Edward Leonard, CMC, Director of Culinary Operations and Executive Chef at The Polo Club of Boca Raton (Fla.), lives only to cook.
Are Great Club Chefs Also Great Artists?
Edward Leonard, CMC, Director of Culinary Operations and Executive Chef at The Polo Club of Boca Raton (Fla.), muses on chefs creating menus and dishes inspired by their moods, like artists often do with their works. Culinarians are referred to as artists. But are we really artists? Artists express themselves on canvas, in sculpture, or…
How Mentoring Will Solve Our Labor Challenges
According to Edward Leonard, CMC, Director of Culinary Operations and Executive Chef at The Polo Club of Boca Raton (Fla.), the greatest impact chefs can have is to be mentors and teachers to those around them. We hear the term “culinary education” routinely used to explain those embarking on a career in the craft of cookery.…
What Being Fueled by Passion Really Means
For Edward Leonard, CMC, Director of Culinary Operations and Executive Chef of The Polo Club of Boca Raton (Fla.), passion moves him forward. It fuels his work. It fuels his team’s work. And he believes it fuels the work of many of the club industry’s most talented players. It is time here at The Polo…
Change is Needed and Change is Coming
Edward Leonard, CMC, Director of Culinary Operations and Executive Chef of The Polo Club of Boca Raton (Fla.) believes chefs need to offer their cooks a better work-life balance. So you want to be a cook, a chef, run a restaurant, own a restaurant, or perhaps work in the kitchen of a club, resort or hotel.…
It’s Not Just About Certification—It’s About Learning
Edward Leonard, Director of Culinary Operations and Executive Chef at The Polo Club of Boca Raton, believes certification furthers learning—and that’s what matters most. I recently read Joanna DeChellis’ Editor’s Memo on certification and it caused me to pause and ponder the age-old debate about certification. In her piece, she asks if being certified will make the member…
Why We Do Research and Development Sessions
Executive Chef Edward Leonard, CMC, uses annual “R&D” sessions to improve the food, menus, restaurants and staff at The Polo Club of Boca Raton. Research & Development—or “R&D” as I call it—is not only for chain restaurants, manufacturers or big food companies. In fact, it’s perfect for clubs or any type of culinary operation. Throughout my…
Seven Keys to Culinary Excellence
Edward Leonard, CMC, Director of Culinary Operations and Executive Chef at The Polo Club of Boca Raton (Fla.), strives to be the best by following these seven guidelines. I have been fortunate to travel the world and both work with and train under some excellent cooks and chefs who operate well above average and constantly…