About this episode
The episode celebrates 80 years of Brennan's Restaurant in New Orleans, featuring interviews with key figures in the establishment's history and culinary excellence.
In a city known for culinary excellence, Brennan's Restaurant stands out as a cornerstone of New Orleans cuisine. Founded in 1946 by Owen Brennan, the restaurant was elevated to international fame by his sister, the visionary Ella Brennan. Today, it's operated by Ralph Brennan, who continues the family legacy. On this week's show, we celebrate 80 years of Brennan's in the Big Easy. The birthplace of Bananas Foster (the famous flaming dessert reaches its 75th anniversary this year) is known not only for its masterful French Creole dishes but also for its joyful, vibrant atmosphere. There's perhaps no man who embodies that high-spirited style and flair than Brennan's General Manager Christian Pendleton. We sit down with Christian to learn what it takes to control the chaos of such a large operation, while keeping the party going in the dining room. Then, we meet Brennan's Executive Chef Kris Padalino. When Kris was studying math and chemistry at Cal State Fullerton, she envisioned a life in the medical field, not one in a commercial kitchen. Once she committed to a culinary career, the Florida-native embarked on cross-country journey that would eventually crown her as Brennan's…
People in this episode
Host: Poppy Tooker
Guests: Christian Pendleton, Kris Padalino
Topics covered
- New Orleans cuisine
- Brennan's Restaurant
- culinary history
- female chefs
- family business
- Bananas Foster
Keywords
- Brennan's Restaurant
- New Orleans
- Christian Pendleton
- Kris Padalino
- culinary legacy
- Bananas Foster
- female executive chef
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Brennan's Restaurant
Places: New Orleans
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