BREAKFAST AT BRENNAN’S – A NEW ORLEANS TRADITION

BREAKFAST AT BRENNAN’S – A New Orleans Tradition.

Can you be a part of history, simply by enjoying a meal? You certainly can when you have Breakfast At Brennan’s in New Orleans.

You know you’ve arrived at this legendary restaurant, simply by the pink building and that brass Brennan’s sign.

Brennan’s is celebrating their 75th Anniversary this year and have placed their mark on NOLA cuisine since year one. Ironically, what is now known as Brunch, to most in the know, is a derivative of Breakfast At Brennan’s. So, to many, the term Brunch although was not “invented” here, it was, however, cultivated here.

It may have taken us forever to finally sit in this stunning courtyard, but it was well worth it. By the way, we had a green ribbon running across our table, as you’ll have either a green or a pink one.

Think about that. Brunch is celebrated worldwide, daily and especially on Sundays. And, we have Brennan’s to thank. Yet, it’s blasphemous to use the word Brunch there. When it comes to Brennan’s, they serve breakfast, and more specifically as mentioned, it’s famously called Breakfast At Brennan’s.

New Orleans knows grand stairways, so in an over 220-year-old building, you can bet Brennan’s has one. It not only looks incredible, but you can take this to all the upper dining rooms, or even an elevator if you need it.

Everything is historic about Brennan’s. Take the building it’s in, which dates back to 1795. Think about that while enjoying breakfast in their beautiful courtyard. And how long has Brennan’s been in this location? Since 1946. Yes, if you just did the math, right now, they’re celebrating their 75th Anniversary.

Brennan’s pink and green building is one of New Orleans most recognizable buildings. One everyone knows right at first sight. (picture courtesy of Brennan’s)

Just arriving is something special. You can’t miss it. Everyone knows the stunning, iconic pink building, green awning, and brass Brennan’s script on the wall. It’s even more inviting inside. Between the countless themed dining rooms, the previously mentioned courtyard, their player piano to their famous bar, your eating and drinking experience is wonderfully enchanted with such ambiance.

Brennan’s famed player piano, located right by the Roost Bar.

But I’m here to tell you about the food. Next visit, and yes, next trip soon enough, to the Crescent City, we’ll be back, and I’ll photograph more of the decor, and write more about the actual history and owner Ralph Brennan. But this time I want to mention our meal. After all, for decades coming to New Orleans, we had never managed to get reservations for Breakfast At Brennan’s, but this recent trip we finally did.

The “Breakfast At Brennan’s” menu going on right now. Good luck picking just one item.

As a Bloody Mary judge, and judging a few festivals here in town, I had been waiting to try their Cajun Bloody Mary. It was everything I hoped for. Their house-made mix is simple, yet complex, packed with rich local flavor that screams the South with just the right spice. Plus, I love pickled beans and okra, and their’s adds to it.

In a town that’s known for Bloody Marys, Brennan’s Cajun Bloody Mary stands above most.

Nicole, the coffee drinker, is in Heaven in The Big Easy. She loves the local blends of chicory and dark roasts. Brennan’s French pressed, classic New Orleans Style Coffee was on point for her.

Sometimes a simple cup of coffee works best, except in the Crescent City, where coffee is mixed with chicory, separating themselves from the rest of the nation of course.

Brennan’s is known for many signature dishes, especially their flawlessly cooked eggs. So my wife and I both went with two of their most sought-after dishes. Myself, I went with the Eggs Hussarde; an Eggs Benedict with a luxurious twist, adding a Marchand De Vin sauce. This equisite sauce is a veal stock and wine reduction with sautéed mushrooms, shallots, onions, and garlic which accompanies those perfectly poached eggs that sit on top of butter-grilled house-made English muffins, thinly sliced coffee cured Canadian bacon, and of course, that luscious Hollandaise sauce. If that wasn’t enough, I even added a side of Nueske’s thick-cut bacon.

After having Eggs Hussarde, I’m not sure how I can eat ordinary Eggs Benedict ever again.

For Nicole, she had to go down that historic path, choosing one of Brennan’s most iconic dishes, their Eggs Sardou. Perfect for her vegetarian ways, those amazing poached eggs are placed upon crispy artichokes and a bed of Parmesan creamed spinach, then covered in a Choron sauce, which is a tomato spiked Hollandaise sauce.

When a restaurant is famous for a dish, there’s a reason, and Brennan’s is synonymous with their Eggs Sardou.

If that wasn’t enough indulgent food, which being in New Orleans never is, we had to share an order of their cheddar grits and a buttermilk biscuit. It’s Brennan’s after all, so incredibly smooth, rich grits can’t stand alone, they had to add cheddar cheese blended in. Which complimented that humongous, fluffy, and flaky biscuit. Sadly, we were stuffed… so much so that we couldn’t indulge in what Brennan’s invented; my favorite all-time dessert, Bananas Foster. Just another reason we can’t wait to be back.

How do you not order Grits and a Biscuit when in the south each morning? A must at Brennan’s since they raised the bar.

This entire meal was stupendous. From the moment we walked in, the impeccable service throughout our meal was on another level. Oh, and did I mention the complimentary champagne they brought out at the end of our meal wishing us a Happy Anniversary?

75 years later and Brennan’s still treats their customers, old and new, special. Thank You to them for remembering our Anniversary and bringing us out the champagne.

Lastly, after finishing our Breakfast, we headed to the fountain to say hello to “The Muthas and the Othas”, Brennan’s famous banana green-leaf Turtles. You can’t come here and not see them in the courtyard. It’s basically a right of passage of taking in the whole Brennan’s experience after all.

We seem to make friends every time we’re in The Big Easy. This time it was Brennan’s famous turtles.

In conclusion, was it worth the wait, all these decades to finally come here? Unbelievably so! In fact, we’re back in NOLA in less than a couple of months and we’ll be returning with anticipation. Get ready for more delicious reviews and the history of this legendary restaurant. Until then, we thank all the wonderful staff at Brennan’s, and hope you too will make your way there when you’re in town.

Meet most of “The Muthas and the Othas”, Brennan’s celebrity turtles. Each named after the five French Mother Sauces… Bechamel, Espagnole, Hollandaise, Tomate, and Veloute. Plus New Orleans favorites… Bordelaise, Cocktail (the only male), Mignonette, Ravigote and Remoulade.

BRENNAN’S
417 Royal Street
New Orleans, LA 70130
504-525-9711
www.BrennansNewOrleans.com

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