Brennan's a history lesson in dining
The Ledger
by Trent Rowe
The history of Brennan's is the story of fine dining in New Orleans.
It was started by Owen Edward Brennan, son of Irish immigrants who in 1946 took up the challenge to serve fine French food without being French.
He was the eldest of six children and married before his youngest brother and sister were born.
After owning a piece of a gas station and drugstore, and stints as bookkeeper and salesman, he managed a restaurant.
In 1943 he bought the business of The Old Absinthe House on Bourbon Street.
The bar was the headquarters of pirate Jean Lafitte, and Brennan set up a tableau of the Pirate and Andrew Jackson in the room where they supposedly agreed to defend New Orleans against the British.
Thousands of calling cards and autographed papers hung from the ceiling of the bar, and the book "Breakfast at Brennan's, and Dinner Too," has pictures of the place populated by celebrities sharing a drink with the host.
Brennan would pass on patron's comments on restaurants to the owners, and his good friend and restaurateur Count Arnaud was said to have challenged Brennan: "If you think you can do better, open a restaurant."
He said an Irishman could only run a hamburger stand.
Brennan leased the Vieux Carre Restaurant across from The Old Absinthe House and changed the name to Owen Edward Brennan's French & Creole Restaurant.
He gave his father a job as greeter, and siblings Adelaide and Ella became bookkeeper and kitchen manager.
Brennan's success was as much due to his personality as his food, and he became famous among entertainers and the press.
He had no formal education as a restaurateur but he was a promoter. After the novel "Dinner at Antoine's" was published, he started plumping Breakfast at Brennan's.
It cost $9.45 in 1955.
When his lease was up on the Bourbon Street building, the landlord demanded a half interest in the business.
Brennan found a place to rent on Royal Street - The Patio Royal - and set to converting it into his own place. In 1954 the building was a bit off the beaten path.
It was to open in the spring of 1956, but Owen Edward Brennan died in his sleep on November 4, 1955.
His three sons, Pip, Jimmy and Ted run the restaurant in the same tradition as their father started.