Brennan's of Houston: Combining the Best Business Practices with Southern Hospitality edited by Madelyn Miller, the TravelLady  Brennan’s of Houston, always charming guests with its commitment to Southern hospitality, constantly seeks new ways to create memorable guest experiences. Through the years, Brennan’s of Houston, led by Alex Brennan-Martin and Executive Chef Randy Evans, have implemented a number of innovative successes:
A MENU OF DELICIOUS EXPERIENCES ~ The Kitchen Table: Brennan’s of Houston was one of the first restaurants in the country to offer the Kitchen Table, welcoming guests to dine at a table situated in the center of the kitchen for an unforgettable meal.   ~ Chef for the Day: Brennan’s – the first restaurant in the South to offer this type of program – offers guests the unique opportunity to plan a custom made dinner menu and then cook alongside Chef Randy Evans and his team. Following a private wine tasting to select pairings for the dinner, the guest and up to nine friends gather around the Kitchen Table to enjoy the special meal.
 ~ Open Kitchen Night: inspired by the success of the Kitchen Table, Brennan’s of Houston invites all diners into the kitchen every Wednesday evening in the summer. Guests visit with the kitchen staff, meet a wine or cheese maker, enjoy a cocktail and watch a cooking demonstration or two.
 ~ Date Night Friday Night: a quarterly event that has sold out consecutively for the past four years, Date Night Friday Night couples enjoy a three-course meal while Chef Randy and his team lead lively, informative cooking demonstrations.
DOING GOOD  ~ In the hours following the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Alex Brennan-Martin and his family established the New Orleans Hospitality Workers Disaster Relief Fund, quickly raising over $1 million dollars to benefit professionals in the hospitality industry who were without jobs as the city was rebuilt.
ALEX BRENNAN-MARTIN WROTE THE BOOK   Alex Brennan-Martin attributes these successes to a singular tenet: extraordinary customer service. In his popular management book, The Simple Truth About Your Business: Why Focused and Steady Beats Business at the Speed of Light (Bright Sky Press, 2004), Alex explains, “From the captains to the line cooks, to wait staff and office personnel, we all have a stake in providing an extraordinary dining experience for our customers. The staff at Brennan’s share in these duties and take it upon themselves to seek out inventive ways to better serve customers and create dining memories for all guests.”
FOR MORE INFO ON HOUSTON 1-800-4houston
www.visithoustontexas.com WHERE TO STAY Houstonian Hotel, Club and Spa
111 North Post Oak Lane
Houston, TX 77024
(713) 680-2626
www.houstonian.com Inn at the Ballpark
1520 Texas Avenue
Houston, TX 77002
(713) 228-1520
www.innattheballpark.com BEST SPA Trellis, the Spa at the Houstonian
www.trellisspa.com LITTLE BLACK BOOK (or at least dark chocolate) for chocoholics Brown Paper Chocolates
2711 Kipling St.
Houston, TX 77098
832.526.7967
www.brownpaperchocolates.com The Chocolate Bar
1835 W Alabama St
Houston, TX 77098
(713) 520-8599 RainDrop Chocolate
810 Waugh Dr., Suite 100
Houston, TX 77019
713-524-2864
www.raindropchocolate.com VINTAGE VALUES :
WHERE TO BUY PRE-LOVED CLOTHING AND TREASURES Wear it Again Sam
373 W. 19th Street
Houston, Tex 77008
713-862-wear (9327) Charm of Yesteryear Antiques
355 W. 19th Street
Houston, TX 77008
713-868-1141
Closed Thursdays HOW TO GET THE TASTE OF HOUSTON AT HOME The Kitchen Bible
By Chef Randy Evans
Brennan’s of Houston
Bright Sky Press
www.brennanshouston.com BEST LIMOUSINE AND AIRPORT PICKUP Personal Service Limousine
832-275-7495
PSL4354@sbcglobal.net
www.personalservicelimo.com TIPS Houston is a car city. Unless you stay in the downtown area, public transportation is not easy and cabs are expensive. Madelyn Miller is a travel and food writer who would love to spend more time in Houston. Read her stories on www.travellady.com, www.carladynews.com, www.yogayaya.com, www.chocolateatlas.com, www.cocktailatlas.com, www.teaAtlas.com, www.coffeeatlas.com | 
