Restaurateur, entrepreneur, author, and sought-after speaker Ti Adelaide Martin is a vocal advocate for genuine hospitality in business, her city, and various causes close to her heart.
Recently, Martin dedicated herself to celebrating the 125th anniversary of Commander's Palace, hosting The American Cuisine and Hospitality Symposium alongside her family. This day-long event at the New Orleans Orpheum Theater featured discussions about the future of food and hospitality in America, led by industry experts and thought leaders. Attended by over 400 people, the symposium aimed to create hospitality heroes and further causes dear to Martin.
With a track record as co-founder of the New Orleans Proud to Call It Home campaign in the 90s, finance chair and 12-year member of the Aviation board for the new billion-dollar airport terminal, and co-founder and chair of the board of NOCHI (a 93,000 square-foot culinary and hospitality institute), Martin's energy seems boundless.
Expressing her deepest passion for restaurants, Martin credits her mother, Ella Brennan, for igniting this love. A dream came true when she co-authored a book with her mother, Miss Ella of Commander's Palace: "I don't want a restaurant where a jazz band can't come marching through." The subsequent documentary, "Ella Brennan: Commanding the Table," directed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Leslie Iwerks, tells the story of the modern American food movement and the philosophies of both women on food, hospitality, and business, now available on Apple TV.
As co-proprietor of Commander's Palace since 1997 with her cousin Lally Brennan, Martin takes pride in the restaurant's future. She emphasizes that while they hold the keys to Commander's, the restaurant truly belongs to New Orleans.
In September 2018, Martin opened Picnic Provisions & Whiskey in Uptown New Orleans with partners Darryl Reginelli and Executive Chef Tory McPhail. A modern corner restaurant offering dine-in, takeout, and free delivery, Picnic quickly became a neighborhood staple for craveable food, daily happy hour, and a relaxed atmosphere.
Across all her ventures, Martin strives to exceed expectations, representing not just the food but also the way of life, soul, and spirit that define New Orleans. Above all, she emphasizes a commitment to continuous evolution.
