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Ti Adelaide Martin and Lally Brennan, co-proprietors, Commander’s Palace
Lally Brennan and Ti Adelaide Martin straddle two worlds.
The cousins embody the restaurant dynasty they were born into, leading the New Orleans landmark Commander’s Palace for the last two decades. But the pair also continues to blaze new trails — upholding a family legacy of hospitality in their own way.
In one new endeavor this fall, Martin launched the casual concept Picnic Provisions & Whiskey in partnership with Commander’s Palace culinary director Tory McPhail and Darryl Reginelli of Reginelli’s Pizza. The restaurant offers picnic fare like pimento cheese and fried chicken, all with the deft culinary treatment of fine dining.
At the same time, Martin and Brennan hosted the American Cuisine and Hospitality Symposium in celebration of the 125th anniversary of Commander’s Palace. The event was last held in 1983 by the late family matriarch Ella Brennan. The symposium, which also coincided with the New Orleans city tricentennial, reflected on the history of American food and New Orleans cuisine and where the restaurant industry is headed.
Hospitality has long been a touchstone subject for the pair.
“It’s an honor to serve. Tonight I serve you, tomorrow you serve me,” Martin said at the symposium.
Martin has been taking her message of hospitality to the next generation with the 2019 launch of NOCHI, the New Orleans Culinary & Hospitality Institute. The school is intended to be a shorter, more affordable alternative to culinary school.
