Food + Film makes for a tasty combination and this year's Miami Film Festival (March 3- 12) featured the documentary, “Ella Brennan: Commanding The Table”, which combined the two for a special and unique culinary event.

Ella Brennan is the matriarch of the family behind NOLA’s iconic Brennan’s and Commander’s Palace, an inspiring creator of New Orleans breakfasts and jazz brunches, a great proponent of Creole cuisine, and a pioneer in what would become the modern American food movement. But there’s a fascinating story beneath the glory, a biographical trajectory that swings between familial conflict and dazzling success. The New York Times called her, “The Grand Dame of New Orleans”.

Oscar and Emmy-nominated filmmaker Leslie Iwerks delves deep into Brennan’s roots, life and work, her struggles and strategies, and the triumphs that make her an iconic figure in American culinary culture and business.

Watch the movie trailer here:  

MIAbites was invited to join the 80 or so film and food fans at a Big Easy Brunch at The River Yacht Club on March 11th, co- hosted by Indulge Magazine's Editor Evan Benn and Ti Adelaide Martin, Ella's daughter and featuring a New Orleans inspired brunch menu that included Skillet Hash Browns with Tomato Bacon Jam, Shrimp and Grits and French Toast with berries and creme anglaise. 

We then proceeded to Little Havana for the sold-out screening of “Ella Brennan: Commanding The Table” at 2:30 pm at the MDC Tower Theatre.  Truly a story that is an inspiration to chefs everywhere!