The Koonce Fund for Patrons of Brennan’s > Brennan’s of Houston Please help James and Katharine Koonce by giving to their relief fund

Press Release 9.13.08

HOUSTON (September 13, 2008) - Alex Brennan-Martin, co-owner of the venerable Brennan's of Houston restaurant, badly damaged by fire in the early morning hours today, is thankful for the efforts by the Houston fire department and support from fellow Houstonians and Texans in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike:

"Our foremost concern is with our employees who sustained burns in the fire as well as with our fellow citizens as we recover from this terrible storm. In the hours and days ahead, we will discover the full extent of the damage to the restaurant. We're very proud to have served our guests for the past 41 years and are grateful for the outpouring of support these past hours - it means the world to us."

Alex's sister and Co-Owner Ti Adelaide Martin, who resides in New Orleans, states, "Alex did so much for us in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina with the establishment of the New Orleans Hospitality Workers Disaster Relief Fund. In my opinion, never in the history of America has one city been better to another as Houston was to New Orleans after Katrina. New Orleanians will never forget their generosity. As a family with roots in both cities, we encourage New Orleanians to try to help as much as they can."

About Brennan's of Houston
Forty-one years ago, the Brennan family of New Orleans opened the doors of Brennan's of Houston, one of America's most beloved dining destinations and the forerunner in serving Texas Creole cuisine. Led by Commander's Palace Family of Restaurants co-owners Alex Brennan-Martin, his sister, Ti Adelaide Martin, and their cousin, Lally Brennan, Brennan's has stayed on top by constantly innovating while remaining connected to its Creole roots and maintaining a familial level of warmth and hospitality. The Brennan family's restaurants also include Commander's Palace and Café Adelaide & the Swizzle Stick Bar in New Orleans and Commander's Palace in Destin, Fla.

The Brennan's kitchen has explored the vast spectrum of Creole's evolution in the "Bayou City". Cultural influences in South Texas and an abundance of fresh produce unique to the region have provided more than a few opportunities for delicious Texas variations on time-honored Louisiana themes. Along the way, the passionate Brennan's team has received accolades establishing the restaurant as one of the finest in the city. Awards such as ExxonMobil's Four-Star designation beginning in 2000; Executive Chef Randy Evans' recognition as a "Rising Star" chef by Restaurant Hospitality magazine in July 2006; and a nod from restaurant critic John Mariani in 1997 to former executive chef and current General Manager, Carl Walker, as "one of America's most influential chefs" are just a few of the accomplishments Brennan's counts on its list of accolades. Brennan's has also been regularly rated among Houston's "Best" and "Most Popular" restaurants in the Zagat Survey.

Long before the Brennan's put their name on the building at 3300 Smith Street in 1967, it was a Houston landmark designed by architect John F. Staub to house the Houston Junior League.