Hattie Moseley Austin facts for kids
| Born | ca. 1900 Saint Francisville, Louisiana, U.S. |
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| Died | 1998 (aged 97–98) |
| Cooking style | Southern cuisine Cuisine of New Orleans |
| Spouse | Willie Moseley (–1971) Bill Austin |
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Current restaurant(s)
Hattie's Chicken Shack
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Hattie Moseley Austin (born around 1900 – died April 23, 1998) was an American chef and restaurateur. This means she owned and managed a restaurant. She was famous for starting and running Hattie's Chicken Shack in Saratoga Springs, New York.
Hattie's Early Life
Hattie Gray was born in Saint Francisville, Louisiana, around 1900. Her mother, Lydia, passed away when Hattie was born. The wife of a local rabbi, Hattie Leopold, had employed Lydia. Mrs. Leopold became interested in the baby and helped Hattie's father, Harry, raise her. Hattie was even named after Mrs. Leopold.
Hattie later moved to New Orleans for school. After that, she went to Chicago. In Chicago, she started working as a cook for the family of A.E. Staley. He was known as "The Starch King" because he founded a big corn processing company. The Staley family owned homes in Chicago, Miami, and Saratoga Springs. Hattie traveled with them whenever they moved between their homes.
Hattie was married twice. Her first husband was Willie Moseley, who passed away in 1971. Later, she married Bill Austin. Hattie did not have her own children. However, she kindly took in several children from her neighborhood who needed help.
Hattie's Chicken Shack Restaurant
In 1938, Hattie Moseley Austin decided to live in Saratoga Springs for good. She opened her own restaurant called Hattie's Chicken Shack on Federal Street. This was a diverse neighborhood. She started her business with only $33.
Her most popular dish was a simple fried chicken recipe. Over time, she added other delicious New Orleans-style foods. These included shrimp, scallops, and barbeque.
Back then, Saratoga Springs was a very lively town with lots of activities, especially at night. During the summer, Hattie's restaurant was open all day and night, seven days a week. She served all kinds of people. This included wealthy gamblers and workers from the Saratoga Race Course. Hattie was also known for her kindness. She would feed anyone who was hungry, even if they couldn't pay for their meal.
Hattie Moseley Austin ran her restaurant on Federal Street until 1968. At that time, the entire neighborhood was changed by a project called urban renewal. So, she moved her restaurant to Phila Street. Hattie sold the restaurant in 1993, but it is still open and serving customers today!
