OUR TEAM

Some of the important players who make the service and food what is . . .

Emeril Lagasse, Executive Chef/Proprietor

Chef Emeril Lagasse received his first culinary experience from his mother, Hilda, when he was a boy growing up in the small town of Fall River, Massachusetts. As a teenager, he worked at a Portuguese bakery where he mastered the art of bread and pastry baking. Upon high school graduation, Lagasse was offered a full scholarship to the New England Conservatory of Music, but decided to pursue a career as a professional chef.

Read complete biography in the Emerilology Section »

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David Slater, Chef de Cuisine

David Slater spent his youth exploring one of the most cosmopolitan and multicultural cities in the world – Toronto, Canada. Food rituals shared by his grandparents would make up the foundation for his lifelong culinary interests. Their Russian and Romanian heritage; the blending of several cultural traditions, would heavily influence his personal style of cooking.

After graduating from the Florida Culinary Institute in West Palm Beach, Florida in 1998, David arrived in New Orleans, working in the prestigious kitchens of The Windsor Court Hotel and Restaurant Cuvée.

In 2001, David joined the Emeril’s family at Emeril’s Orlando, working alongside Emeril’s Culinary Director Bernard Carmouche. In 2003, he was part of the opening team at Emeril’s Atlanta, before returning to Emeril’s New Orleans in 2005 as a Sous Chef.

Forced to evacuate to New York due to Hurricane Katrina, David worked in a number of popular Manhattan restaurants for a few months, until the restoration and reopening of Emeril’s New Orleans in December 2005. David become the Executive Sous Chef under Chef de Cuisine Christopher Lynch in 2007, and assumed full command of the kitchen at Emeril Lagasse’s flagship restaurant in January 2008.

With a love of New Orleans food, people and culture, and a true passion for the local bounty available here, he continues to inspire locals and visitors daily with Chef Emeril’s signature “new New Orleans” cuisine.

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Kevin Delaune, General Manager

Kevin Delaune joined Chef Emeril Lagasse's restaurant company in 1990 as a server at the flagship restaurant, Emeril's in New Orleans. He quickly rose through the ranks and has held management positions within the company in both Orlando and New Orleans since 1998. Delaune has served as Assistant General Manager at Emeril's Orlando at Universal CityWalk, and Emeril's Delmonico in New Orleans. In July 2002, he was promoted to General Manager at Emeril's Tchoup Chop, located at Universal Orlando's Royal Pacific Resort. In June 2004, Delaune was offered the opportunity to return to Emeril's in New Orleans as General Manager. He accepted the challenge and currently oversees all daily operations of the famous Warehouse District restaurant.

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