A staple at the French Quarter ’s legendary Brennan ’s eating place since 1951 , bananas Foster is New Orleans in sweet kind : banana tree , butter , brown sugar , cinnamon , vanilla meth ointment , and rummy , set afire for both appreciation and spectacle , assist for breakfast because why the netherworld not . With a gracious assist from current Brennan ’s proprietor Ralph Brennan , we dig into the story of this classic destroyer of diets .
There really was a Foster
The afters was mention for Richard Foster , a booster of Brennan ’s beginner Owen Brennan , on the occasion of a dinner in honor of his workplace as chairman of the New Orleans Crime Commission . The Commission was supposed to cleanse the French Quarter of vice ; fortunately , gluttony was left off the lean .
There also might have been a Byczewski
Robert Wolke ’s cookery book , What Einstein Kept Under His Hat : Secrets of Science in the Kitchen , control a formula for bananas Byczewski , a variant key out for Flawiusz Byczewski – another friend of Owen Brennan ’s , reputed to have consecrate suicide after Brennan passed him over for naming right to the dessert . As Wolke attests , this almost certainly did n’t bump , but the news report ’s however a fairly good excuse to tinker with idol .
Bananas Foster was co-invented by a ghost
Well , he was n’t a ghost at the sentence , but apparently the spirit of the restaurant ’s first chef , Paul Blangé – who along with Ella Brennan ushered banana Foster into existence – does still rattle about the kitchen . It ’s not because he ’s crave for attention : current executive chef Slade Rushing continue a video of Blangé displayed for inspiration . And when Brennan ’s held a grand reopening around 18 months ago , Blangé ’s great granddaughter amount to represent the sept .
That ghost went out in style!
Blangé , who manipulate for several chairman at the White House , guide out in 1977 . When he was buried , rank across his chest were a crotch , a knife , and a Brennan ’s menu .
Bananas Foster really is part of breakfast
Frances Parkinson Keyes wrote over 50 novel in her lifespan , but one , the 1948 execution mysteryDinner at Antoine ’s , had an collateral but profound affect on New Orleans dining . The book did such admiration for Antoine ’s business , Owen Brennan decided to kick upstairs “ Breakfast at Brennan ’s ” – a still - happening three - form feast that jump with an “ eye untier ” ( say , Brandy Milk Punch ) , cruises through three vino - favorable courses ( such as eggs Hussarde , another Blangé creative activity ) , and finish with , you guessed it , flaming , rum - soaked banana .
No seriously, boozy banana-capped breakfast feasts are a thing
Sunday “ brunch , ” which starts at the brave hour of 8 am , sees around 500 covers , and around 350 of those ordering banana Foster . It ’s not just for breakfast though ; the dish is served all minute , and you’re able to even order it at the bar . All say , the eating place break down through35,000lbs of bananas a yr .
The fires used to be higher
Back in the Clarence Day , waiter would free - pullulate the rum , often very freely , thinking , as Ralph Brennan puts it , “ The bigger the show , the near for me . ” Which is an absolutely understandable impulse ! But also a unsafe one . Brennan says there have been pile of story over the age of fur coats scorch , and one 1970s fire was reputed to have been because of a disastrous meeting between some flames and an A / C ’s return - air blowhole . Nowadays , servers use a jigger to pour enough rummy for a show , but not enough for armageddon .
Bananas Foster posed as a centerfold
Holidaymagazine – for decades one of America ’s most pop eminent - tone up titles – shot bananas Foster for a spreadhead in the year of its invention . The powder store ’s brand - new art director , responsible for for make the ravisher look aphrodisiac , was Frank Zachary , who ’d go on to become a publishing diligence caption as editor ofTown & Country.(Zachary lapse away only last year , at age 101 . )
It’s not the only flaming dish at Brennan’s
There ’s also steak Diane and crape Fitzgerald , key out long ago for still thriving local ad business firm Beuerman Miller Fitzgerald , which , asNOLA.com describes it , was once the Crescent City ’s interpretation of Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce ( they worked with a minor condiment party called Tabasco , once created flavored ink for a sherbet ad , and drank tons of martini ) .
Celebrities think it’s pretty OK
Among modernistic celebs who ’ve relish bananas Foster at Brennan ’s : Kim Kardashian , Katy Perry , and Caitlyn Jenner .
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Courtesy of Brennan’s
Courtesy of Brennan’s
Courtesy of Brennan’s
Courtesy of Brennan’s
