The owners of a renowned local restaurant group say the mother of the family has died "from complications due to coronavirus."
Deanie’s Seafood Restaurants released a statement saying Barbara “Mrs. Barbara” Anselmo Chifici was 77.
The matriarch of the independent family-owned restaurant group, died late Saturday.
"Mrs. Chifici leaves behind seven children and a deep legacy in the New Orleans culinary world. She also had a successful real estate practice for many years."
Funeral arrangements for Mrs. Chifici have not yet been made.
General Manager Darren Chifici said, “My mom was an inspiration to generations of culinarians and hospitality workers. She instilled a genuine sense of hospitality, quality, family and pride into everything she did.”
The statement notes that Mrs. Chifici came from a large Italian family of New Orleans restaurateurs, where she learned the rigorous demands of running and owning family restaurants.
"The Chifici family celebrated 38 years as owners and operators of Deanie’s Seafood in April 2020, having built a locally owned business that employed nearly 300 employees and served more than 1 million guests annually at their three restaurants. Known for its classic Southern fried seafood, including the Giant Seafood Platter, and boiled seafood, Deanie’s became a local favorite that garnered national attention. The restaurant was recognized year after year among New Orleans’ best seafood restaurants and featured on numerous Travel Channel and Food Network programs."
