Chef Edward Leonard and Brett Morris
Excellence Through Passion
When GM/COO Brett Morris welcomed Edward Leonard, CMC, to The Polo Club of Boca Raton as the director of culinary operations, the newcomer brought “Culinary Pride” to a community that’s home to thousands.
Culinary Pride is more than just a motto. It’s a way of life for all culinarians at The Polo Club. From the popular Barefoot Café to the New York-style steakhouse, The Crown Room, Leonard’s focus is ensuring that the club’s nine kitchens make all food from scratch using quality, fresh ingredients prepared with an artisanal approach, passion and consistency.
“From the dishwashers on up, everyone needs to be the best they can be,” says Leonard – aka Chef Ed – who is one of just 72 Master Chefs in the United States. “To accomplish that, we need to take care of those who take care of our members; our employees are our best assets.”
As club dining has evolved, Leonard has found ways to ensure that members experience the best that each of the five on-property restaurants has to offer, along with special events and banquets. To that end, two of them have been reinvented. Steeplechase, which offered upscale American cuisine, now features Mediterranean fare, complete with a raw bar. The Winner’s Circle (Sushi & Craft Kitchen) has a new sushi station with chefs in action nightly and a craft kitchen menu, featuring artisan burgers, shared plates and other global fare.
Although his team is constantly raising the bar in terms of cuisine, Leonard knows that they also need to respect the members’ favorites as well.
“At An American Bistro, we have a nice variety of menu items, but we also respect that the open-faced turkey sandwich is a favorite, so let’s make sure we do it right,” he says. “At the end of the day, no matter what the food, people want to place a bite in their mouth and say, 'Wow, that’s good.’”
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