Chef Erik Geehern was born and raised in Orange County, New York, where he began culinary training in his early teens. He originally worked as a bus-boy at “The Greenwood” in Greenwood Lake, New York, a four star restaurant owned at the time by Peter Lenihan and Thomas Devenny.
After a short time he was given the opportunity to start working in the kitchen with Chef Thom Devenny. Devenny was a former apprentice of the late great Rudolph Stanish.
"Being able to make a perfect omelet is as essential a skill for living the good life as is making a perfect cup of coffee."
Rudolph (Rudy) Stanish -- "The Omelet King." Mr. Stanish earned his title "Omelet King" flipping his famous omelets for Princess Diana, Whoopi Goldberg and Tennessee Williams. "I made the omelets for JFK's inaugural breakfast," said Mr. Stanish in an interview with the Post-Gazette in 2004. "Of course, I'd met both Jackie Bouvier and John Kennedy at parties in Newport, Rhode Island, years before they married." Chef Thom would proudly pull out and discuss his first edition of Stanish's book: Omelets, Crêpes, and Other Recipes, which had been given to Thom and inscribed with: "To my omelette Prince." |
The Greenwood specialized in elegant country dining, focusing on fresh seasonal ingredients, prepared using classic French techniques.
Erik learned as much as he possibly could from Chef Thom and worked his way up through The Greenwood's chain of command over the next seven years to become the Chef de Cuisine.
Erik learned as much as he possibly could from Chef Thom and worked his way up through The Greenwood's chain of command over the next seven years to become the Chef de Cuisine.
After Devenny & Lenihan sold The Greenwood, Chef Erik was handed the torch, and vowed to keep Devenny's legacy of great food and country dining alive. Erik has worked as a private caterer and cake decorator, as well as gaining extensive experience as a chocolatier and culinary instructor.
Erik currently lives in Washingtonville, New York with his wife Kati and two beautiful children, Patrick & Cailin.