Book Description

Diamond Jim Moran, AKA James Brocato, emigrated from Sicily, Italy to the United States in the 1800s. At eight years of age, to help support his mother, he became a shoe shine boy. While shining shoes in front of a restaurant one day and next to a jewelry store, he dreamed that he one day would own a restaurant and buy many diamonds. As a teenager, he befriended some local boxers and started to box at the local gymnasium. He changed his name to Jim Moran to keep his mother from discovering his new profession. One of his boxing friends was Pete Herman, a well known New Orleans boxer. Because of his shrewd business dealings and contacts, he was able to buy the famous La Louisiana Restaurant on Iberville Street. His Italian culinary delights were products of his mother's cooking. Her foods included the largest meatballs served in any New Orleans restaurant. One day, she dropped her diamond ring into a meatball. When a female client chewed into the scrumptious ball, she discovered the ring and attempted to return it to Mr. Moran. His business mind immediately recognized the marketing angle.He went to the jewelry store and bought more diamond rings. Randomly, except, possibly, possibly for meals served to politicians wives, customers would discover the diamond ring in their meatball. That became an internationally known motivation for others to eat at La Louisiane.