultural Inspiration

  • Funding for Leah Chase: The Queen of Creole Cuisine is supported by various entities including the Whitney Institute, The Rhodes Family Businesses, Dillard University Ray Charles Program, Nelly Murray Feast Committee, Liberty Bank, McAlaney Company, Entergy Corporation, Richard and Linda Freedman, Harris New Orleans City Council Community Support Grant, Talbot Realty Group, New Orleans Auction, Susan and Fayez Sarofim, Patrick F. Taylor Foundation, International House, Metro Service Group, Richard's Disposal, Friends of Leah Chase, Chef Susan Spicer, and Ed Marshall.
  • Leah Chase, a renowned chef at Dooky Chase's, has been a culinary icon for 70 years, known for her gumbo, root dishes, and leadership in the kitchen.
  • Leah Chase's impact transcends race, inspiring individuals of all backgrounds to pursue their dreams by looking at her life story.
  • Dooky Chase's restaurant showcases art by African American artists, attracting patrons for both the food and the artistic ambiance.
  • Leah Chase's culinary creations, like stuffed eggplant, are highly praised by customers for their exceptional taste.
  • Leah Chase is a unique figure in New Orleans, embodying the city's spirit, traditions, and cultural significance.
  • Leah Chase's upbringing in a large family in Madisonville, Louisiana, instilled values of hard work, family unity, and resourcefulness.
  • Leah Chase's early experiences with her family's agricultural endeavors, such as tending to turkeys and guinea hens, shaped her culinary skills and work ethic.
  • Leah Chase's journey from a Catholic school education to working in restaurants in New Orleans reflects her determination to pursue her passion for cooking.
  • Leah Chase's marriage to Edgar Dooky Chase, Jr. led to her involvement in transforming their family's tavern into a successful restaurant, where she introduced innovative menu items and revamped the decor to reflect her vision of a high-quality dining experience.

16:48

Dooky Chase's: Unity Through Food and Activism

  • Leah Chase started Dooky Chase's restaurant in 1957, aiming to provide a social space for all, regardless of background or poverty.
  • Dooky's transformed from a tavern to a high-quality dining experience, offering a place for black celebrities like King Cole and Duke Ellington to dine.
  • Leah invested all her efforts into the restaurant, with her husband managing finances while she handled everything else.
  • The restaurant attracted famous faces like Lena Horne, Sarah Vaughn, Quincy Jones, and Michael Jackson, each with their favorite dishes.
  • Dooky's became a popular spot for both celebrities and regular people, with incidents like hiding multiple girlfriends adding to its reputation.
  • The restaurant's fame spread beyond its neighborhood and city, even inspiring lyrics in Ray Charles' song "Early in the Morning."
  • Dooky Chase's played a significant role in the Civil Rights Movement, hosting meetings between blacks and whites during the '60s.
  • Despite segregation laws, Leah and Dooky welcomed civil activists, including legal giants like Thurgood Marshall and Constance Baker Motley.
  • The restaurant provided a safe space for strategy meetings, even when faced with threats like a pipe bomb, contributing to legal changes.
  • New Orleans' unique racial integration made the city more tolerant, with Dooky Chase's becoming a symbol of unity and a hub for civil rights discussions.

41:08

Leah Chase: Culinary Icon and Philanthropist

  • Leah Chase believes in the power of food to bring people together and make them happy.
  • One of her most famous specials is only available on Holy Thursday, consisting of fried chicken and a special gumbo made with nine different greens.
  • Leah's faith has led her to use her success to help various causes and support fundraisers.
  • Despite personal tragedies, Leah Chase remains strong and determined, believing in hard work and helping others.
  • Leah Chase ventured into the art world, collecting African American artwork and displaying it in her restaurant.
  • She supported artists by buying their work and even providing them with supplies.
  • Leah Chase testified before the US House of Appropriations Subcommittee in defense of funding for the National Endowment for the Arts.
  • Artist Gustav Blache created a series of paintings of Leah Chase, one of which now hangs in the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery.
  • Leah Chase has received numerous awards for her culinary skills and contributions to culture and community.
  • Leah Chase's collaboration with Chef John Folse introduced her to a wider audience through TV appearances and culinary events across the country.

01:04:18

Leah Chase: Queen of Creole Cuisine's Legacy

  • Leah Chase's jacket is on permanent display at the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
  • Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in August 2005, affecting Leah Chase's life and restaurant.
  • John Folse, Ella Brennan, and Chef John Besh, along with others, helped Leah Chase rebuild after Katrina.
  • Leah Chase served Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush at her restaurant.
  • Leah Chase is known as the Queen of Creole Cuisine and was featured in Disney's "The Princess and the Frog."
  • Leah Chase's husband, Edgar Dooky Chase, Jr., passed away in November 2016.
  • Leah Chase continues to work, pray, and express gratitude for the support she has received.
  • Despite aging, Leah Chase remains dedicated to cooking and hopes to repay those who have helped her.
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