Leonard Hollander, Executive Chef

Leonard Hollander joined Marion Street Cheese Market as Executive Chef in Spring 2009.  He has lived in Chicago for 3 years, working and staging with some of the most prestigious chefs and fine dining establishments in the city including Ambria and Avenues at the Peninsula Hotel.

Leonard grew up in Northern Kentucky, a suburb among the greater Cincinnati, OH area.  He began his career on the corporate ladder; having graduated college with a degree in Business Administration and Information System.  After spending a semester taking evening classes at the local culinary institute as a creative outlet from the office setting, he left to pursue a job as a line cook in a mid-range Southern/American-style restaurant in 2003.  It was within that role that he recognized his love of the culinary arts and began his professional career in the field.  He gained experience through work in multiple Cincinnati restaurants and began teaching culinary classes around the city as well.  Before coming to Chicago, he and his wife moved to Los Angeles where he spent time working in and experiencing the west coast culinary and wine scenes.

His continuously evolving cuisine is rooted in local and seasonal ingredients as is Marion Street Cheese Market’s mission statement, created with a sense of whimsy and the desire to make diners comfortable in an enjoyable and unique way.