Behind the Scenes - Culinary Arts - Louisville Rose Awards

Nathan Duncan

Hyatt Regency Louisville

WHY NATHAN WAS NOMINATED

Nate has 30 years of experience, working behind the scenes to prepare exceptional food for banquet event guests and hotel colleagues. He takes a leadership role in the kitchen including training staff and taking ownership for the food produced for hotel banquet events. His planning, preparation, and execution is very well organized and coordinated with Banquet Manager, captains, servers, stewards and co-workers. No matter what the event, the execution is smooth with a goal of exceeding our guests’ expectations. Nate is dependable and hard-working. He knows what is expected of him and he delivers it consistently, resulting in so many positive comments from our guests and meeting planners.

Cast Your Vote for Nathan

Hayley Charron

Le Moo

WHY HAYLEY WAS NOMINATED

Her creativity in the Kitchen, engagement with visitors and returning guests, and drive to showcase the Kentucky-themed and southern-inspired dishes earned Hayley her first sous position in the fast-paced and very difficult kitchen. Hayley works every day to deliver Kentucky-inspired foods as features and specials on our menus, and is an ambassador for local farmers and suppliers. Hayley is a skilled chef and one of the up-and-coming female stars of Louisville’s food horizon, Hayley is a team player and builder. She has taken the initiative to learn different languages and understand cultural customs to communicate more effectively with her co-workers giving them the tools they need to succeed. In short, Hayley is a true testament to the excellence that Louisville and Le Moo present and everyone who crosses her path immediately knows that.

Cast Your Vote for Hayley

Matt Triplett

Village Anchor

WHY MATT WAS NOMINATED
Matt has been promoted to Sous Chef in his short stent at The Village Anchor, due to his hard work ethic and easygoing attitude. The other cooks affectionately call him “Jefe Pachón”, or in juxtaposition to his strong work ethic. His positive attitude and upbeat sense of humor make him a role model for the line cooks and an undeniable leader, bringing out the best from every employee. Matt’s amazing temperament, jovial personality and unique Louisville-style southern charm ensures guests have a great time when visiting the Village Anchor. You can find him in the restaurant, talking with guests to ensure they have had a wonderful experience and enhancing the quality of their visit with his food knowledge and charming attitude.

Cast Your Vote for Matt

Wendy Gilbert

Butchertown Grocery

WHY WENDY WAS NOMINATED
Chef Wendy works as hard, or harder, than anyone in the kitchen at Butchertown Grocery. She runs lunch and brunch service, as well as oversees the bulk of production as the A.M. Lead Sous Chef. She arrives at the restaurant before most of us have even had a chance to hit the snooze button, and works hard for every second of every shift. In a high volume, high stress environment, Chef Wendy never fails to face, and to conquer, the panoply of challenges that the job has to offer. She has never called in, been late, or missed a shift. She works diligently, and with great humility. She has a tremendous drive, incredible attention to detail and consistency, and is adept at motivating every person in the kitchen to put in maximum effort. Her work ethic, positive attitude, and attention to detail are infectious. These qualities, along with her leadership and mentoring of the next generation of culinary professionals, makes Chef Wendy the most deserving culinary nominee for a Rose Award.

Cast Your Vote for Wendy

Hope Phillips

Marketplace Restaurant

WHY HOPE WAS NOMINATED
Hope physically and literally saves our bacon here at Marketplace (just ask her about the birthday cake fiasco and how she had stepped up to make a three-tier red velvet with buttercream icing cake in a day). Her positive attitude, commitment to organization and detail, as well as determination keep our kitchen running and our customers sated. Her most recent challenge was in creating our dessert menu with her own genius creations — much to the delight of our customers. We don’t know how we got so lucky, we don’t know how she does all she does, but we’re just darn glad she does it here.

Cast Your Vote for Hope

Jim & Erica Young

Louisville Bourbon Inn

WHY JIM & ERICA YOUNG WERE NOMINATED

The Youngs are nominated as a couple because they perform all their hospitality duties as a team. In assisting with implementing the new concept of Louisville Bourbon Inn Bed and Breakfast and in the day to day running of the business, their passion, energy, professionalism and warmth has exceeded all of our expectations and that of our guests as well. Since taking their positions, they hold true to their culinary roots in every meal they serve, whether it be every day breakfasts, weddings, and being a host house for Dining at the Mansions Charity Dinner. Erica is a graduate of Cincinnati State Midwest Culinary Institute and honed her skills in pastries and confections at Michael Symon’s Lola Bistro and Sweet Moses Treat Shop in Cleveland, Ohio. She was promoted to Pastry Chef and Artisian Chocolatier, and won 2nd Place Judges Choice in the Northeast Ohio Girl Scouts of America Dessert First Competition 2016. Jim graduated from the Art Institute of Pittsburg’s Culinary Program and before joining us worked as the Sous Chef at Michael Symon’s Lola Bistro in Cleveland, as well as several fine dining restaurants across the country. Jim is also a decorated Army Veteran and was awarded the prestigious Sergeant Audie Murphy Leadership Award for his leadership skills during his service.

Cast Your Vote for Jim & Erica

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