Chef Blair Lebsack
Executive Chef – Madison Grill – Union Bank Inn Chef
Blair Lebsack has developed his Career through Executive Chef Positions in Calgary, Banff, Saskatoon and now Edmonton. Blair’s trademark is “Cultivated Canadian Cuisine.” He is inspired by exceptional local products, and displays his passion through seasonally inspired menus created for Madison’s Grill and the Union Bank Inn’s Banquet spaces.
Chef Blair believes in the slow food movement while taking the time to properly prepare soups, stocks and sauces from scratch. One of his ongoing initiatives, in support of the Slow Cooking Movement and 100 Mile Diet, is the Menu Surprise. This menu feature is a Culinary Adventure, with the courses not revealed until they reach the table. This allows him to showcase local artisan suppliers and specialty ingredients that may not be produced on a large enough scale for a regular menu item.
Blair volunteers much of his time to helping with local food initiatives such as Indulgence, Grilled Cheese Olympics, Chef’s in the City and is a part of the CCFCC. Blair in conjunction with Travel Alberta and Edmonton Tourism went on a Media PR initiative to raise awareness of Alberta Cuisine to the LA market. This experience found Blair preparing a 4 Course Alberta Themed Dinner, in the prestigious kitchen of Spago, in Beverly Hills, LA. Blair was also selected to showcase local cuisine for “Endless Feast”, a television program that will air on PBS. Blair has competed in the previous 3 Gold Medal Plates Competitions with silver and bronze finishes, he has been nominated as the Alberta Farmer’s Market Associations “Local Food Hero” and nominated to represent Edmonton’s branch of Terra Madre in Italy. Since Blair has been at Madison’s Grill they have been voted “Best Hotel Dining” for two consecutive years by Vue Magazine and voted “Best Fine Dining” by Consumer’s Choice Awards in 2009.
Chef Blair is often featured on City TV’s Breakfast Television cooking Madison’s Grill specialties and promoting the local dining scene.