National Arts Centre Appoints Kenton Leier as its New Executive Chef

The National Arts Centre (NAC) is delighted to announce the appointment of Kenton Leier as its new Executive Chef, effective July 26, 2017. 

Kenton Leier is an award-winning chef with more than 25 years of culinary and food and beverage experience, most recently at the upscale, high volume operation at the Westin Hotel in Ottawa.

Chef Leier has worked at the Chateau Laurier and at the Marriott Ottawa Hotel, where he opened Merlot restaurant. He has also served as executive chef at the Delta Ottawa and on the team at the four diamond restaurant in The Capital Dining Room. He is currently President of the Ottawa chapter of Les Toques Blanches International, an association of chefs and food services professionals dedicated to the development of young chef and other charitable works in the community. During his career, Chef Leier has won several prestigious distinctions including the Gold medal at the Scothot Culinary Salon in Glasgow, Scotland, and the Silver Medal at the Culinary World Cup in Luxembourg. In 1998 he was selected by the NAC’s legendary chef, the late Kurt Waldele, to be part of Canada’s Capital Regional Culinary Team which competed and won many national and international medals.  

“I’m excited to join the National Arts Centre’s culinary team at a time of unprecedented rejuvenation for the organization,” said Kenton Leier. “And with the opening of several, stunning catering spaces in the new NAC building over the coming months, it is also a historic time of renewal for the Centre’s food and beverage services. I look forward to leading the effort to make the National Arts Centre a culinary destination for all Canadians.”

“The NAC is proud to welcome Chef Kenton Leier to its artistic leadership team,” said Peter Herrndorf, President and CEO of the National Arts Centre. “He is a respected artist with an outstanding track record of mentoring future Canadian culinary stars.”

The NAC Food and Beverage Department generates annual revenues of $7 million, making it one of the largest operations of its kind in Eastern Ontario. It includes le café Restaurant, a major catering operation, seven intermission bars and oversees the Hospitality Services at Global Affairs and Rideau Gate for the federal Government. Every year, the NAC hosts 800 events such as weddings, graduations, meetings and conferences, and serves more than 56,000 guests at le café

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FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Carl Martin
Senior Advisor, Communications
National Arts Centre
613 947 7000 x 560
carl.martin@nac-cna.ca

Rosemary Thompson,
Director, Communications and Public Affairs
National Arts Centre
613 947-7000 x260
rthompson@nac-cna.ca

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