Barbara Chifici, owner of Deanie’s Seafood restaurants, dies of coronavirus | Mardi Gras

Barbara Chifici, the owner of Deanie’s Seafood eating places in Bucktown, the French Quarter and on Journal St., died Saturday at Ochsner Healthcare Center Kenner. She was 77.

A statement from the restaurant group claimed Chifici died of difficulties from the coronavirus.

This previous year, the Chifici loved ones marked 38 a long time as entrepreneurs of Deanie’s, recognized for serving up overflowing fried seafood platters and mountains of boiled seafood. The restaurant group employs just about 300 individuals at its a few properties.

“My mom was an inspiration to generations of culinarians and hospitality employees,” her son Darren Chifici, Deanie’s typical manager, explained in a assertion. “She instilled a real perception of hospitality, high-quality, household and pleasure into all the things she did.”

Five of Chifici’s 7 young children were being involved in the business. A sixth is a restaurateur in Mandeville.

Born Barbara Anselmo, Chifisi married her husband Frank Chifici in 1963. The few operated two restaurants, Chifici’s Restaurant in the Central Enterprise District and Gramboli’s in Metairie.

They bought Deanie’s Seafood Restaurant & Seafood Market in Bucktown in 1982. Frank Chifici died in 1985.

In 2001, Chifici opened the next Deanie’s Seafood Cafe positioned at the corner of Iberville and Dauphine streets in the French Quarter. Deanie’s Seafood Kitchen, found at 2200 Journal St., opened in 2018.

Chifici was awarded an American Culinary Federation New Orleans’ Outstanding Foodservice Professional Award in 2013, and she judged numerous culinary competitions across the state throughout her occupation.

The organization explained she remained a fixture at the eating places until eventually the coronavirus pandemic.

Chifici also had a authentic estate business for a lot of a long time. She was earlier president and a longtime member of the Elenian Club of New Orleans, a philanthropic team of ladies of Italian descent.

In addition to her children, survivors involve 12 grandchildren, two brothers and a sister-in-law.

Funeral arrangements for Chifici have not but been produced.