Chakli Diggs • Chef/Owner Chakli is best known to Mobile food lovers as the founder of the popular Bienville Bistro. When this innovative restaurant opened in 1992, it was a pioneer on the downtown scene and soon sparked a renaissance in fine dining in the area. The Bienville Bistro, with its sleek, continental flair, was an instant hit with diners across the Gulf Coast and was lauded with rave reviews in local and regional publications. The restaurant closed in 1998 when Chakli returned to his career in resort and restaurant management. Born in Ethiopia and educated in the U.S., Chakli is fluent in several languages and has traveled the world – always sampling and learning about food. His career has included hotel and restaurant management positions throughout the U.S. and Europe. With his new venture, NoJa, Chakli has distilled his world experience into a restaurant and melds influences from around the globe and across the Gulf Coast.