Mozart of Meatloaf

Among many other things Lucky’s executive chef and general manager, Leonard Schwartz has been in the restaurant business more than 30 years, working his way from the bottom up, through some of the best kitchens in Los Angeles. Among his most notable efforts was the launching of the landmark 72 Market Street in Venice and then in 1989 the award winning Maple Drive in Beverly Hills.

 So it came as no surprise when Lucky’s founder Gene Montesano, who was in need of a GM and had heard of his reputation, gave Schwartz a call to run the day to day operations and bring an added flair to the already popular Montecito eatery.

That was in the summer of 2007, and today, two years later, Schwartz has never been happier.

“I get to walk to work” says Schwartz with a smile, happy to have left the L.A. traffic. “I love the small town feel of Santa Barbara. You get to be aware of every customer who comes in.

 ”Schwartz made his mark and received national culinary acclaim by giving “comfort food” a fine dining experience. Large entrée salads, hearty “kick ass” chili, meatloaf and a great raw bar are just a few of his signatures. After Craig Claiborne of the New York Sunday Times Magazine published his meatloaf recipe, (made with filet mignon) it was clear that Schwartz would live up to the “Mozart of meatloaf” moniker given to him by Gourmet Magazine’s Caroline Bates.

 And his plan for Lucky’s?  Simple; preserve it’s charm and commitment to serving quality USDA prime meats while expanding the menu with a broader selection of non-meat, lighter dishes, fresh fish and of course the ever famous meatloaf. “We’re always working on making it a better experience,” says Schwartz. Both customers and staff couldn’t agree more.

Article courtesy of: Food & Home

Food & Home Magazine is a quarterly, consumer-based publication that stylishly presents relevent and engaging features about the Southern California lifestyle in a glossy, perfect bound format.

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