
1

"At this historic French Quarter landmark I noticed Brennan’s has promoted longtime chef Ryan Hacker to permanent head chef six months after James Beard–nominated Slade Rushing abruptly departed; Hacker, 35, worked alongside Rushing for five years, helped relaunch the restaurant in 2014, and previously cooked with Andrew Weissman at the now-closed Osteria Il Sogno in San Antonio. Hacker is introducing new dishes while keeping Rushing’s legacy of reinvention and creativity—first up is breakfast, the meal Brennan’s is probably most famous for and serves all day, including an “Omelette of Brassicas” with broccoli, almonds, dried figs, and butternut squash. Dinner additions include an octopus etouffee topped with crispy rice paper and scallion relish, and sweet potato malfatti served with charred okra and broiled peanut puree. The restaurant’s iconic pink facade fronts a rollicking yet refined symphony of splendid ambiance, impeccable service, and modern Creole cooking." - Clair Lorell