Leah Chase (née Lange), born on January 6, 1923, and passing on June 1, 2019, was a prominent American chef celebrated for her culinary prowess in New Orleans, Louisiana. Renowned as the Queen of Creole Cuisine, she was not only a talented chef but also an author and television personality who championed African-American art alongside her culinary legacy. Her restaurant, Dooky Chase, became a pivotal gathering spot during the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s, renowned for its rich collection of African-American artwork.
In 2018, Dooky Chase was recognized as one of the 40 most significant restaurants of the past four decades by Food & Wine magazine, underscoring its cultural and historical importance. Throughout her illustrious career, Chase garnered numerous accolades, with her 2002 biography listing an impressive array of honors. In 2010, she earned a place in the James Beard Foundation's Who's Who of Food & Beverage in America, and in 2000, she received a lifetime achievement award from the Southern Foodways Alliance. Several institutions, including Tulane University, Dillard University, and Loyola University New Orleans, conferred honorary degrees upon her. Additionally, she was awarded the Times-Picayune Loving Cup Award in 1997. In 2009, the Southern Food and Beverage Museum in New Orleans dedicated a permanent gallery to celebrate her contributions to the culinary world.
