Barbara Chifici, matriarch of the Deanie’s Seafood Dining establishments passes away

NEW ORLEANS — Barbara Chifici, the matriarch of the loved ones that owns and operates the common Deanie’s Seafood Dining places has died.

The Chifici Spouse and children unveiled the pursuing assertion:

Deanie’s Seafood Dining places Operator was 77

The Chifici Family members, entrepreneurs of New Orleans restaurant team Deanie’s Seafood Places to eat, has declared the passing of their mother, Barbara “Mrs. Barbara” Anselmo Chifici. Mrs. Chifici, 77, the matriarch of the impartial relatives-owned cafe group, died late Saturday at Ochsner Professional medical Centre in Kenner from problems owing to Coronavirus.

Mrs. Chifici leaves driving 7 youngsters and a deep legacy in the New Orleans culinary planet. She also experienced a prosperous actual estate observe for numerous years.

“My mom was an inspiration to generations of culinarians and hospitality employees,” next-eldest son and Normal Manager Darren Chifici mentioned. “She instilled a legitimate feeling of hospitality, top quality, family and pride into every thing she did.”

Mrs. Chifici came from a huge prolonged Italian family members of New Orleans restaurateurs, the place she acquired the rigorous requires of operating and owning household places to eat. The Chifici spouse and children celebrated 38 yrs as homeowners and operators of Deanie’s Seafood in April 2020, owning developed a regionally owned business enterprise that employed virtually 300 workforce and served far more than 1 million visitors each year at their 3 restaurants.

Identified for its common Southern fried seafood, like the Giant Seafood Platter, and boiled seafood, Deanie’s turned a nearby most loved that garnered nationwide attention. The cafe was recognized calendar year after 12 months between New Orleans’ greatest seafood places to eat and featured on quite a few Travel Channel and Food items Network courses.

Mrs. Barbara was awarded an American Culinary Federation New Orleans’ Exceptional Foodservice Professional Award in 2013, and experienced been sought to judge culinary competitions throughout the state all through her vocation. She remained a fixture at the dining establishments right up until the coronavirus pandemic commenced last spring.

Mrs. Chifici married her late spouse Frank Chifici in 1963, and the couple operated two dining establishments, Chifici’s Cafe in the Central Business District and Gramboli’s in Metairie, in advance of purchasing Deanie’s Seafood Restaurant & Seafood Sector in Bucktown in 1982. Mrs. Chifici was widowed in 1985 right after Frank passed away subsequent an 18-month ailment.

In 2001, Mrs. Chifici opened the second Deanie’s Seafood Cafe situated at the corner of Iberville and Dauphine streets in the French Quarter. Deanie’s Sea Foods Kitchen, found at 2200 Magazine St. in Uptown New Orleans, opened in 2018.

5 of her 7 young children ended up included in the operations of the restaurants and a sixth is a restaurateur in Mandeville. In addition to her children, she leaves powering 12 grandchildren, two brothers and sister-in-regulation.

She was current president and a longtime member of the Elenian Club of New Orleans, a philanthropic team of women who are of Italian descent.

Funeral preparations for Mrs. Chifici have not nevertheless been produced.

Remember to get hold of Melissa Izor at 504-329-2626 or at [email protected], if you have any even further questions. Extra information is obtainable about the dining establishments at www.deanies.com.