When the Union Club of Cleveland began its search for a new Executive Chef in 2017, General Manager Lawrence McFadden, CMC, wondered if a Michelin-starred chef and the club’s 65-year-old palate could co-exist. Turns out, they can.
Liquid Centre Chocolate Cake
Recipe courtesy of Arnaud Berthelier, CMC, Executive Chef, Union Club, Cleveland, Ohio.
We May Not Always Agree, But You Won’t Forget Me
Lawrence McFadden, CMC, General Manager/COO of Cleveland’s Union Club, believes that continued education and collaboration are necessary tools for understanding new and different viewpoints.
Was I Hired to Carry Trays?
Lawrence McFadden, GM/COO of the Union Club of Cleveland, believes successful leaders must balance front-of-the-club finesse with back-office executive management and strategic leadership duties.
Is it Creativity or Culinary Confusion?
A culture of culinary creativity is allowed when trust and education are present. When deliberate, creativity can give rise to brilliance. When presumed, the results can be a total bomb. I recently read a magazine article hyping the trend of cooking with ash, in which vegetables are scorched into a black powder and used for…
Could Mashing Help My Mentoring?
The Union Club’s GM/COO, Lawrence McFadden, CMC, has found that the synergies between his favorite hobby and his career are making him a better leader. Can a hobby help make you a better leader? I’ve been an avid cyclist since 2003 when I purchased a “real” bike following the Lance Armstrong excitement at that year’s…
His Title Was Executive Chef, But They Called Him God
The Union Club of Cleveland’s GM/COO, Lawrence McFadden, CMC, believes chefs succeed most when they are well-rounded and curious about life beyond the kitchen. Back in 1998, I attended the Ritz-Carlton’s annual food and beverage conference in Hawaii. During the event, a who’s who of the company assembled to share a global vision for our…
Was it a Calculated Career or a Lifetime of Learning?
As one of the few CMCs to move beyond the kitchen, Lawrence McFadden, CMC, GM/COO of the Union Club (Cleveland) attributes his unique career path to his dedication to learning. What if you could write your own career story? Would it limit your dreams, aspirations, and expectations or spur continuous self-reinvention? It takes confidence and courage…
The Master Chefs of Cleveland’s Union Club
With two Certified Master Chefs, the 146-year-old Cleveland club is elevating its dining program and the level of professionalism within its staff. When Arnaud Berthelier, Executive Chef of the Union Club of Cleveland, successfully passed the American Culinary Federation’s Certified Master Chef (CMC) examination this past February, he propelled the 146-year-old city club into the…
Why Change Can Be Really Good
I’ve had the unique opportunity to witness this special city club in the heart of downtown Cleveland evolve into something truly unique. A few months ago, I was sitting at my desk when my phone rang. I looked down to see the name Scott Spencer on the screen. It took me a minute to place…