Lighting The Road To The Future

Zulu Ball Highlights Data Zone Page 4 “The People’s Paper” February 16 - February 22, 2013 47th Year Volume 40 www.ladatanews.com

Digital Edition The Taste of

The History of African-American Businesses Part 3 Page 2 Home Styles Data Zone Pipeline After Gras to the Throw Down People Page 7 Page 6 Chef Austin Leslie Chef Armand Olivier, Jr and Armand Olivier, III Willie Mae Seaton Cecil Kaigler & Curtis Moore (Praline Connection)

Page 2 February 16 - February 22, 2013 Cover Story www.ladatanews.com

The History of African-American Businesses Part 3 The Taste of New Orleans African-American Restaurants in New Orleans

New Orleans is famous for our delicious food. From around the world, visitors come, to sample the dishes prepared here in a way that cannot be duplicated. Something about the seasonings, the fresh seafood, the love and care and expertise, make New Orleans Chef’s the best in the world. In the Black community, food has always been the thing which gathered people together.

There is the music with its discordant sounds that ists in the City comes from its people of African-De- Written and Edited by Elise Schenck plays in the background creating the sweet harmo- scent . Many great restaurants that both locals and and Edwin Buggage nies of the offbeat character that is New Orleans . In tourist come to enjoy are some of those eateries are addition to great music and the architectural splen- owned by African-Americans, who serve up heap- A City with a Flavorful History dor of New Orleans is it is a gastronomic paradise ing helpings of some of the best food in the world . New Orleans is a City with a rich cultural his- where you can find savory food whether it is from New Orleans and its restaurants have been tory . It is a place with a mix of people from all over the finest five star restaurants to corner grocery inspirational in television series such as Frank’s the world who’s left an influence on a City that is stores and of course inside the kitchens of families Place, modeled after Chez Helene and its great a unique cultural jewel . It is truly the most Inter- of everyday people all over the City . Chef the late Austin Leslie who came to call his national City in the U .S . Every year people from The City that lies by the mouth of the Mississippi style of cooking ‘Creole Soul .’ Or that Princess around the globe come for an otherworldly experi- has a great tradition with a mix of people contribut- Tiana of the Princess and the Frog was based on ence of the Crescent City with its own pace of life . ing to it, but the roux of much of the gumbo that ex- the story of New Orleans Queen of Creole Cui-

Cover Story, Continued on next page.

DATA News Weekly P.O. Box 57347, New Orleans, LA 70157-7347 | Phone: (504) 821-7421 | Fax: (504) 821-7622 INSIDE DATA editorial: [email protected] | advertising: [email protected] Terry B. Jones Contributors CEO/Publisher Corey Anderson Edwin Buggage Glenn Jones Cover Story ...... 2 Commentary . . . 6. . Lee A. Daniels VP Advertising Terry Jones & Marketing Elise Schenck Glenn Summers Edwin Buggage Calla Victoria Editor Art Direction & Production Calla Victoria MainorMedia.com Data Zone ...... 4 Home Style . . . . 7 . Editorial Submissions Executive Assistant [email protected] June Hazeur Advertising Inquiries Accounting [email protected] Please call 504-309-9913 for subscription information or to obtain a back issue of the paper ONLY. Dated material two weeks in advance. Not responsible for publishing or return of unsolicited manuscripts or photos. Chef Austin Leslie Chef Armand Olivier, Jr and Armand Olivier, III Leah Chase Willie Mae Seaton Cecil Kaigler & Curtis Moore (Praline Connection)

www.ladatanews.com Cover Story February 16 - February 22, 2013 Page 3

Cover Story, Continued from previous page.

Willie Mae Seaton Chef Austin Leslie Leah Chase

Cecil Kaigler & Curtis Moore Wayne Bacquet Chefs Armand Olivier, Jr and Armand Olivier, III sine, Leah Chase who also has become symbolic of has for over three decades left a many not owned by African-Americans, but one of the most the resilient spirit of our City . In recent years there’s of customers satisfied with great food in an upscale at- talked about places that has become popular is a quaint also been a great number of local haunts that have mosphere . According to their website Mr . Olivier has little place on the corner of Valence and Freret and it is found their way into HBO’s series Treme’ . New Or- been operating restaurants in New Orleans since 1979 . called Freret St . Po Boys and Donuts, owned by Troy leans food, cooking and flavor is a star all its own that The 204 Decatur Street restaurant is the third and lat- Rhodies . It has become a daytime destination for many always finds a way to shine and is an important part est in this tradition . The restaurant is run by the family who come from around the City to enjoy the food from of the City’s heritage, especially as it rebuilds . For its and his long-term management staff . Armand Olivier Jr . the menu as well as their freshly made donuts that is be- face and identity is changing and there are questions oversees operations; his son, Armand III, also oversees coming the talk of the town . Another great place to dine about what the City is to become, so these traditions operations and is the Executive Chef . Olivier’s dishes located in the French Quarter is Montrel’s Bistro that and businesses become more valuable to the future represent five generations of Creole tradition, begin- is continuing the tradition of New Orleans Creole Cui- of the African-American presence in the City . ning with the woman known in the family as Gramma sine . While many of these businesses are on the East Gaudet, Chef Armand’s great-great grandmother . Her Bank of New Orleans; on the Westbank of New Orleans African-American Owned Restaurants: recipes were passed on to her daughter-in-law, Mama in Algiers, there is Rainey’s Restaurant and Caterers, Continuing a Rich Tradition Jeanne (Gaudet) Doublet (shown below) . Mama owned by George Rainey . A man who not only feeds African-American owned restaurants are an im- Jeanne’s daughter-in-law, Audrey (La France) Gaudet, his customers great food but serves his community; he portant part of the city’s history and legacy . Some carried on the tradition, and passed it on to her daugh- was honored by the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club are still operating today, such as the James Beard ter, Cheryl (Gaudet) Olivier, Chef Armand’s mother . serving as honorary Grand Marshal and also honored Award Winning, Willie Mae’s Scotch House named While many dishes have come to define New Or- by Data News Weekly as a community trailblazer for after the Owner Ms . Willie Mae Seaton, located in leans, the one that defines the City in ways that tran- his work serving others . the Treme’ neighborhood; this cozy quaint place that scends its food is Gumbo . The City is a blend of so These eateries continue doing business in the rich for several decades been known for its world famous many things put together to give it a unique flavor . As tradition of Black ownership and are an inspiration for and other soul food dishes . On any giv- quoted in the Southern Gumbo Trail and Oral History, future generations of entrepreneurs . These business- en day you can see lines wrapped around the corner Lil Dizzy’s Owner Wayne Bacquet says, “Gumbo is the es and those who run them are on the frontlines of a with people from around the world savoring a taste Soup of New Orleans with soul in it .” Wayne Baquet’s changing business climate and their presence is nec- of New Orleans finest down home cooking served up New Orleans roots grow two- hundred years deep, and essary for the African-American Community moving with a lot of love and soul . his family’s history in the restaurant business; they are forward . But as all businesses are facing challenges in In the neighborhood that is Faubourg Marigny at three generations strong . Wayne thought about leav- a tough economy . African-American owned businesses 542 Frenchmen and also when one is entering the City ing the business in 2004, when he sold Zachary’s, a are suffering greater losses, but it is up to African- at the New Orleans Airport, the Praline Connection is restaurant once known for its fried chicken and Sun- Americans to use their collective wealth to support an eatery that serves up some the best of the city’s cre- day brunches in the Carrollton neighborhood . But his African-American businesses . But in this new frontier ole/Cajun Soul Food . Started in 1990 by Craig Kaigler passion for the food of his Creole Heritage runs deep: of business in New Orleans it is important that African- and Curtis Moore, it has become a go to place for din- soon he was opening a Lil’ Dizzy’s Café in the Treme’ American businesses become innovative and re-invent ers who desire authentic New Orleans cooking at rea- neighborhood, which is the oldest African-American themselves to stay competitive and relevant in the 21st sonable prices and with great ambiance in its original neighborhood in the country . Century . And as the City rebuilds itself and its brand, Frenchmen St . location . In addition to their great food it is incumbent that there is an African-American pres- they are known for their pralines that are freshly made A Matter of Survival: The Future of African- ence in business ownership . With that ingredient in the daily and a must have for locals and tourist alike . American Businesses in New Orleans mix, a burgeoning, bustling of African-American busi- When one thinks of Creole Cuisine, there are several Freret Street is seeing resurgence with many small nesses it only adds to the flavor of New Orleans, and families that’s built great legacies in this City . One of businesses popping up on this busy thoroughfare that makes it a City where everyone can participate not just those is the Olivier’s whose restaurant located in the may soon rival Magazine Street . But many of those are in the culture, but the economy as well . Page 4 February 16 - February 22, 2013 Data Zone www.ladatanews.com

2013 Zulu Ball Highlights Photos by Data Staff Photographers

The tradition continued this year with the Annual Zulu Ball, hosted by the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club . For those who were able to attend, it was a fabulous evening, filled with music, dancing and the treat of the evening a great performance by Maze featuring Frankie Beverly . Of course, Data was there .

For more photos from Mardi Gras, visit www.ladatanews.com. www.ladatanews.com Data Zone February 16 - February 22, 2013 Page 5

Fat Tuesday’s After Gras Throw Down Around Town Photos by Glenn Summers

Fat Tuesday’s after Gras throw down around town at some of New Orleans’ most popular party spots: Kermit’s Treme Speakeasy, Basin Street Lounge, Tiger’s Creole Cuisine, Zulu Lounge & Bertha’s Place .

For more photos from Mardi Gras, visit www.ladatanews.com.

Jared Romance “My new year’s resolution for 2013 is go- ing to be just keep doing what I’m doing; just do it better and achieve my goals .” Page 6 February 16 - February 22, 2013 Commentary www.ladatanews.com

Black History Month’s Powerful Question

would credibly think there’s any established Negro History Week should change the curriculum . If books would indicate . They ig- chance that this month’s, or next in 1926, had two goals in mind . black Americans remain unfairly nore how complex and search- year’s, or the year after that’s, or One was to enable African Ameri- in the shadows, then the solution ing explorations of Black history … you get the picture … would cans to see that Blacks had a is to bring them out, not to sort have become – as a forthcoming be the last Black History Month rich history before their capture and concentrate them by color .” documentary airing next week on American society commemo- and transport to the Americas; This is an argument built on the Public Broadcasting Service rates? It’s not a serious comment, and that pursuing the truth of sand . For one thing, Cooke cites on Whitney M . Young, Jr ., the of course, and it indicates we’re the Black experience in America no actual examples of the sup- charismatic leader of the National not going to get a logical argu- was the only way to construct an posed sins of Black History Month Urban League from 1961 until his By Lee A. Daniels ment from Cooke . America worthy of its ideals . – no examples of schools or school untimely death in 1971, will show . NNPA Columnist But then, that’s not entirely Cooke’s article follows the usu- systems where Black history is Most of all, they ignore why Cooke’s fault . That’s because al scheme of the attack on Black taught only in February and ig- over the last four decades other I have a rule about this month . there is no logical argument History Month . He asserts that nored in the curriculum the rest sub-groups of Americans have ad- If it’s February, I know that some- against commemorating Black the undertaking was necessary of the year . No examples of col- opted the “special month” model . body somewhere has given an History Month . Indeed, now it’s before the 1960s, when de jure leges where Black studies courses Cooke does list some of these: interview or written an article de- more important than ever that we and de facto segregation ruled the ignore the impact of the other Women’s History Month, South claring America no longer needs plumb the facts and complexities land . Now, however, it’s outlived currents of American society . No Asian Heritage Month, Asian-Pa- Black History Month . of African-American history . its usefulness and in fact is harm- examples where in either elemen- cific American Heritage Month, And, sure enough, the conser- This is not a matter of “segre- ing the ability of all Americans to tary and secondary schools or Haitian Heritage Month, Jewish vative National Review Online of gating” American history into gain a shared understanding of colleges there is what he calls the American Heritage Month, Carib- February 4 has given us the ar- racial and ethnic enclaves . It is American history . Black History “equally absurd” repetitive focus bean-American Heritage Month, ticle of one Charles W . Cooke . Its a matter of acquiring a fuller un- Month should be eliminated and on heroic Black figures . National Hispanic Heritage title is succinct – “Against Black derstanding of American history the Black American experiences These attacks on Black History Month, National American Indian History Month: This month is by not pretending that consider- should be integrated into schools’ Month ignore many things: They Heritage Month, and Alaskan Na- Black History Month . Let’s hope ing American history primarily regular curriculum . “If there is ignore how deeply Black history tive Heritage Month . it’s the last .” through that of White Americans still too little ‘black history’ taught has already been “integrated” into Lee A. Daniels is a longtime journal- That snarky comment is reveal- is the only approach that counts . in America’s schools,” Cooke broader examinations of Ameri- ist based in New York City. His latest book is Last Chance: The Political ing, isn’t it? Even if you’re opposed Indeed, it’s clear that Carter G . writes, “or if ‘black history’ is be- can history, as even a cursory Threat to Black America. to Black History Month, no one Woodson, the great scholar who ing taught incorrectly – then we perusal of popular and scholarly Pipeline to the People By Corey Anderson Question: What are your feelings about corruption in politics in New Orleans?

Clinton Anderson Sharon Aubert Ron Stein

“I think that corruption is very ram- “I see the corruption of New Or- “I think it’s unfair because they’re pant in New Orleans and that the peo- leans politics as always being cor- leveraging their position to make ple who are helping to get rid of this rupt, but lately they’ve been cleaning money .” corruption are doing a very good job .” it up . Hopefully we will get better of- ficials in the future .”

Talk to us on Facebook; let us know how you feel. www.ladatanews.com Home Style February 16 - February 22, 2013 Page 7 DATA CLASSIFIED Call 504-821-7421 to Your Garden as a Symphony place your classified ad.

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