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The New Orleans Wine and Food Experience kicked off its annual festival with the inaugural “Ella Brennan Award Dinner.” This year, celebrity chef Paul Prudhomme of K-Paul’s Louisiana Kitchen and Magic Seasoning Blends became the second person to be awarded the Ella Brennan Lifetime Achievement in Hospitality Award for his lifetime commitment to the hospitality industry (Brennan, of course, was the first).
During this auspicious event, chaired by Mary Grace Rome and Chef Matt Murphy, 200 guests enjoyed food prepared by notable chefs John Folse, Rick Tramonto, Greg and Mary Sonnier, Lou Sanders, Tory McPhail, Aaron Sanchez, John Besh and Tariq Hanna. Musician Tim Laughlin entertained the crowd and Greg Reggio acted as master of ceremony. Attendants also had the opportunity to bid on a slue of lavish items, including a Schecter Limited Edition New Orleans Saints XLIV Champions guitar signed by Sean Payton, a week in Sonoma and a Viking Wine Cellar filled to capacity with 54 bottles of win.
Proceeds from this event and other festival activities benefited NOWFE’s programs and numerous foundations including The University of New Orleans’ Lester E. Kabacoff School of Hotel, Restaurant & Tourism Administration, The Chef John Folse Culinary Institute, Girls First, Cancer Crusaders andCoach Sean Payton’s Play It
Forward Foundation.
