LEONARD (Michael) THOMPSON

Objective:

• To secure a Private Chef position with a family seeking an exceptionally talented culinary professional with Private Residence; Hamptons, North American, Caribbean, and European Five-Star Restaurant and Resort experience with a history of exceeding guest expectations serving amazing food.

Summary of Qualifications:

• A unique passion for great food and the ability to produce such for both small groups and grand galas with a commitment to excellence.
• Knowledge of and experience in preparing healthy foods including vegetarian, vegan, raw and kosher, with the ability to manage most basic allergies and satisfy the culinary wants and needs of the most challenging children.
• Ability to manage daily social dining events both private and public in a controlled and organized manner with style and grace.
• Clear and concise knowledge of all privacy, discretion, and security requirements needed to successfully blend into any private family situation.
• Ability to understand and adapt to a variety of International cultures with exceptional interpersonal skills.
• Taught (with Marriott International) and practiced international HACCP sanitation standards and regulations.

• RUTH'S CHRIS STEAKHOUSE - Corporate Regional Chef, Charlotte, North Carolina, 9/2010-6/2012
• SANCTUARY RESORT & GOLF SPA - Cap Cana, Dominican Republic, 7/2009 - 7/2011
• SWEET MEATS DOMINICANA - Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, 9/2008 - 7/2009
• SHANGRI LA CASINO - Moscow, Russia 2/2008 - 9/2008
• BEACHES RESORT & SPA - Providenciales, Turks / Caicos, W.I., 3/2007 - 2/2008
• RADISSON SAS LAZURNAYA RESORT - Sochi, Russia, 12/2005 -2/2007
• SUPER CLUBS BEACH RESORT - Negril, Jamaica, 12/2003 - 11/2005
• MARRIOTT HOTELS AND RESORTS - RENAISSANCE JAMAICA GRANDE RESORT, Ocho Rios, Jamaica, 8 /2003 - 11/2003
• MARRIOTT WAIKIKI BEACH RESORT, Honolulu, HI. 7/2002 - 7/2003
• MARRIOTT SHADOW RIDGE RESORT & GOLF CLUB, Palm Springs, CA. 8/2001 - 7/2002
• MARRIOTT CAMELBACK RESORT - GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB, Scottsdale, AZ. 2/1998 - 8/2001

• Emeril's New Orleans
• Casa de Campo Resort, La Romano, Dominican Republic
• Inn at Arrowhead, Cimarron, Colorado
• La Louisiana Restaurant, Cabarete, Dominica Republic
• The Coconut Palms Resort, Sosua, Dominican Republic

• 04/01/24, 09/30/24, Marvin Schein & Amanda Lochowicz, Glen Cove Estate & Home in Southampton, Summer Private Chef, During the Hamptons season, I lived in 3 homes each week. Mr Schein was a great eater but knew exactly what he wanted where he wanted you to buy it and how he wanted it cooked. Amanda was a Yoga Guru and is vegan with 90% of her meals being Raw. Aside from leaving breakfast food in the refrigerator I mostly served only dinners except on Sunday when I did breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• 05/15/23, 09/30/23, Steven & Shelly Einhorn Family, Sagaponack, Summer Private Chef, I spent 4 months with this extremely private family of 10 who did no entertaining. Did all shopping and maintained a complete household food inventory. Cooked 3 al a carte meals a day for family, each member eating something different. I also spent a week in November 2022 that included Thanksgiving dinner.
• 05/29/23, 09/06/23, Andrew Zarro & Lois Robbins, Water Mill, Summer Private Chef, I spent the summer with this Power House couple, who after 7 years of construction finally finished their incredible dream home. So every night they would invite 20 to 25 of their closest friends to view the home and have dinner. It was a party every night. Did all shopping and cooked breakfast, lunch & dinner.
• 05/25/21, 09/06/21, Curt Kramer Family, Bridgehampton, Summer Private Chef, Set up this first-time kitchen in the Family's new Bridgehampton Summer residence in anticipation of the upcoming Sumer vacation. Shopped for and prepared a full 3-a-day meal service for this family of 10, including 4 teenagers, with a heavy emphasis on healthy meals. Oversaw a service staff of 4 and was the contact person for all service and maintenance issues.
• 06/01/17, 02/01/21, Jeffery Cole Family, Water Mill, Full-Time Private Chef, Planned, shopped, and cooked all meals for this incredibly active family of 5 with 5 homes in New York including 3 in NYC and 2 in Water Mill. This was a live-in position, while in the Hamptons, to facilitate breakfast, lunch, afternoon appetizers, and dinner. Special events included birthdays, anniversaries, sporting events, and all traditional annual Jewish holidays. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, in Water Mill, this home was very similar to a Bed & Breakfast with occupation of more than 20 persons every weekend. Maintained a household food inventory, and became very proficient in purchasing all food by utilization of Fresh Direct, Citarella, King Kullen, Green Thumb, Mecox Bay Dairy, Round Swamp, and Babinski Farms. Full charge of kitchen and outdoor cooking equipment including cleaning, organization, and functionality. Drove any family vehicles when needed based on availability as well as carried keys to or had access codes to all family residences.
• 08/01/16, 05/01/17, Marcia Riklis, Southampton, Full Time Estate Manager / Private Chef, I have cooked for Ms. Riklis as a private chef off and on since 2015. Most private chef duties were in Southampton and in NYC. Some travel for Jewish holidays was required. I took over duties as Estate Manager of her 2nd primary residence in August of this year. These duties included full management of this beach home of 18,000 square feet, 9 bedrooms on 8 acres of manicured property. Primary duties this year were closing the property for the Winter and re-opening the property for the Summer season.
• 08/01/15, 08/01/16, Various Clients, Manhattan & Hamptons, Free Lance Private Chef, Since leaving the Lehrman family I have been working 'Free Lance' while in search of my next family. Most of my jobs have been small dinner parties for an elite group of New York's most prominent or more long-term Hamptons assignments during the season. Some of my most recent clients have been: Steven & Harriet Croman (Real Estate), Bryant Gumbel (ESPN), Roger & Stacey Silverstein (World Trade Center), Glenn & Cindy Frey (recently deceased member of The Eagles), Susan and John Hess (Petroleum) and 3 of Americas largest Hedge Fund managers who have all had me sign a confidentiality agreement so they must remain anonymous.
• 11/01/12, 07/01/15, Michael and Marcy Lehrman Family, Manhattan & Hamptons, Full-Time Private Chef, Plan, shop for, and prepare afternoon snack buffet and full dinner 5 days a week for this busy family of 6 with 4 teenagers, three nannies, and two after-school teachers. Prepare healthy, kosher, vegan, vegetarian, and children's food with very specific dietary guidelines. Food must be organic, nutritious, tasty, and beautiful. Plan and prepare for all special events to include, Thanksgiving, Birthdays, social events as well as all Jewish religious holidays. A full charge of the kitchen, including maintenance, equipment purchases, and upkeep. Live-in position for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the Hamptons for summer vacation.
• 06/01/10, 09/01/10, Dr. Mehmet Oz Family (Dr & Mrs Gerald Lemole), Philadelphia, PA. and Casco Bay Maine, Summer Private Chef, Summer position in Maine for Dr. Oz's family during the build-up to his oldest daughter's wedding. Platted formal seated meals and casual buffets for 17 adults 10 children and 3 nannies. All were vegetarians or vegans. Planned, shopped for, cooked, and served 2 meals per day, 7 days a week. Wrote a family vegan cookbook and presented to them a termination of assignments. This family will provide me with an incredible reference demonstrating both my culinary ability as well as my ability to fit into a family atmosphere with privacy and discretion.
• 04/01/05, 04/14/05, The Honorable P. J. Patterson, Prime Minister of Jamaica, Negril, Jamaica, Resort Chef, Spend two weeks at home and prepared three meals per day (Jamaican classics) along with some of my specialties that the Prime minister loved and requested. This was followed by his 80th birthday with a grand celebration at our resort with 800 of his special guests.
• 05/01/92, 09/01/94, Mr. and Mrs. Patrick J. O'Hornett, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma & Colorado Springs, Colorado, Full-Time Private Chef, Shopped, cooked, and served 3 meals per day for this aristocratic couple along with a lunch service for service staff. Many special events and dinners were held during my time there with an incredible guest list that often included the Hunts, Ingersolls, and Gaylords just to name a few.