Study Notes on Leah Chase and Dookie Chase Restaurant

Interviews with Leah Chase about Dookie Chase Restaurant

• Significance of Dookie Chase

  • Located in the Treme District of New Orleans, Dookie Chase is a historic restaurant that has upheld Creole cooking traditions for over half a century.
  • Leah Chase, a pioneering chef and businesswoman, transformed her restaurant into a vital cultural hub for African American artists, politicians, musicians, and civil rights leaders.

• Historical Context

  • Leah Chase's experience in the restaurant began in the 1940s.
  • At that time, there was an observable shift towards better job opportunities for African Americans, with an increase in the number of professionals like attorneys and doctors in the community.
  • The 1950s and 1960s saw Dookie Chase become a pivotal gathering spot for civil rights workers.

• Integration and Community Interaction

  • Dookie Chase served as one of the few venues in New Orleans where both blacks and whites could meet, promoting dialogue and understanding amidst segregation.
  • The restaurant included a dining room upstairs that facilitated discussions on numerous topics, including political meetings.
  • It was noted that traditional meeting spaces for blacks and whites were limited, oftentimes restricted to churches due to legal constraints.

• Family Legacy and Community Respect

  • Leah Chase mentioned the high regard held by her in-laws within the community, which contributed to the restaurant's popularity and safety during a time of tension.

• Culinary Excellence

  • Dookie Chase is particularly known for its traditional Creole gumbo, highlighting the rich culinary heritage of the Treme area, where many Creoles of color reside.
  • The significance of the restaurant attracts renowned figures from various fields including Thurgood Marshall, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, and Lena Horne, emphasizing its cultural importance.

• Integration Experience

  • Leah Chase expressed gratitude that, even post-integration, patrons continued to remember and frequent Dookie Chase.
  • Notable incidents, such as hosting President George Bush, showcased the restaurant’s enduring prominence; however, she humorously recounted her displeasure regarding the manner of his entry through the back door.

• Connection to African American Art

  • For years, Dookie Chase was home to a diverse collection of art by African American artists, filling the absence of galleries catering to such artists in the area at the time.
  • Art was considered an integral part of the restaurant, with pieces acquired as gifts from notable figures like John Biggers and Jacob Lawrence.
  • Leah Chase articulated a deep emotional connection to art, describing it as something that speaks to the individual and evokes a personal response.

• Impact of Hurricane Katrina

  • Hurricane Katrina in 2005 caused significant devastation in New Orleans, impacting Dookie Chase severely. Leah Chase lived in a FEMA trailer across from the restaurant for two years following the storm.
  • She described the flooding that reached about five feet high inside the bar, creating an atmosphere of despair.

• Resilience and Faith Following the Hurricane

  • Leah discussed how she coped with the challenges presented by the disaster, emphasizing the importance of moving forward without succumbing to grief.
  • She described herself as a believer in God, reflecting on the notion that the disaster might have been a way for God to expose human errors and mistakes.

• Reopening Dookie Chase

  • The restaurant reopened two years after the hurricane, despite extensive damage, with the notable exception of the priceless African American artwork that remained unharmed.

• Personal Philosophy

  • Leah shared a personal philosophy consisting of three rules for resilience: pray, work, and do for others.
  • She mentioned a conversation with a priest that highlighted her commitment to Christian values, particularly emphasizing the joy of sharing food—a connection she saw with the teachings of Jesus.