I had the pleasure today of once again meeting Leah Chase of Dookie Chase Restaurant in New Orleans. Visiting this place was pretty much THE reason we went to New Orleans just over a year ago.

About 7-8 yrs ago, I worked 12 hr overnight shifts in a printing company. Then college classes during the day. On Saturdays, I'd sleep in till 1 pm. Totally exhaused and near brain-dead, I'd wake up to see this nice little old lady on pbs cook up the BEST food. She was gentle on the brain, and by the time the show was over, I was STARVING & fired up to cook up a feast. I ordered her cookbook, started to learn my way around the kitchen a bit.

I think more than teaching me to cook, she taught me that you should try to have a good day, even if you are having a bad day. Anyone who saw her show would know what she meant by this. This kind little lady helped make my world a little better and brighter when it was bad.

I had the chance to tell her this a year ago as we dined in her restaurant. She was wonderful, shared great stories. The fried chicken was the best we ever had. It melted in your mouth. You would not need teeth to eat this. It was other-worldly.  She was so kind.

Months later, Katrina hit. Her neighborhood was destroyed. Her restaurant, there for 65 yrs, of which she worked 60, the pillar of the neigborhood, even mentioned in a Ray Charles song, was destroyed. You would think, at 83 yrs old, she'd go "Oh well, it was a nice life and a good place". NO WAY. She is determined to rebuild. She prays to God "give me just 20 more years to do this!" She mentioned today that its her and one other person, 6 BLOCKS AWAY, who is now her only neighbor. except there is really not blocks anymore. 

Having been there a year ago, I can't fatham this. When you see this pics of New Orleans leveled, its her neighborhood.  

She came to milwaukee this weekend on the invite of friends just to "get out of there" for a bit, breathe, take a rest. But some restauranters in town are doing their damnedest to try and raise a little money to help her get her restaurant and her neighborhood back. Her restaurant is not in the best neighborhood, but in 65 yrs, no one messed with her, tried to rob her. Because all she is about is giving to the neighborhood- hiring from the neighborhood, sponsoring softball teams, supporting community groups, old-age homes. They need her. She is their pride and patroness. She wants the restaurant back because she wants her neighborhood back...

Here is the article in the milwaukee newspaper that tells a bit more....it's called "Legend Won't Give Up"

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=429351

I bought in a picture of her and I from last year that hangs framed in my kitchen to the City Market presentation today. I was last in the small line. I said "Hello Leah....this is from 1 year ago." It bought a tear to her eye, to see how beautiful her restaurant was for so many years, and what a happy place it was, not only for her, but for those who ate there. Boy did I get a warm hug.

So, if you read the article, its going to take a bit of a miracle and money to get her place back. Having been a provider all her life, it has to be hard for her to come looking for help. But she is not to proud to ask. Its not about getting her restaurant back for her, but for her community, so she can once again begin to give.

If you can, please help.

If you believe that you meet certain living angels in your life, here's one of mine.