Chef Damien “Chapeaux” Chapman is a fifth-generation chef and restaurateur, carrying on the legacy of his family’s historic Creole restaurant, Orlandeaux’s Cross Lake Café, in Shreveport, Louisiana. His restaurant has played a significant role in civil rights history, serving as a meeting place for discussions during the late 1950s and early 1960s. His restaurant is recognized as one of the oldest continuously operating African American family-owned restaurant in the U.S., dating back to 1921.

Before stepping into the culinary world, Chapman earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Southern University A&M College, where he was a member of the Beta Sigma Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and played in the Human Jukebox Marching Band. Despite his engineering background, his deep-rooted family tradition in Creole cuisine eventually led him back to the restaurant business.

Beyond his culinary expertise, his passion for Louisiana’s food culture earned him recognition as a Louisianian of the Year (2023), Restaurateur of the Year (2024), and a Chef to Watch (2024). He was selected to represent Shreveport in the 2025 Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California, showcasing Louisiana’s rich food culture.

Chapman is also deeply involved in his community. He is a member of the Knights of Saint Peter Claver at Our Lady of The Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church and was honored as King XXV of the Krewe of Harambee, a Mardi Gras krewe that supports charitable causes.