Since Leah Chase died on Saturday at age 96, not only locals but plenty of people and Celebs even worldwide has took to social media to share they kind words and memories of the late restaurant owner and chef.
This past Monday evening, New Orleans took to the streets in a true New Orleans fashion with a second-line parade in her honor.
The parade was organized by members of the Big 6 Brass Band. It convened in front of Dooky Chase’s Restaurant on Orleans Avenue, which Chase and her family built into a landmark of Creole cuisine.
Chase, the longtime chef at Dooky Chase’s, was widely known as the queen of Creole cuisine for her mastery of traditional New Orleans cooking.
She was revered for the role her restaurant played during the civil rights struggle, serving as a hub and haven for organizers and activists and defying Jim Crow laws of the day to host black and white diners together.
And she was beloved across the community for her generous spirit, her wisdom and her character.
Earlier in the day, former President Barack Obama tweeted his own message of appreciation for Leah Chase.
“What a life,” Obama’s tweet read. “American history has always been driven by visionaries like Leah Chase — and all the men and women who worked and ate at Dooky Chase’s over the years — folks who serve up progress one bowl of gumbo at a time.”