Industry Magazine Beyond the Kitchen Door Magazine Fall 2019 | Page 3

area was relatively known to her. Her
cooking skills came largely from her
upbringing. The second oldest child in
a family of 16, she always had a desire
to both feed the hungry and serve the
community.
Being religious, she likes to quip
that the restaurant actually belongs
to God, and she is just helping run it.
Her religious background also helps
to explain her drive to give back to
the community (and give second
chances to the people that work in
the restaurant). The turnaround from
this attitude can be seen firsthand:
many of the people that she has given
second chances to now own their own
businesses and have seen further
success in their own lives. All of that
good, just because someone gave
them a second chance.
Not only does she receive support
from the community of San Antonio
but also from other businesses in
the area. One of those businesses is
Commercial Kitchen Parts & Service. As
their own way of giving a little something
back, Commercial Kitchen services
the equipment of the restaurant at no
charge and has provided commercial
refrigeration equipment “on the house”
as well.
Perhaps one of the most interesting
things about Ma Harper is her way of
giving back. As mentioned previously,
she hires people down on their luck—
even if they have a checkered past—to
work in the restaurant and give them a
second chance. In fact, five of the people
currently working at N’Awlins are “second
chances” employees. She doesn’t ask for
anything in return for this, but it has come
back to her in many ways. Remember
when Mike Rowe visited the shop? That
was after speaking with a number of
employees Ma Harper had hired out of
jail. Rowe installed a new dishwasher and
donated $20,000 to her business along
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with new dishes and silverware.
She also gives back to the community
in other ways. One time, she hosted
a Mother’s Day celebration at the
restaurant to a packed house and
charged her customers nothing, only
requesting a donation to a local women’s
shelter. Over the years, she has received
numerous awards including the Golden
Plate Award and the Blue Plate Award.
If you aren’t sold, just do a quick search
online and take a look at some of her
reviews. Almost all of them are glowing
and positive. Even better, stop by and try
N’Awlins Creole Kitchen for yourself.