Calas Class

A New Orleans Tradition that helped free the slaves: Sample this "better than a beignet" dish while learning the importance of a simple New Orleans pastry and its impact on history.

This class will be held in the Education Center at the New Orleans Jazz Museum. The class capacity is limited to 15 participants.

New Orleans 6th ward native Dianne “Gumbo Marie” Honore’ is a local history buff, event producer and award winning cultural preservationist who founded the Black Storyville Baby Dolls™, the Amazons Benevolent Society™, and co-founded Unheard Voices of Louisiana™. Dianne believes in awakening the past by giving voice to history. She has written, produced and presented many history-related music and food events, panel discussions, tours, and exhibits over several decades. In addition to appearances on nationally syndicated television and promotional materials for Louisiana tourism she also hosted a live local television show focused on New Orleans history and current events. She developed an "exhibit-store" called "Gumbo Marie" in which she curated rotating exhibits on Louisiana history, held classes and sold locally crafted products to support the exhibit space. Annually she produces "Baking for Breast Cancer" in conjunction with The Amazons Benevolent Society™ which raises funds for local cancer fighters. This year she was invited to make her debut as Queen of the legendary Yellow Pocahontas Hunters Black Masking Indian Tribe in the 7thward New Orleans.

She was awarded the 2013 Recognition Award by the Louisiana Research Association for outstanding contributions to society through Truthful Historical Storytelling and in 2018 she received the Mardi Gras Indian Hall of Fame "Capturing the Spirit" Award for work in the community and cultural preservation efforts.

Her Louisiana Creole ancestry dates back to ca.1738 New Orleans with the birth of her 6th generation grandmother Creole Mulatress Catiche Destrehan and includes a plethora of Louisiana notables. Growing up in the French Quarter and her family's authentic Creole restaurant she embodies a passion for her heritage and serving others. As a child, she fondly remembers meeting a Voodoo practitioner at the back gates of school in the French Quarter, 2 blocks from Marie Laveau's former home, and receiving a blessing with bones and pennies. She also recalls dancing in the numerous second lines that passed her home in Treme, spending time in local cemeteries, and studying music as a child at St. Louis Cathedral Academy. She notes that New Orleans music roots go far deeper than Jazz! Jackson Square was her Sunday playground and Congo Square was part of her neighborhood.

By embracing and learning from history as well as being a 3 time cancer survivor and professional nurse Dianne, along with Unheard Voices co-founder Dr. Ronald Schumann has developed a ground breaking program called "Healing through History."

Host or Publisher New Orleans Jazz Museum