35 of 42 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Serious Inferiority Complex Demonstrated!, October 5, 2003
This review is from: Breakfast At Brennan's And Dinner, Too: The original and most recent recipes from New Orleans' world-famous Brennan's Restaurant and a tribute to its founder, Owen Edward Brennan (Hardcover)
I was so disappointed by this book that I actually sent it back. Everything about the book came off as a huge chip on the shoulder of the owners of Brennan's about the success of Commander's Palace...owned by their aunt Ellen.
At first glance, the book looks cheap, with no dust cover and the words "Official" on a banner in the lower right hand corner. The only time I generally see that are on tourist guide books, not cookbooks.
A good portion of the book is dedicated to the history of Brennan's and idol worship of the patriarch of the family, which is admirable. However, they can't seem to talk about Aunt Ellen without getting some jabs in, talking about how she expanded the family business and that four of her six first ventures closed. Well, I think that one of those enterprises (Commander's Palace) certainly makes up for the rest...as they say, you need to break a couple of eggs to make an omlette!
After explaining how they went their separate ways from the rest of the family, the recipe section of the cookbook is very poorly done. The recipes are either extremely simple (3-5 ingredients and very pedestrian) or extremely complicated (10-15 ingredients including other preparations). When another recipe is referenced, unlike other cookbooks where they tell you which page to look for it, this cookbook simply says "see index"; even if the recipe they're referring to is on the next page.
The breakfast section was the most dissappointing of all. You'd think it would be the main focus of the book given the title, but it is merely several versions of eggs benedict with a few swapped out ingredients. What's even more sad is that each recipe is written like you've never seen an eggs benedict recipe before, so you end up with pages of "cookie cutter" recipes with the only distinction being that they traded trout for the Canadian bacon, or something of the like...and of course you are told to "see index" about how to make a hollandaise!
This book is written like they had something to prove against Aunt Ellen and it shows. Problem is, Aunt Ellen's Commander's Palace and its cookbook "The Commander's Kitchen" is far and away a much better deal. Not only is "The Commander's Kitchen" a beautiful book, richly photographed, with wonderful stories about the restaurant, great recipes, and a little information about each dish (something lacking from "Breakfast at Brennan's"), it's thicker and less expensive off of Amazon!
There is a reason we are all talking about Commander's Palace alumni like Paul Prudhomme and Emeril Lagasse years after they've left Commander's and all you can really say about Brennan's is that they were the birthplace of Bananas Foster.
I will give this book one good mark...the cocktails section is pretty good...but then again, so is the one in "Commander's Kitchen".
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7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Yummy!, May 3, 2000
By A Customer
This review is from: Breakfast At Brennan's And Dinner, Too: The original and most recent recipes from New Orleans' world-famous Brennan's Restaurant and a tribute to its founder, Owen Edward Brennan (Hardcover)
This is a great cookbook from a great restaurant. I haven't tried all the recipes yet, but those I have are great and not too difficult to follow. The egg recipes - eggs benedict, and more unusual creations - are excellent. Also noteworthy are the drink recipes - because you can't have a good New Orleans meal without a drink, right? :) If you want to cook rich, delicious food, this is a great cookbook. Of course, better still, be sure to visit Brennan's when you're in New Orleans.
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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
As much fun to browse through as it is exciting to draw from, July 11, 2002
This review is from: Breakfast At Brennan's And Dinner, Too: The original and most recent recipes from New Orleans' world-famous Brennan's Restaurant and a tribute to its founder, Owen Edward Brennan (Hardcover)
Superbly enhanced with color photography, Breakfast At Brennan's And Dinner, Too showcases original recipes from the menus of New Orleans's world-famous Brennan's Restaurant. From Buster Crab Pecan; New Orleans Barbecued Shrimp; Creole Onion Soup; and Brennan's Blackened Redfish; to Crabmeat Lundi Grass; Tournedos Royal with Sweetbreads; Les Peches Flamees; and the house specialty Brennan Dressing, Breakfast At Brennan's And Dinner, Too is an elegant, "kitchen friendly" cookbook that is as much fun to browse through as it is exciting to draw from for truly memorable dining.
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