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Lena Hartwell

Executive Chef
New Orleans, LA, United States

Professional Summary

Executive Chef with 13 years of progressive culinary leadership across high-volume hotels, chef-driven restaurants, and multi-unit hospitality operations. Known for building disciplined kitchen teams, refining seasonal Gulf Coast menus, and delivering memorable guest experiences while improving margins, consistency, and food safety. Leads with calm urgency, thoughtful mentorship, and a deep respect for local producers.

Employment History

Executive Chef
Maison Roux Culinary Group · New Orleans, LA
2021 · Present
• Direct culinary vision, menu development, and daily operations for a 42-person brigade serving 500+ covers weekly across two neighborhood concepts. • Reengineered purchasing and prep systems, reducing food cost by 8% while protecting ingredient quality and seasonal Gulf Coast identity. • Coach sous chefs and line leads through structured tastings, station standards, and quarterly development plans; promoted 11 team members internally. • Partner with ownership on hiring, vendor negotiations, kitchen safety, and special-event execution for festivals, weddings, and private dinners.
Sous Chef / Kitchen Manager
Crescent Harbor Hotels · New Orleans, LA
2017 · 2021
• Managed dinner-service execution, banquet production, and labor planning for a 220-room property with three outlets and $4.2M annual F&B revenue. • Built cross-training plans that improved schedule flexibility and cut overtime 14% during peak convention seasons. • Led HACCP audits, receiving controls, and allergen protocols, maintaining a clean record across four annual health inspections. • Collaborated with the Executive Chef on menu rollouts, vendor tastings, and seasonal hiring for a 35-person kitchen team.
Line Cook → Chef de Partie
Bayou & Brass Bistro · New Orleans, LA
2013 · 2017
• Progressed from garde manger to Chef de Partie while mastering butchery, sauces, wood-fire cookery, and classic Louisiana foundations. • Executed 250+ covers per service with precise mise en place, clean station handoffs, and consistent plating during peak weekends. • Trained six new cooks on prep lists, knife safety, sanitation, and the bistro’s rotating seasonal menu. • Earned quarterly recognition for composure under pressure, low waste practices, and dependable teamwork.

Education

AOS, Culinary Arts
Delgado Community College · New Orleans, LA
2011 · 2013
Dean’s List; Culinary Arts Society; emphasis in classical technique, garde manger, and hospitality operations.
Professional Culinary Arts Certificate
Culinary Institute of America · Hyde Park, NY
2010 · 2011
Concentration in garde manger, classical French technique, menu costing, and kitchen leadership.

Skills

Menu Development
Kitchen Operations
Food Safety
Cost Control

Courses

ServSafe Manager Certification; ACF Culinary Certification
National Restaurant Association / American Culinary Federation · New Orleans, LA
2022 · Present
Current on food safety, allergen management, sanitation leadership, culinary standards, and continuing education for professional kitchen management.