Chad Sabatier Jr. is a classically trained chef who’s worked in some of the finest kitchens in New Orleans, but his new restaurant is strongly inspired by the cooking and hospitality he saw at his grandparents’ house on Law Street in the 8th Ward.
“If you came to their house on Law Street when they were cooking, you knew that you were in for a treat,” Sabatier recently told What Now New Orleans. “Their house was also a safe haven for people who needed refuge. That’s kind of who my grandparents were.”
Set to open in the late fall or early winter in the former Calliope Beer Works at 8801 Oak St., Minnie and John’s Kitchen & Cocktails will offer a modern approach to New Orleans soul food. For example, one of the signature dishes will be ravioli stuffed with collard greens and ricotta. Minnie & John’s will also feature cocktails made with spirits from minority- and women-owned distilleries. Like the food menu, the cocktail menu will focus on classic drinks with a modern twist.
“I want to highlight my culture, my people, but I want to do it in a way that’s elevated,” Sabatier said. “Not to say that our food needs elevation. I’m just trying to do my due diligence and shine a light on Southern cuisine and soul food.”
