ELLA BRENNAN Owner, Commander's Palace
1996: Commander's Palace received Outstanding Restaurant Award from the James Beard Foundation.

Ella Brennan started in the restaurant business in 1944 at the age of 19. Citing Roy Alciatore of Antoine's and Max Kreindler of "21"as her mentors, her dedication was recognized by many of the restaurateurs of the day Dubbed the "Queen of Creole Cuisine" by People Magazine and heralded for both an incomparable attention to detail and an unmatched style of hospitality and warmth, Ella Brennan is the restaurateur's restaurateur. In 1996, Commander's Palace was honored with the Lifetime Outstanding Restaurant Award from the James Beard Foundation. It has also been awarded the Lifetime Service Award. For Ella, the best reward is returning customers. She has been number one in Zagat and the Food and Wine magazine customer poll each time the surveys were done. Today, she works closely with sister Dottie Brennan, Dottie's son Brad, niece Lally Brennan, and daughter Ti Adelaide Martin at Commander's Palace, and son Alex Brennan Martin at Brennan's of Houston, Ella continues to push Commander's Palace to be on the leading edge of Creole cuisine. Ella loves to teach and coach young people with a passion for this business, and presently there are a legion of chefs and restaurateurs filtered throughout the industry who name Ella as their mentor.