[title type="h3"]Ella Brennan Award To The Head Of The Audubon Institute[/title]
Most of the New Orleans Wine & Food Experience takes place in the days before Memorial Day every May. One item on the program didn't fit well there, however, but was too important to be left behind. The Ella Brennan Lifetime Achievement Award is given annually to the person whose contribution to the city's hospitality industry is sine qua non. The award is named for its first recipient. Ella Brennan was the dominant member of the Brennan family's restaurants from the 1940s even to this day. She's officially retired, but to say she isn't still an influence is to not know her very well.
This year's winner is Ron Forman, the man who, in the early 1970s, spearheaded the difficult and expensive rebuilding of the Audubon Park Zoo. After making it world-class, he turned his attention to all the other projects that the Audubon Nature Institute successfully launched ever since--the Aquarium of rthe Americas, the Insectarium, and all the rest. These are among the top attractions for New Orleans visitors, with a strong positive impact on the city.
The gala dinner takes place next Thursday, November 12, at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel. The food comes from a list of high-power chefs and restaurants, and will be served in a peculiar hybrid of table service and buffet. The chefs will dole out the eats from their stations, from which the eaters will return to their assigned tables and chairs. Another step down as everything continues to go casual. (The dress code is "no T-shirts, jeans, or flip-flops.") The price is $150 per person, inclusive of tax, tips, and wines.
Tickets can be had at nowfe.com.
NOMenu invites restaurants or organizations with upcoming special events to tell us, so we might add the news to this free department. Send to news@nomenu.com.
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