JACQUES IMO'S CAFE

Raised on a farm in upstate New York by a French mother and an Italian father, Jacques Leonardi was exposed early to the cuisine of both nationalities and the use of fresh seasonal ingredients.

A graduate of the Coast Guard Academy, Jacques fell in love with New Orleans and all it had to offer while stationed in the city. In 1990, he started working at minimum wage for Chef Paul Prudhomme of K-Paul’s Louisiana Kitchen while continuing his tenure as a Coast Guard officer. It was at K-Paul’s where he learned the basics of “Nawlins” style cooking and laid the groundwork for his own dream: Jacques-Imo’s Cafe.