[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 99 (Thursday, June 13, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E776-E777]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF CHEF LEAH LANGE CHASE

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CEDRIC L. RICHMOND

                              of louisiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 13, 2019

  Mr. RICHMOND. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the life and legacy of 
Chef Leah Lange Chase, New Orleans' matriarch of Creole cuisine, who 
fed civil rights leaders, musicians and presidents in a career spanning 
seven decades. Mrs. Chase passed away on Saturday, June 1, 2019 at the 
age of 96.
  Mrs. Chase was born on January 6, 1923 in Madisonville, Louisiana. 
Her parents, Charles Lange and Hortensia Lange, raised 13 children. 
When she was 13 years old, Mrs. Chase moved to live with her aunt in 
New Orleans, so she could attend St. Mary's Academy.
  Upon graduation, Mrs. Chase took on several different jobs before she 
finally entered into the culinary industry as a French Quarter 
restaurant waitress. After meeting Edgar ``Dooky'' Chase Jr. in 1946 
and eventually marrying him three months later, she transformed his 
family's sandwich stand into a full-fledged restaurant known as ``Dooky 
Chase'' that served as the only top-tier dining option available to 
African Americans in New Orleans.
  During the following decade, Dookie Chase became a key location for 
leaders of the Civil Rights movement to come together, organize, and 
discuss pressing social issues. ore broadly, countless black 
entertainers and icons dined at her restaurant including James Baldwin, 
Thurgood Marshall, Quincy Jones, and Ray Charles.
  In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina ravaged her home and her restaurant 
with devastating flood waters . However, it was her steadfast 
determination and sheer will to rebuild the restaurant that made it 
possible to re-open its doors a mere two years later.
  Mrs. Chase's talent and contributions led to numerous accolades, 
including awards from the James Beard Foundation, the NAACP, and 
Southern Foodways Alliance. In her honor, the Southern Food and 
Beverage museum even named a permanent gallery after her.
  Mrs. Chase served on several boards including the New Orleans Museum 
of Art, the Arts Council of New Orleans, the Louisiana Children's 
Museum, the Urban League of Greater New Orleans, and the Greater New 
Orleans Foundation.
  Mrs. Chase was known to most as the legendary Queen to Creole 
Cuisine, but to me, she was a close friend , mentor, and source of 
inspiration. Her passion and skill in culinary

[[Page E777]]

arts served as a vessel not only to bring people together at a time 
when our nation faced racial strife and segregation, but also as a way 
to heal communities, champion the Civil Rights movement, and transcend 
institutional barriers to success.
  Mrs. Chase's personable demeanor made her the matriarch of New 
Orleans. Her heart and soul touched the lives of so many who traveled 
from far and wide to experience the iconic cuisine of Dooky Chase 
Restaurant. I cherish the time spent with Mrs. Chase and offer my 
sincere condolences to the Chase family.
  While she will be sorely missed, her imprint and legacy in New 
Orleans history and culture will remain present for a lifetime to come.
  Mrs. Chase is survived by her son, Edgar Chase III; her two 
daughters, Leah Chase Kamata and Stella Chase Reese.; in addition to 
siblings, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
  Madam Speaker, I celebrate the life and legacy of Chef Leah Lange 
Chase.

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