Thursday, April 5th was a happy day in New Orleans. Church calendars indicated that it was Maundy Thursday or Holy Thursday which commemorates the Last Supper. But the smiling people lined up at the corner of Orleans Ave and Miro Street indicated a new beginning. On Holy Thursday, the tradition of Gumbo Z'herbes, a delicous creole gumbo made with greens, at Dooky Chase restaurant was resurrected...and the site of political and civil rights planning and special occasion dining from prom nights to graduations, mother's day luncheons and family dinners, for the African-American community before desegregation and for the broader New Orleans community more recently, was once again abuzz with conviviality and fellowship.

Dooky Chase's Restaurant has been a regular stop on Share Our Strength's Hinges of Hope tours over the past 18 months - because the restaurant, and Leah Chase, the woman behind it, are true symbols of hope, courage, perseverance and progress. We have seen it in various stages of gutting and renovation, but happily now the lights are on, the walls are up and painted in glorious shades of red, yellow and green, and Mr. and Mrs. Chase are working the room and providing hospitality like the pros they are.

There were a multitude of players who made up the Dooky Chase Rebuilding All-Stars, including teams from Viking, Union Square Hospitality Group, The Timberland Company, City Year, the Savvy Gourmet, and individuals champions like Jay Nix, Nicky Mouledoux, and especially Chef John Folse and culinary activist Poppy Tooker. The guy who hit the winning homerun was Ken Lombard, President of Starbucks Entertainment. In collaboration with the NAACP, Starbucks made a significant contribution which enabled the professionals to come in and finish the work the volunteers had started, and put the rebuilding on a fast-track. Dooky Chase will be open for the first weekend of Jazz Fest later this month, providing nourishment for the stomachs and souls of its diners.

Miss Leah often says that one should strive to make a person feel his or her worth, that this is a true measure of a person. It is a philosophy she has practiced personally and professionally throughout her life - one that Don Imus and others might do well to adopt - and on Holy Thursday, the enthusiastic crowd did its best to return the favor.