NEW ORLEANS (WGNO)- You’ve never seen a second line like this, and it just might be the slowest second line parade ever! This weekend the legendary French Quarter restaurant, Brennan’s will be having a turtle second line to bring their turtles back to their courtyard.
Ralph Brennan, Co-owner of Brennan’s, adopted 10 turtles who inhabited the fountain in the courtyard when he purchased Brennan’s restaurant. The turtles have been displaced for 18 months when Brennan’s underwent construction. Brennan’s re-opened in November 2014.
Corporate Executive Chef for Ralph Brennan Restaurant Group, Haley Bittermann volunteered to take care of the turtles while all the construction was going on.
“I had them in my backyard in two kiddie pools. My 8-year old son and I took care of them. The turtles love to eat shrimp. There are 10 turtles. 9 of them are girls and one is a boy. We’ve named them after the classic mother sauces and five New Orleans sauces. We call them “The Motha’s and the Otha’s”, she said.
The turtle names are: Bechamel, Espagnole, Hollandaise, Tomate, Veloute, Remoulade, Ravigote, Bordelaise, Mignonette and Cocktail (the only male).
“This could be the slowest second line in New Orleans’ history. We’re definitely celebrating the return of the turtles back to Brennan’s. They will not become turtle soup because they are part of our family,” Brennan said.
These turtles will be riding in their first parade on mini-wagon floats, which Brennan’s staff and their families decorated. The reptiles will be parading through the French Quarter streets. The parade starts at Bienville & Chartres; goes down Chartres; left on St Peter, left on Royal Street, and will end at Brennan’s.
“We set up a green carpet that will take them back to the fountain where they’ll be living again,” Brennan said.
The turtle second line parade begins at 10:30 on Saturday, March 14th.
The celebration will include a blessing by Monsignor Christopher Nalty, a champagne sabering and complimentary hors d’ouevres.
Follow Brennan’s Turtles on Twitter with their brand new account @BrennansTurtles for all updates.