Chef Edward Leonard
Chef Edward Leonard Brings Culinary Pride To The Table
Four years ago, Chef Edward Leonard took over as director of culinary operations at The Polo Club of Boca Raton. He brought with him Culinary Pride. It is not just his philosophy but also the name of a program Chef Leonard conceived and trademarked while working at the Westchester Country Club in New York.
“It is a program based on a culture that is passionate in all we do,” says Chef Leonard, who is one of just 72 Master Chefs in the nation. “PRIDE in our program means Personal Responsibility In Delivering Excellence.”
He oversees five restaurants that serve the club’s thousands of residents as well as its banquet and event venue. His 85-member team consists of 12 chefs and two managers. Each restaurant features a different concept.
The Crown Room Italia, which will launch in November, is an Italian-style chophouse, the first of its kind at a private club. Steeplechase features a Mediterranean menu with a live seafood bar. Winners Circle and Craft Kitchen serve artisanal burgers and shared plates, while the new Barefoot Café will offer an extensive menu of modern casual fare and a Naples-style pizza program.
“Our sushi bar and Craft Kitchen launch almost doubled sales in our Winners Circle restaurant, while the Mediterranean launch, with a live seafood bar, also saw Steeplechase increase sales and member dining counts,” says Chef Leonard.
The club has the ability to build eight full kitchens for all outside events and handle anyone’s catering needs for a memorable event.
“Innovation for parties, along with chefs cooking to order for a 1,000- or 4,000-guest event, has received great feedback,” he says.
Although there is a variety of restaurants in Boca Raton from which to choose, many Polo Club residents eat on premises. It’s no wonder, since they have more than 200 items from which to choose on the various menus.
“They eat here because we take extreme pride in what we do and care about our members enjoying their meal every time they dine with us,” says Chef Leonard. “Innovation is the foundation of our program.”
The Polo Club of Boca Raton is located at 5400 Champion Blvd., Boca Raton. For more information, call 561-995-1200 or visit poloclub.net.
Cuisine Scene Special Advertising Section