James Francis Lenzi, graduate (1976) and quondam teaching fellow at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park NY, has studied and worked in France, Italy, the Caribbean and in NYC. For Chef James Lenzi, the natural progression of change, both subtle and obvious is second nature, given the places and spaces he has been.

As a Leading Philanthropist and restaurateur, Tamar Tolchin is an experienced investor and operator, and the controlling partner of Shore Culinary LLC. Her present flagship is The Mill at Spring Lake Heights, one of the oldest and probably the largest, best known and most highly esteemed destination restaurant/catering facility on the NJ shore.

Our restaurant’s namesake, Haakon Gesdal-Lenzi was born and raised on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. He attended the Browning School and is currently a senior at Alfred University where he is studying ceramics.