New Orleans' Greatest Chefs Honor Paul Prudhomme's Lifetime of Achievement

Dwight The Wine Doctor

New Orleans’ greatest chefs honor Paul Prudhomme’s Lifetime of Achievement

Story and photos by Dwight Casimere

1. Paul Prudhomme accepts the Ella Brennan Lifetime Achievement in Hospitality Award at New Orleans’ J.W. Marriott ile de France Grand Ballroom dinner in his honor
2. Celebrity Chef John Besh shares his recipe for Slow Roast Saddle of Local Lamb with Dwight The Wine Doctor
3. The main course paired with Pride Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, Napa Valley
4. Chicago's Chef Rick Tramonto shares news of his New Orleans venture, R'evolution Restaurant at the Royal Sonesta, French Quarter
5. Chef Prudhomme shares a light moment with Dwight The Wine Doctor before the dinner

NEW ORLEANS—“I’m just a cook who likes to make people happy. The fact that I was able to make a nickel at it, was just lucky.” Those were the humble words of Chef Paul Prudhomme as he accepted the Ella Brennan Lifetime Achievement in Hospitality Award at a one-of-a-kind New Orleans Wine & Food Experience dinner in his honor. A galaxy of the Crescent City’s top culinary stars converged on the ile de France Grand Ballroom of the J.W. Marriott hotel to create a lavish six-course meal that included Chef John Folse & Chef Rick Tramonto’s Sugar Cured Duck Ham with Wild Mushroom Cream Orecchiette, Chef Lou Sanders’ Pickled Oysters on the Half Shell with Osetra Caviar and Chef John Besh’s main course of Slow Roast Saddle of Local Lamb with Verbena and Petite Farci of Covey Rise Farms Vegetables.

Chef Prudhomme is credited with almost single-handedly elevating New Orleans’ cuisine to international stature with his signature dishes at K Paul’s and through his numerous television appearances and personal outreach at restaurants and “pop-up” restaurant ‘happenings’ throughout the world over the course of his 40 plus year career.

“Chef Prudhomme is more than a legend, he is both a local and national hero to everyone who loves food and who loves New Orleans,” said Rick Tramonto, a celebrity chef known to Chicagoans as the founder of Tru restaurant on the Magnificent Mile and current owner of Tramonto Steak and Seafood. Tramonto is set to open Restaurant R’evolution in the historic Hotel Royal Sonesta in New Orleans’ legendary French Quarter this fall.

The night’s festivities were preceded by a Moet & Chanson Champagne Reception, Dinner Featured Moet & Chanson Brut Imperial and Brut Imperial Rose ($35.98), Champagne Gusset Brut Grand Rose, Grand Cru, Ay NV ($59.95) paired with Chef Tory McHale’s Crawfish Boil Vichyssoise, Reynolds Family Winery Pinot Noir, Los Corners, 2008 ($52.99) and Reynolds Family Chardonnay, Napa Valley, 2008 ($29.99) paired with Chef Aaron Sanchez’ Seared Local Fish with Louisiana Shrimp Veracruzana & Salsa Verde, Presented by Restaurateur Drew Nieporent of New York’s famed TriBeCa Grill and NOBU followed by Chef John Besh and his Slow Roast Saddle of Local Lamb paired with Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, 2006 ($75).

Chef Tariq Hanna provided a captivating dessert, P.B.&J. paired with Banyuls, Grand Cru “Clos Chatart,” Jacques Laverriere 1999 Port ($99). Tim Laughlin’s Quartet provided entertainment. Silent and Live Auctions presented a dizzying array of dining and vacation packages and an assortment of exotic wines and novelty items, such as a custom Schecter Limited Edition New Orleans Saints XLIV Champions Guitar donated by the New Orleans Saints Football Club and signed by Head Coach Sean Payton and a “Sippin’ In Sonoma” Wine country week. Electric guitar signed by members of the New Orleans’ Saints Super Bowl Championship team. New Orleans Designer Mignon Faget created the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

The Ella Brennan Lifetime Achievement in Hospitality The award recognizes one individual each year that has made a lifetime commitment to the hospitality industry through extraordinary leadership, personal and professional accomplishments and philanthropic contributions to the community. The Lifetime Achievement in Hospitality Award is named for restaurateur legend Ella Brennan. Her deep passion and commitment has made a significant and longstanding impact on the New Orleans hospitality industry. This is the second year the award has been given.

New Orleans Magazine & Riedel Glassware sponsored the event.