Eric Leyden got started in the food industry as a line cook while in high school. He moved on to working in private clubs, then eventually made the transition to fine dining restaurants and then to owner/operator of a casual middle-Eastern inspired restaurant in Oregon before moving to Lincoln and taking a position as Executive Chef for The Nebraska Club. The Nebraska Club is a downtown dining club on top of the US Bank building. They have several dining/meeting areas and often have multiple functions operating at the same time. They have a fantastic view of the city from all directions – seeing the Capitol and Memorial Stadium from our windows on the 20th floor makes for a very unique, memorable dining experience. They offer standard or customized banquet packages tailored for meetings or special events and dining in the lounge or main dining room.
Tell us a little about your family.
I love my family more than anything. To be near our families was the biggest motivator for relocating back to Lincoln almost one year ago. I have been married to Katie Wilkins, RN and aspiring Lactation Specialist, for the last 8 years. We literally grew up down the street from each other but never made the connection as kids. We have our pink-loving naturalist daughter Molly (5 1/2), and our rough and tumble anything guy – loving boy Graham (3).
What do you see as one of the biggest turning points in your life?
The day my oldest and best friend, Jason Ortiz, told me that a desire to simply teach was the wrong reason to pursue a graduate program in American History. He meant that you should have a passion for your subject and your work, which he could tell was lacking for me at that time. From that day forward I have continued studying how to be a better cook, chef and manager.
What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that most people probably don’t know?
That I skate regular foot.
What are you the most proud of?
Professionally I am the most proud when a former co-worker or employee come back to visit or come back to work with me. Community and relationships are very important to me.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
To work toward balance in my life. That no achievement is worth anything if you have to completely ignore other important parts of your life to obtain it.
What is your greatest talent that you don’t utilize in your daily work life?
Humility.
What is your favorite book or the last good book you read?
The last good food-related book I read was Blood Bones and Butter, The Inadvertent Education of a Reluctant Chef by Gabrielle Hamilton.
What is your favorite movie?
My favorite movie is the 1978 Jamaican Classic Rockers.
What is your favorite TV show?
Mad Men is the one show both my wife and I cannot miss.
What is your favorite Lincoln restaurant?
I think I would get in trouble if I only picked one. I can be found frequenting The Oven, Bread & Cup, Dish, Vung Tau, Yia Yia’s, Marz, Sinbad’s, Sultan’s Kite and Babylon.
If you could have dinner with one famous person from the past or present, who would it be?
Jacques Pepin. Now who can tell me if he is past or present?
If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so?
They can email me at eric@nebraskaclub.net or visit our website at www.nebraskaclub.net.