The New Testament of the original Brennan's begins November 25, 2014, at eight in the morning. The early hour tells us that Breakfast at Brennan's--one of the most unusual and successful gambits in the history of New Orleans restaurants--will resume as if nothing had happened.
Of course, a lot has happened. After forty years under the management of founder Owen Brennan's son, Brennan's somehow went bankrupt. Before that revelation settled into public consciousness, the buiding and the business had been bought for eight figures by Ralph Brennan (a cousin of Owen's sons, and himself a very successful restaurateur in six establishments) and his partners. They didn't mess around, digging into a major restoration of the historic building.
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The Brennan's rooster Chanticleer goes back to work.[/caption]
Brennan's opens only a little later than earlier plans (as is true in all major reconstruction, you never know what problems will present themselves until they do). The chef is Slade Rushing, late of MiLa (its exact future is up in the air). The menu will be a blend of traditional Brennan's food and new ideas. The look and the service style will be a lot like that of Old Testament Brennan's, because it has to be.
I'm hoping i can talk the management into letting the Eat Club--which held its annual black-tie holiday gala there for fifteen years--to return for the first of what I hope will be many more years.
It all adds up to the biggest restaurant story of many decades, exceeded in importance only by the Katrina massacree.
Brennan's
French Quarter: 417 Royal. 504-525-9711.
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