Austin Leslie facts for kids
Austin Leslie (born July 2, 1934 – died September 29, 2005) was a world-famous chef from New Orleans, Louisiana. He was known for his special style of cooking called 'Creole Soul'. People often called him the "Godfather of Fried Chicken" because his fried chicken was so amazing! His unique cooking style even inspired the look of the 1987 TV show Frank's Place.
Chef Leslie passed away in Atlanta, Georgia, at age 71. This happened after he had to leave New Orleans because of Hurricane Katrina in August 2005. He was honored with the first jazz funeral after the hurricane, which took place in New Orleans on October 9, 2005. The funeral procession, led by the Hot 8 Brass Band, marched through his old neighborhood.
Contents
Biography
Early Life and Cooking Start
When Austin Leslie was still in high school, he started working at Portia's Fountain on Rampart Street. He began as a delivery boy and later moved into the kitchen. There, under Chef Bill Turner, he learned to cook. One of the restaurant's popular dishes was crispy fried chicken with dill pickles. The owner taught him how to make it. This fried chicken would become Chef Leslie's signature dish for the next fifty years!
After high school, he worked as a chef's helper at the D. H. Holmes restaurant. In 1964, his Aunt Helen opened her own restaurant called Chez Helene. Austin Leslie then started working there full-time as the head chef.
Chez Helene: A Famous Restaurant
The first Chez Helene restaurant was on North Robertson Street, close to the French Quarter in New Orleans. It became a beloved "underground" spot. This meant it was a bit hidden but offered amazing food at good prices. Even though it was a simple place, it was often compared to fancy New Orleans restaurants like Brennan's and Commander's Palace.
Famous food writers from across the country, like R.W. "Johnny" Apple from The New York Times, wrote great reviews about Chez Helene. The restaurant served both fancy Creole dishes, such as Oysters Rockefeller, and comforting home-style meals. These included stuffed bell peppers, smothered cabbage with pig tails, and fried chicken livers. In 1975, his aunt retired and sold the restaurant to Austin Leslie.
Later, the area around the original Chez Helene became less safe. So, Chef Leslie moved his restaurant to the French Quarter. He also opened a branch in Chicago and tried running some fried chicken shops. However, the new location didn't have the same special charm as the first one. Chef Leslie eventually closed Chez Helene in 1995 after thirty years. After closing the restaurant, he wrote and published his own cookbook called Creole-Soul.
Sharing Creole Flavors
In 1992, Chef Austin teamed up with "New Orleans Bill" in Oakland, California. Together, they started making and selling Austin's famous Creole dishes to supermarkets all over California. Austin and "New Orleans Bill" also did cooking demonstrations at festivals and supermarkets. This helped bring Chef Leslie's amazing Creole cooking to even more people.
From Denmark Back to New Orleans
After Chez Helene closed, Chef Leslie worked for six months in Denmark. He was the main chef at a restaurant called "N'Awlins." He even appeared on Danish television and cooked gumbo and jambalaya for the Copenhagen Jazz Festival.
When he returned to New Orleans, Chef Leslie joined Jacques Leonardi at his new restaurant, Jacques-Imo's. This restaurant was in the Carrollton neighborhood. There, he brought his famous Fried Chicken with Persillade (a green herb sauce) and a dill pickle to a new generation of diners.
In October 2004, he moved to Pampy's Creole Kitchen in the Seventh Ward. At Pampy's, he helped teach the kitchen staff his incredible knowledge of Creole cooking. He also loved to greet and chat with guests, making everyone feel welcome.
Chef Austin Leslie's generous spirit and amazing cooking live on today in kitchens and on menus throughout New Orleans. His Creole Potato Salad also spread to California, Georgia, and other places. He shared his vibrant cooking with so many people.
Personal life
Austin Leslie was a Catholic.
Quotes
- You couldn't fry a chicken better than Austin. You couldn't stuff a pepper better than Austin Leslie. - Leah Chase
- [Austin Leslie's fried chicken] tasted as if it were "made from chickens that have spent their entire pampered lives strolling around the barnyard pecking contentedly at huge cloves of garlic. - Calvin Trillin
- He was considered by many to be the black analogue to Paul Prudhomme. - John T. Edge
