Chef Edgar Chase IV | Classic New Orleans Recipes

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Dooky Chase Restaurant | New Orleans, LA

Chef Edgar Chase IV | Classic New Orleans Recipes

What

Classic New Orleans Creole recipes from local chef Edgar Chase IV of Dooky Chase in New Orleans, LA.

Why

Edgar Chase IV is continuing the traditions learned from his grandmother, Leah Chase.

February 11, 2010

Red Beans & Rice

Recipe courtesy of chef Edgar Chase IV, Dooky Chase Restaurant

Traditionally, red beans and rice were served on Mondays. This was cleaning day, so a pot of red beans would be put on the stove in the morning to simmer all day, while chores were done around the house.

Every once in awhile the stew requires a quick stir, a little water, but not much else.

Yield

6 servings

Ingredients

- 1 pound red kidney beans

- 2 quarts water

- 1 large onion (chopped)

- 1/4 cup vegetable oil

- 1 pound smoked ham (cubed)

- 1 pound smoked sausages (in 1/2 inch slices)

- 1 cup water

- 1 tablespoon chopped garlic

- 1 bay leaf

- 1 tablespoon black pepper

- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley

- 1 teaspoon whole thyme leaves

- 2 level tablespoon salt

Directions

1) Pick through beans, removing all bad beans and any other particles.

2) Wash beans well.

3) Place beans in 5 quart pot.

4) Add the 2 quarts of water.

5) Add onions and bring to a boil.

6) Lower heat and let beans boil slowly for 1 hour.

7) When beans are soft stir well, mashing some against side of pot.

8) Heat oil in frying pan; add ham and sausage.

9) Saute in oil for 5 minutes.

10) Then add the sausage, ham and oil to beans.

11) Deglaze pan with the cup of water, then pour into beans.

12) Add all other ingredients.

13) Let simmer for 30 minutes -- the beans should be nice and creamy.

14) Serve over rice.

Chef’s Tips

- Always add thyme and black pepper.

- Never put cayenne pepper in the beans.

- Put in a little sugar.

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Dooky Chase Restaurant

I went to Dooky Chase

To get me something to eat

The waitress looked at me and said

Ray you sure look beat,

Now its early in the morning

And I ain't got nothing but the blues.

- Ray Charles, Early in the Morning Blues

Leah Chase has been dubbed the Queen of Creole Cooking and at the age of 87, she’s still toiling away in the tiny kitchen at Dooky Chase in the Treme neighborhood in New Orleans. In January, her grandson Edgar Chase IV joined her in the kitchen full-time, after studying abroad at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris.

The restaurant Dooky Chase opened in 1941 as a late night place for musicians to hang out. Five years later, Miss Chase married Edgar “Dooky” Chase II and since they didn’t have a chef, she started cooking. She ended up serving famous legends like Count Basie, Sarah Vaughn, and Lena Horne - who loved her fried chicken. Cab Calloway, John F. Kennedy, and the Jackson Five all stopped in for her famous Creole cooking. In the 1960’s, the restaurant served as a gathering place for Civil Rights leaders.

Dooky Chase was severely flooded during hurricane Katrina. But thanks to donations from chefs locally and abroad, they were able to replace pipes, and restore the restaurant. Luckily their extensive art collection was spared. They have completed the renovation and are open again for lunch, with Edgar IV at the helm.

Edgar, who has been cooking along side his grandmother since he was a teenager, says he’s lucky to have Miss Leah as his teacher.