In the late 1930s, as the country struggled through the shadows of the Great Depression, a determined Black woman named Hattie Austin Moseley arrived in Saratoga Springs, New York. She stepped off the train with little more than $33 to her name, no relatives waiting for her, and a heart heavy with recent loss. Yet what she brought with her was far more powerful than money—a treasured cast iron skillet, cherished family recipes from her Louisiana roots, and a spirit that simply refused to give up.
Hattie’s journey began in Louisiana, where hardship was a constant companion. She lost her mother at birth and spent her youth working tirelessly as a domestic and in restaurant kitchens, always striving to carve out a better life. When she reached Saratoga, she leaned into what she knew best—Southern cooking—and turned her memories and skills into her lifeline.
She opened Hattie’s Chicken Shack, a humble little spot that never closed its doors, serving up fried chicken, cornbread, and biscuits that tasted like home. It didn’t take long for word to spread. Soon, the line outside her stand was filled with locals, travelers, jockeys, and musicians, all drawn by the promise of food that warmed both body and soul. Her reputation grew, reaching far beyond the city limits. Legends like Jackie Robinson, Cab Calloway, and even Mikhail Baryshnikov found their way to her table.
Within a year, Hattie had saved enough to open a full-fledged restaurant. She poured her heart into her work, showing up in the kitchen well into her nineties. When she finally retired at 92, she left behind much more than a successful business—she left a legacy that endures.
By 2013, Hattie’s Restaurant was still thriving, still serving her famous fried chicken—so beloved that Food & Wine magazine once named it the best in America.
Hattie Moseley did more than feed people; she nourished their spirits. Every meal she served was a helping of dignity, hope, and joy. Her story reminds us that when love and grit walk hand in hand, something extraordinary is bound to bloom.