Learning Chaos

Brigtsen’s restaurant lies in the River Bend neighborhood of New Orleans, a short stroll from where the St. Charles streetcar begins its return run to Canal Street. Brigtsen’s has been a top-rated bastion of contemporary Creole cuisine, utilizing fresh local ingredients, for nearly 30 years. Chef Brigtsen and his restaurant have garnered numerous awards in a city obsessed with―and known for―its exceptional cuisine. Brigtsen trained “on the line” for seven years under Chef Paul Prudhomme before opening Brigtsen’s with his wife, Marna, in 1986. Devoted to New Orleans cuisine and to his city, he teaches at the New Orleans Cooking Experience and in local schools, mentors aspiring chefs, and was the recipient of the James Beard Foundation Humanitarian Award in 2006.