Drew Van Leuvan. Photo courtesy of Blue HominyFifth Group Restaurants has named Drew Van Leuvan the new executive chef of Ecco Buckhead. Chef Van Leuvan brings 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry to the restaurant.
After obtaining his degree from New York’s Culinary Institute of America, Van Leuvan proceeded to hone his skills with apprenticeships beneath world-renowned chefs including Jean Louis Palladin, Guenter Seeger, Wylie Dufresne, Joel Antunes, Sam Mason and Mark Dommen. He remained in NYC where he worked at the Palladin restaurant before relocating to Atlanta. Here, he held various positions from chef de partie to executive chef and launched his handmade pasta company, Pain de Mie.
Most recently Van Leuvan led Buckhead’s Seven Lamps kitchen as executive chef & partner where he spent eight years creating handmade pastas, wood-fired meats and seasonal and locally farmed vegetable preparation. Now he joins Fifth Group Restaurants to lead Ecco Buckhead’s kitchen as executive chef.
While Ecco Buckhead will maintain its culinary identity of seasonal European favorites, guests can expect to find nods to Drew’s cooking style woven throughout the menus alongside new items, like:
- Burrata with smoked porchetta, rocket arugula, English peas, GA strawberries, orange juice fennel and peppercorn dressing
- Wood-oven-roasted loup de mer with vichy carrots, carrot top salsa verde, brown butter, lemon and capers
- Fava bean ravioli with crispy prosciutto, tomato butter, bread crumbs and pecorino.
