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Meet 94-year-old Leah Chase. For 70 years she has led the kitchen at New Orleans famous Dooky Chase restaurant. During her time, she’s hosted US Presidents, civil rights activists, and music legends from Ray Charles to Michael Jackson. Her specialty is serving creole classics like gumbo, fried chicken and sweet potatoes. This week, in collaboration with Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 4’s The Food Programme, the Â鶹ԼÅÄ’s Dan Saladino sits down with Leah as she tells her story through the food she’s cooked - and asks whether a restaurant can change the course of a country.

(Image: Leah Chase in the dining room of the Dooky Chase restaurant in New Orleans. Credit: Dan Saladino)