Stella Chase – Continuing the Legacy of Dooky Chase

Inside the artistic building on Orleans Avenue, the air carries the comforting scent of gumbo and fried chicken, mixed with the faint sweetness of pralines cooling somewhere in the back. The chatter of families, the clinking of glasses, and the soft rhythm of jazz in the background make Dooky Chase feel like more than a restaurant. It feels like home. Stella Chase is at the center of it all, greeting guests with the same warmth and quiet grace that once defined her mother, Leah Chase, known worldwide as the Queen of Creole Cuisine.

The Chase family has been part of New Orleans’ soul for generations. What began as a small po’boy stand in the 1930s became a beacon of Creole culture, faith, and hospitality. Stories of joy, resilience, and unity have unfolded inside these walls for over eight decades. Civil rights leaders once gathered upstairs to plan a better future, musicians played in the early years when segregation divided the city, and families have continued to come here to celebrate life’s milestones.

Today, as Stella oversees the restaurant her grandparents founded and her parents nurtured, she carries their recipes and values. She speaks softly but with conviction about faith, community, and the meaning of legacy. “When people walk through that door,” she says, “I want them to feel like they are walking into our home.”

This is the story of five generations of the Chase family, rooted in love for community and sustained by faith, music, and the rich flavors of Creole cooking. It is also the story of a woman who returned home after years as a teacher to preserve something larger than herself, the heart of New Orleans.

Roots of a Dream

How It All Began

The story of Dooky Chase begins with a love for people and a belief in hard work. In 1939, in the heart of New Orleans’ Treme neighborhood, Emily and Edgar “Dooky” Chase Sr. opened a small po’boy stand. Emily, known for her generous spirit and joyful energy, wanted to create a place where neighbors could gather to eat, laugh, and share stories. Edgar, nicknamed “Dooky” by his younger sister, was a lively man who led second lines and played music throughout the neighborhood. Together, they built something that would outlive them both.

Emily Chase was the kind of woman who could turn any occasion into a celebration. She loved cooking, loved people, and believed food was meant to bring joy. Her husband shared that vision, supporting her as she expanded the little stand into a full restaurant at 2301 Orleans Avenue, the same address where the family business stands today. What began as a corner sandwich shop soon became a place where the city came to feel connected.

The restaurant’s first dining area, now called the Gold Room, was intimate and full of warmth. Locals came for po’boys, gumbo, and laughter after a long day’s work. It also became a place where something deeper took root. The Chases built more than a restaurant. They created a space where the community could gather during times of joy and struggle, where birthdays and graduations were celebrated, and where neighbors strategized for social progress in a segregated city.

Their philosophy was simple: treat everyone with dignity and serve food made with love. Emily and Edgar believed in giving back to their community, and their restaurant reflected that spirit. Stella recalls,

“They were fun-loving people who worked hard, prayed, and gave from their hearts. That is where it all began.”

The Next Chapter

Leah and Edgar Jr.

As the restaurant grew, so did the Chase family’s story. Their son, Edgar “Dooky” Chase Jr., inherited his father’s love for music. He formed a sixteen-piece band that toured across the South, playing before legendary performers like Duke Ellington. He lived for the sound of brass and the energy of the crowd. During one of those performances, he met a young woman named Leah Lange, who had walked into the dance hall that night without knowing her life was about to change.

Leah was captivated by the confidence of the young trumpeter leading his band and equally drawn to her grace and beauty. He famously turned to one of his bandmates and said, “Keep playing; I am going to dance with that beautiful lady.” That single dance marked the beginning of a partnership that would redefine Creole cuisine and forever change the landscape of New Orleans dining.

After marriage, Leah and Edgar Jr. combined their talents to expand the family business. Leah, who had a natural gift for cooking and an eye for elegance, dreamed of transforming the casual eatery into a fine-dining restaurant where the community could experience the full richness of Creole food and culture. When she joined her mother-in-law in the kitchen, she brought structure, artistry, and vision. Emily welcomed her warmly, and together, the two women created something extraordinary.

Leah introduced menus with daily specials, refined recipes, and formal table settings, but she never forgot the people the restaurant served. Her goal was to bring dignity and pride to Creole cuisine and show that local food could be as refined as anything in Paris or New York. Under Leah and Edgar Jr.’s care, Dooky Chase became a cultural landmark and a sanctuary during some of the most turbulent years in American history.

Upstairs, in what is now called the Legacy Room, local leaders and activists met during the civil rights movement to plan marches and organize community action. Downstairs, the dining room buzzed with laughter, gospel voices, and the scent of fried chicken and gumbo. The restaurant became a bridge between celebration and struggle, a symbol of faith, resilience, and unity.

Through all this, Leah never lost sight of the heart of her work. She cooked for presidents, artists, and musicians and treated every guest as family. “She loved preparing food for people,” Stella recalls. “She loved for people to come into the dining room and enjoy life.”

It was in that kitchen, filled with aromas of spice and soul, that Leah Chase began to shape her legacy, one plate at a time.

Growing Up Chase

For Stella Chase, childhood unfolded in the rhythm of the restaurant. While other children played outside after school, she and her siblings learned the language of service and hospitality. The clinking of dishes, the hum of conversation, and the laughter from tables filled with familiar faces became the soundtrack of her early years.

Her grandmother, Emily, was the heart of the family and kept traditions alive. She hosted family gatherings, cooked feasts that drew neighbors in, and taught her grandchildren the value of faith and community. She led the rosary at her home every Monday evening, inviting people from the neighborhood to join. After prayers, she offered sandwiches and cake, reminding everyone that faith and food were meant to be shared.

The restaurant was always busy, open seven days a week, and everyone in the family had a role to play. Stella remembers being twelve years old and going from table to table, filling water glasses and clearing plates. She and her siblings folded takeout boxes on hectic days or helped serve desserts. It was hard work, but it taught them discipline, humility, and pride in what their family represented.

“My grandmother was the glue,” Stella says. “She kept us close and reminded us that everything we had came from faith and hard work.” That sense of unity carried through the generations. Even when her grandfather passed away at only fifty-three, the family’s strength never wavered. Her father stepped in to help his mother manage the business, and later, Leah joined in full-time once her children were in school. Each family member came forward when needed, driven by love and duty rather than obligation.

In the Chase household, faith was not a formality but a way of life. Sundays were for Mass and family meals, often followed by hours of laughter around the table. Stella grew up understanding that success meant serving others and that blessings were meant to be shared.

Looking back, she smiles at the memory of her younger self insisting she would never take over the restaurant. “My grandmother used to ask, ‘Who will take my place?’” Stella recalls. “I always said, ‘Not me, that is too hard.’ And now, when I walk through those doors every morning, I look up at her picture and know she is laughing at me.”

Trials and Triumphs

Every great family story carries moments of joy and moments of heartbreak, and the Chase family has known both. Through every challenge, faith and unity have been their compass.

One of the most difficult times came with the sudden passing of Stella’s older sister, Emily, who died during childbirth at the age of forty-three. The loss was devastating. Emily had been deeply involved in the restaurant and was loved by everyone there. Stella remembers the moment vividly, recalling how their grandmother, then still alive, mistook the news for another relative’s illness before realizing it was Emily who was gone. “It was a shock that changed us forever,” Stella says quietly. “But faith kept us standing.”

Even through tragedy, the family found purpose. Emily’s newborn son, Nathan, lived for only nine months due to severe complications, but Stella believes he had a divine purpose. “Every life has meaning,” she says. “Nathan helped us heal and gave us something to hold on to.”

Years later, another trial came when Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans. The floodwaters destroyed homes and businesses, and the future of Dooky Chase seemed uncertain. Leah and Edgar, already in their eighties, lost their home and the place that had defined their lives. For the first time, the kitchen was silent. Yet, even in those dark months, the family held hope.

“We were living in Baton Rouge after the storm,” Stella recalls. “People there heard that my mother was in town and invited her to do cooking demonstrations at a local cookware store. It brought her joy again.” Those weekly classes, held for small groups of nine people, became a symbol of resilience. Leah cooked gumbo and stewed chicken while Stella and her sister acted as her sous chefs, learning from her and laughing alongside her. “It was one of the most precious times we ever had,” Stella says. “Even in hardship, my mother found a way to teach, share, and give.”

When they finally returned to New Orleans, the restaurant was rebuilt with help from friends, neighbors, and volunteers from across the country. “People came from everywhere to help,” Stella remembers. “They did not know us but came because they cared.” That generosity reminded her of her grandmother’s early lessons. When you do good, good returns to you.

Faith guided the family through every trial. It helped Stella stay strong as her parents aged, her sister passed, and the city changed around them. Faith brought her back to the restaurant after years of teaching, and it allowed Dooky Chase to rise again after Katrina, stronger than before.

Most recently with the unexpected passing of Stella’s brother, Edgar Chase, III in 2024, the family had to once again deal with their grief while also caring on the family legacy.

“My mother used to say, you always have to find something to be thankful for,” Stella reflects. “Even in the worst times, she could still find joy.”

A Living Legacy

Faith, Food, and Family

When Stella Chase took on a larger role in the restaurant, she was no stranger to responsibility. Years of teaching had given her patience, clarity, and the ability to listen. Those same qualities now serve her well in the place where she grew up. “When I retired from the school system, I told my sister, ‘It is my turn now’,” she recalls. “I wanted to be here to help my parents, to learn from them, and to carry forward what they built.”

Her father taught her the business side of things, explaining the books, the layout, and the importance of running a restaurant with integrity. Her mother, always the teacher, showed her how to lead with love and to stay grounded in faith. “My mother never gave up,” Stella says. “She came to work until her ninety-sixth birthday. Cooking was her way of giving to others.”

When Leah Chase passed away in 2019, it marked the end of an era, yet her influence remained everywhere, in the art on the walls, the laughter in the dining room, and the aroma of her famous gumbo. Leah had built more than a restaurant. She had built a movement that celebrated Black excellence, Creole pride, and the power of community.

One of her most beautiful legacies is the restaurant’s art collection. In the 1950s, African American artists struggled to find galleries that would show their work. Leah offered them her walls. “When I expand my restaurant,” she once promised, “your art will come on my walls.” She kept that promise. Today, the paintings, sculptures, and prints that fill Dooky Chase are a visual history of culture and perseverance, each representing creativity that might otherwise have gone unseen.

Stella continues that spirit of giving through the Edgar “Dooky” and Leah Chase Family Foundation, which supports four areas her parents cherished, cultural arts, culinary arts, education, and social justice. The foundation provides scholarships, community grants, and support for emerging artists, ensuring that the family’s commitment to service extends far beyond the restaurant. “My mother always said, Pray hard, work hard, and do for others,” Stella says. “That is still our guiding principle.”

The next generations have also stepped forward to honor that legacy. Stella’s nephew, Chef Edgar “Dook” Chase IV, now serves as executive chef, blending tradition with innovation. Her niece Tracie Griffin manages the front of the house while niece Eve Marie Haydel manages the bar. Chef Zoe Chase, represents the fifth generation of the family in the kitchen. Together, they keep the flavors alive while shaping the restaurant’s future. Chef Dook has also opened his own restaurant, Chapter IV, as a tribute to his family and their enduring story. He also manages the airport location, which carries the family name.

In the spirit of inclusion that Leah championed, the family has broadened the menu for today’s guests, with clearly marked vegetarian options and gluten-free choices, including gluten-free fried chicken. The goal is simple: welcome everyone to the table and make sure they can enjoy something made with love.

Through it all, Stella remains the heart of the operation, ensuring that every guest feels welcome and that every dish reflects her family’s values. “This is not just about food,” she says softly. “It is about faith, family, and how we treat people. That is what keeps us going.”

From Kitchen to Fairy Tale

Disney’s Princess Tiana

Few stories capture the magic of legacy quite like the one that connects the Chase family to Disney. What began in the modest kitchen of Dooky Chase, filled with laughter and the aroma of gumbo, found its way into the hearts of millions through an animated heroine named Princess Tiana.

Disney’s The Princess and the Frog, released in 2009, drew inspiration from Leah Chase’s life and spirit. A Black woman who rose to become one of the most respected chefs in America, Leah embodied resilience, grace, and determination, the very qualities that define Princess Tiana. “My mother was a great storyteller,” Stella says. “Disney took her story and used it as the inspiration for Princess Tiana.”

For the Chase family, that connection was more than symbolic. Disney later invited fifty-six members of the extended Chase family to Disney World for a celebration in Leah’s honor. The trip became a once-in-a-lifetime moment of joy and togetherness. “They brought us all there, even family from Atlanta and California,” Stella recalls smilingly. “They cared for everything and gave us memories we could never have made ourselves.”

The celebration included Leah’s surviving siblings, three sisters in their eighties and nineties, who joined their nieces and nephews on the rides, including Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. “It was something to see,” Stella laughs. “My aunt, ninety-two years old, is going on all the rides. They could not stop thanking us.”

That moment of joy has grown into something even larger. Disney is now creating a traveling exhibition called Tiana’s Joyful Celebration, a nationwide event that will bring Tiana’s story and the spirit of Leah Chase to children across America. “Not everyone can get to Disney World,” Stella explains, “so they want to bring Tiana’s message of resilience, inclusion, and hope to cities around the country. It is wonderful.”

The story of Princess Tiana has always been about more than a dream of owning a restaurant. It is a story about faith, perseverance, and believing that hard work and kindness can open any door. Those same values shaped Leah Chase’s life and continue to guide her family. “Disney blessed our family,” Stella says. “But more than that, they helped the world see what my mother stood for: love, faith, and the beauty of being Creole.”

Passing the Baton

The Fifth Generation

As Stella looks around the restaurant today, she sees the future unfolding. Each generation of the Chase family has carried the same flame forward, shaping it with their energy while preserving its soul. The young faces now working beside her are proof that the legacy of Dooky Chase will continue to thrive.

Her nephew, Chef Edgar “Dook” Chase IV, the family’s executive chef, represents the fourth generation. He grew up in the restaurant, learning from his grandmother, Leah, and embracing her belief that food is a form of love. His creativity, professionalism, and discipline have earned him national recognition, yet his heart remains rooted in his home. He opened his own restaurant, Chapter IV, across from City Hall, as a tribute to his family’s journey. There, he serves modern Creole dishes inspired by the same recipes that filled the air of his childhood kitchen.

Beside him stands his daughter, Chef Zoe Chase, the fifth generation of Chases to cook at Dooky Chase. Her presence in the kitchen carries a sense of pride and purpose. “Our latest chef, Zoe, is fifth generation,” Stella says proudly. “We are above average.” The family celebrated her arrival as a milestone, a symbol of how far their story has come.

Beyond the kitchen, the family’s commitment to the restaurant extends to every corner. Stella’s daughter, Myla, helps modernize the business with new systems and technology, ensuring the restaurant stays efficient and future-ready. Other family members manage operations including Stella’s sister Leah Chase-Kamata and sister-in-law Alva Chase the foundation, and outreach. Each brings unique skills but shares the same values.

The family’s regular meetings keep the spirit of unity alive. Stella calls them family gatherings with purpose. During these sessions, they discuss business, share memories, and teach the younger ones about their roots. “We tell stories about our grandparents and parents,” she says. “We want them to know where we came from and what we stand for.” The younger generation listens closely, asks questions, takes notes, and sometimes volunteers to take on minor roles in the restaurant. Even the ten-year-olds have jobs, folding napkins and greeting guests.

The goal, Stella explains, is not just to run a restaurant but to sustain a living family legacy. “We want to make sure everyone feels part of this story,” she says. “That is how we stay strong. My grandmother was the glue, then my mother became the glue, and now it is our turn to keep everyone together.”

Watching her family work side by side gives Stella peace of mind. “When I see them here,” she says softly, “I know the legacy is safe.”

The Creole Way

Culture, Inclusiveness, and Identity

Her words carry pride and tenderness when Stella Chase speaks about her heritage. To her, being Creole means living with openness, kindness, and strength. It means understanding that identity is not limited to one color or culture but is shaped by the harmony of many.

“My mother always said, be proud of who you are,” Stella recalls. “And when you are proud of who you are, you can accept others for who they are, too.” That belief has guided every generation of her family. In the dining rooms of Dooky Chase, people of every background and faith come together around the same table, sharing food, stories, and laughter. This simple act of inclusion makes the restaurant reflect New Orleans itself.

Stella often reflects on how her family’s story mirrors the story of Creole people everywhere. Creoles celebrate both sides of their ancestry, honoring African roots while acknowledging European heritage. They turn history’s contradictions into culture, creating beauty from the blend. “We encompass everything,” she says. “Whatever shade, whatever texture, we are happy in our skin. We celebrate all of it.”

That attitude has shaped not only her family but the character of the city they call home. New Orleans thrives on the Creole spirit of tolerance, joy, and resilience. It is a place where music, food, and art come together naturally, just as cultures do. Within that spirit lies something deeply human, the ability to endure hardship with grace and to find light in the storm.

Stella often compares the Creole spirit to the sugarcane fields of Louisiana. “When the hurricane comes,” she says, “the cane bends low, but when the storm passes, it stands tall again.” That resilience, she believes, is what keeps their culture alive.

The Chases have turned those words into a living truth through food, faith, and fellowship. The restaurant remains a symbol of what it means to be Creole: proud, open-hearted, and always ready to welcome others to the table.

Message to the Youth

As Stella looks toward the future, her thoughts rest on the restaurant and the generations who will inherit it. She speaks of them with affection and a sense of responsibility. “Our young people are living the blessings of those who came before them,” she says. “They are walking in the light of their great grandparents, their parents, and everyone who sacrificed so that they could stand where they are today.”

For Stella, this awareness of lineage gives purpose to life. She hopes the younger generation will understand that the privileges they enjoy are built on the faith and endurance of their ancestors. “They need to remember where they come from,” she says. “Our grandparents started with almost nothing, but they had heart, faith, and belief in serving others. That is how all of this began.”

She wants today’s youth to carry that same sense of mission. Her advice is simple: pray, work, and give. “When you pray hard, work hard, and do for others, life will always open doors for you,” she says. “My mother told us that, and it is true.”

Her message extends beyond her family. To young people everywhere, Stella offers a reminder of the importance of compassion and resilience. She hopes they will look back at history, especially the struggles of the civil rights era, and see how far faith and unity can carry a community. “The elders went through so much to make life better for those who came after,” she says. “The best way to honor them is to live purposefully and continue their work.”

Her calm and thoughtful voice speaks of balance between ambition and humility, success and service. “Work hard for what you want,” she says, “but never climb alone. If you reach the top and no one is following you, you are doing something wrong.”

Her closing words are filled with gratitude and faith. “Each generation has its own challenge, but God gives us what we need to face it. The key is to stay united as a family and as a people. You can overcome anything when you have faith and stay grounded in love.”

The Spirit Endures

As the sun sets over New Orleans, the lights inside Dooky Chase glow softly against the deep gold of the walls. The tables begin to fill, jazz drifts through the air, and the city’s rhythm again finds its heartbeat inside this historic restaurant. For Stella Chase, it is both a home and a promise to continue what her grandparents began more than eighty years ago.

The wall photographs tell the story of generations bound by faith and family. Each picture, recipe, and act of service is a thread in the larger tapestry of the Chase legacy. “I am living their blessings,” Stella says with quiet certainty. Everything I do is because of the sacrifices they made.”

That spirit of gratitude and endurance runs deep in the Chase family. It lives in the art that fills the dining rooms, the stories passed down at family gatherings, and the dishes that carry memory and love. It lives in every act of kindness that connects one generation to the next.

From Emily and Edgar’s small po’boy stand to Leah and Edgar Jr.’s fine dining dream, from the civil rights meetings in the upstairs room to Princess Tiana’s joy in inspiring children worldwide, the Chase story continues to unfold. It is a story of food, faith, and courage, of people who found strength in service and purpose in love.

For Stella, the work is far from over. Each day, she walks through the same doors her grandmother once opened, ready to greet new faces and familiar friends. She does it not for fame or fortune, but for the same reason her family always has, to unite people.

At Dooky Chase, every meal is a celebration, every gathering a prayer of thanks, and every guest a reminder that legacy, like love, grows stronger when shared.