New Orleans’ legendary Dooky

I went to Dooky Chase’s Restaurant, open since 1941, its customers have included politicians from George Bush to Barack Obama. The special thing about this place is not only the food but Mrs Leah Chase, the owner and chef of the restaurant. She was prolific in her community during the Civil Rights Movement, allowing activists to meet at the restaurant to debate, strategise and arrange campaigns.

She has to be one of the warmest people I’ve met in my life, she has this inner glow about her and she recites some real interesting sayings.  She said to me that “Beauty is god given but beauty is what you build for yourself”, in terms of what you do to help others and your community. It was certainly surreal being in her presence, that’s the only way I can describe it because she has a real warmth about her and she is on the ball with politics and the community in which she lives.

But the food in New Orleans!!! For traditional Creole cooking head to Dookys. I had Okra Gumbo which is a kind of soup mixed with okras, rice and shrimp – that was my starter, then for my mains I ate fried fish, stuffed shrimp, fried oysters and fries. Dooky’s is the best place if you want a great meal.

Since I arrived in New Orleans I’ve been to a number of restaurants where I’ve tried Jambalaya, a spicy rice dish mixed with chicken and sausage. Oh and puddings – I’ve only tried one so far and that’s Bread Pudding – the thing is I’m hooked on it! The Palm Court Jazz Cafe is the best place for Bread Pudding. They dress it with raisins, cinnamon with a subtle pineapple whisky sauce – it sounds good right, but you need to try it!