It was a family affair at the New Orleans Wine & Food Experience (NOWFE) 2025 Ella Brennan Lifetime Achievement in Hospitality Award when the organization honored Dickie Brennan.
Held at the Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans on Jan. 9, the gala was a celebration of Brennan’s generosity and legacy as a third-generation restaurateur and nephew of the legendary Ella Brennan.
NOWFE President David Colomb summed it up best: “Dickie was a clear choice.”
Brennan trained under culinary icon Chef Paul Prudhomme before forming the Dickie Brennan Restaurant Group, which now runs a number of beloved local restaurants, including Bourbon House, Tableau and Dickie Brennan’s Steakhouse, along with ventures such as Acorn Café, The Commissary Kitchen + Market, Pascal’s Manale and the newly revived Audubon Clubhouse. He has also contributed much to the community in the way of supporting local organizations at benefits.
Food, of course, was a focus, and included dishes from some of Brennan’s favorite restaurants including Pascal’s Manale, Brennan’s, Commander’s Palace, Napoleon House, Rosedale, the Four Seasons and Parkway Bakery & Tavern, which made Dickie’s Favorite Po-boy, consisting of hot sausage, American cheese, mayonnaise, yellow mustard, pickle and red onion, and Palace Café, which served a dish created by Brennan, crabmeat cheesecake with pecan crust served with meunière sauce and roasted mushrooms.
The Ella Brennan Award, named for the late doyenne of dining, honors those who’ve made a lifetime of impact in the industry. Previous honorees have included Donald Link, Susan Spicer, Frank Brigtsen, Paul Prudhomme and Emeril Lagasse, among others.
Fun Fact: Leo Nocentelli performed at the event.
