Ralph Brennan: Brennan's & The Ralph Brennan Restaurant Group (New Orleans, LA)

New Orleans restaurateur Ralph Brennan grew up in restaurants. Part of a storied New Orleans family, the restaurant group he helms today owns multiple spots -- including Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen located at the Disneyland Resort -- but to me, the crowning jewel of this group is Brennan’s, a restaurant in the French quarter opened in 1946 that still celebrates the pageantry of eating out in its breathtaking and iconic spaces, from a pink and green dining room to elegant private rooms to a courtyard plucked out of a tropical dream. Mr. Ralph, as he is affectionately known in the restaurant, is past president and chairman of the National Restaurant Association and has presided locally over both the Louisiana and the New Orleans associations as well. He’s a people person who excels at staying curious while still keeping New Orleans restaurant traditions alive. If you love brunch or bananas foster, you have Brennan’s to thank for it, but the dining rooms have even more stories to tell.