Collection:LPB

Genre: Interview

Place Covered: New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 2012-11-13

Duration: 00:28:24

Subjects: Chase, Leah | Dooky Chase's Restaurant | Chefs | Cooking, Creole -- Louisiana style | Food | ART | Civil Rights | Bush, George W. (George Walker), 1946- | Hurricane Katrina, 2005 | Jackson, Michael, 1958-2009. | Patton, George S. (George Smith), 1885-1945 | BRENNAN, ELLA | Obama, Barack

Contributors:

• Courtney, Beth Host
• Fontenot, Jodie Director
• Godoy, Al Producer
• Kamata, Leah Chase Interviewee
• Folse, John Interviewee
• Morial, Sybil Interviewee
• Chase, Leah Interviewee

This episode of the series “Louisiana Legends” from November 13, 2012, features an interview with Leah Chase conducted by Beth Courtney. Chase, known as the “Queen of Creole Cuisine,” is the owner of Dooky Chase’s Restaurant in New Orleans. She discusses: her enjoyment in meeting new people at her restaurant; her mother; how she learned to cook; the melding of the Cajun and Creole cultures; showcasing African American art in her restaurant; her husband’s work with the NAACP during the Civil Rights Movement; her relationship with President George W. Bush; living in a FEMA trailer after Hurricane Katrina; her favorite menu; baking sweet potato pies for Michael Jackson; why General George Patton is one of her heroes; her respect for Ella Brennan; her family’s plan to carry on with the restaurant; and her disappointment in President Barack Obama for putting hot sauce in her gumbo. The interview is preceded by a biographical segment on Chase, including interviews with her daughter, Leah Chase Kamata, and her friends, Chef John Folse and Sybil Morial.