Tale of Two Sisters: Angèle Darling and Ann Jemison

by Brenda Breck

Walk into Coffee Rani and you feel it. Intertwined with the aromas of chicken grilling and coffee brewing and the soft hum of friendly conversation and gentle laughter is the welcoming sense of being in the home of a best friend. In a way, that’s just where you are—in the “dining room” of Ann Jemison and Angèle Darling, best friends, sisters and business partners. And making you feel at home is the lagniappe they give to all their guests.

Sixteen years ago, the two siblings were young mothers with growing families. The younger of Ann’s two children had just started kindergarten when she approached Angèle about opening a restaurant. “I thought she was nuts,” smiles Angèle, who had four children, the youngest being only 2. Having owned a restaurant, Café Rani (named for their oldest daughter), with husband Gary years earlier, Angèle knew the commitment of time and energy she would face.

“We must have been very naïve,” admits Ann of their decision to go into business. But, she adds, “my sister and I are very close, and when we’re together, we’re a big support for each other. We’re not fearful because we know we’ll do whatever it takes.”

And it took a lot. Work, sacrifice, ingenuity, juggling schedules, learning and perfecting the business—an awful lot! By their own admission, owning a restaurant is a 24/7 commitment. “As trying as it was,” explains Angèle, “we were so happy when we were here and doing the business.”

Any rivalry? “We never had to compete,” Ann is quick to say. “Angèle is very artistic and creative. She does the research and development—and the recipes. And although she selects the food, she’s always pretty respectful and asks what I think.”

“And Ann runs the front of the house,” responds Angèle, succinctly summing up Ann’s scheduling and handling of the everyday running of the restaurant.

They’re quick to tell of the good old days when they only served coffee, pastries and lunch. They would pick up the kids after school and return to the restaurant with the entire brood. At five o’clock, they’d lock the doors and settle the kids on the floor doing homework while the ambitious duo prepped for the next day. Comments Ann, “It was either going to make us young or kill us.” (From their youthful appearance, it’s definitely doing them good!)

While they sought advice for their menu from Gary, it was the sisters’ desire for healthful food that sparked their decision to serve entrée-style salads. Seventeen years ago, no one in the area served such meals, yet the idea was well accepted by the local folk. In fact, all of the items on the original bill of fare are still on the menu at Coffee Rani—the Greek Chicken salad, the Santa Fe and the Oriental Chicken (with their own peanut dressing), to name a few.

Explains Angèle, “We wanted to provide something that wasn’t being done. This was a creation of many things—the healthy, the casual and the moderately priced.”

One thing that was relatively new was the gourmet slant on coffee. Years ago, coffee drinking had not yet achieved today’s pricey status. The sisters’ interest in featuring coffee was another example of their keen business sense. While attending restaurant shows in Chicago, they saw that coffee was big in the cold weather town. Although Starbucks and PJ’s were around, they weren’t as popular as they are today. Ann and Angèle decided to feature coffee on their menu, and, at one point, they opened a coffee roasting facility on Columbia Street to supply their needs.

It wasn’t long before the northshore was buzzing about the great little restaurant on Lee Lane. Some folks recognized the connection between Café Rani and Coffee Rani and quickly re-established their relationship with the eatery. As the business grew, so did the need for a new building. When a gentleman offered to renovate to suit just next door, Ann and Angèle wasted no time.

Relates Ann, “We had a designer who captured our vision for warmth, a home away from home, a place for families to come and bring the kids.”

Adds Angèle, “We upgraded our building but didn’t do it to raise our prices. We did it to give our customers an upscale experience at a modest price. We are complimented that so many kids from SSA and St. Paul’s feel so at home that they come here with friends or even by themselves.”

The resulting restaurant is light and airy. On the left wall is a tropical display of ceramic art designed and created by Hasslock Studios. Nestled further down the wall are watercolor and pen drawings by Muffin Speilman made from photographs that Ann and Angèle took of some of their original customers. Many people have asked to purchase the paintings but these works of art are priceless to Angèle and Ann. "That's what we're made of and that's what we come from," reminisces Ann. "We were accepted by the older crowd at that time. My sister and I were not quite in our 30s and they welcomed us with open arms."

Today’s Coffee Rani is the essence of Ann and Angèle. “What we do in here says everything about who we are on the outside of here,” explains Angèle. “Ann and I are different, but at our core is our commitment to integrity.”

This commitment is an important reason Cafe Rani has grown to three locations. In addition to the Covington Coffee Rani (where niece Jean Clair Degruy is employed), Coffee Rani is also pleasing palates in Mandeville (on Hwy 190 in the K-mart shopping center). Coffee Rani's first franchised store opened in New Orleans on Magazine Street, and Angèle's daughter, Lindsay, now serves as assistant manager.

With their success as restaurateurs in place, Angèle and Ann set out to fulfill their ultimate goal to pursue philanthropic endeavors. According to Angèle, “making an impact in the community we love is our constant mission.”

Evidence of that commitment is their participation in projects for Metairie Cenacle, St. Joseph Abbey, the Carmelites, St. Paul’s School and St. Scholastica Academy, to name a few. They are likewise devoted to promoting business development in downtown Covington, especially Lee Lane.

But their charitable endeavors don’t stop there. Angèle has a special interest in fighting breast cancer, having recently lost a close friend to the disease, and is an avid supporter of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Recently, she co-chaired the “For the Cure” Summer Dinner in New Orleans. Angèle also promotes projects such as “Walk for the Cure” and the American Cancer Society’s “Relay for Life”

Ann’s philanthropic activities are directed toward education. As a child, Ann had difficulty with reading and comprehension. Wanting to help children with similar problems, she engaged the help of long-time friend and educator, Dr. Clif St. Germain, director of The Center for Academic Excellence in Mandeville. He told her of his program to help children struggling with similar hurdles in school. Thus was born “Annie’s Kids.” This six-week summer reading program for third graders is underwritten by a family fund established by Ann and husband David. (See sidebar for more about “Annie’s Kids.”)

Considering their dedication to family, business and community, it is understandable that the “best friends forever sisters” occasionally need to get away from it all. When one or both members of this dynamic duo need to take a break, they head for their little retreat in Florida. There they regroup, relax and refresh. And that being done, they head back together to the comforting aromas of chicken grilling and coffee brewing, ready for another day.