FOOD ARTS
May 1999
 
The spirit of Josephine Baker (top, left and bottom, right) sets the tone,
while owner/host Jean-Claude Baker (at the piano with Lillette Jenkins,
top, right) improvises the melody and maître d' Jean-David Bordonaro
(with Michelle Suzuki, bottom, left) sees to it that everyone is pleased.

le jazz hot with soul
IN SEARCH OF ATMOSPHERE WHO SAID THE GENIAL MADHOUSE OF PARIS IN THE 20'S IS HISTORY? BY SHEER FORCE OF PERSONALITY, AN INSPIRED ADOPTED SON AND UNFLAP-
PABLE IMPRESARIO HAS KEPT THE SPIRIT OF JOSEPHINE BAKER ALIVE AND SHIMMYING 
AT AN INIMITABLE MANHATTAN BOÎTE. 
TED GACHOT REPORTS. PHOTOS BY COURTNEY GRANT WINSTON.

 
 
When Jean-Claude Baker found the space that would become

Chez Josephine in an ex-massage parlor far on the west end of

42nd Street in Manhattan's theater district, a sign in the window 

read "$10 Complete Satisfaction." And according to Baker,

"Complete satisfaction is still the motto. I'll even throw in a

massage between the boudin noir and the bombe pralinée, 

but it will run you more than 10 bucks."


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