NEW ORLEANS – NOPSI Hotel, New Orleans, a luxury hotel and community gathering place located in the heart of the Central Business District, is pleased to announce the appointment of Neal Swidler as its new executive chef. In this role, Swidler will be responsible for overseeing the hotel’s entire culinary operation, including all food and beverage outlets, in-room dining, catering and banquet offerings.
A longtime New Orleans chef, Swidler draws from an impressive career spanning more than 20 years of executive-level experience at some of the most acclaimed kitchens in the area, including 10 years with Emeril Lagasse’s New Orleans restaurants, serving as chef de cuisine at both NOLA and Emeril’s Delmonico, as well as corporate chef and concept development at NHS Restaurant Consulting, followed by executive chef and owner of the award-winning pan-Asian restaurant, Lucky Rooster. Known for his bold flavor combinations that are unpretentious and approachable, Chef Neal specializes in building environments that utilize excellence and autonomy to enhance staff performance, with a proven track record of creative menu development and vast portfolio of personally designed cuisine.
A dynamic leader with an adaptable style and hands-on approach to management, Chef Neal joins NOPSI Hotel from his most recent appointment at Broussard’s Restaurant, where he functioned as executive chef. In this role, Swidler gave new life to the restaurant by modernizing the menu to revitalize interest in the original New Orleans Grand Dame, successfully achieving an increase of revenue by $2 million in the first year, while successfully coordinating and executing more than $1 million in banquet and private sales per year.
A dean’s list graduate of the prestigious Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, Chef Neal began his career with a six-month teaching fellowship – further refining his culinary skills while gaining top-notch perspective under the direction of his instructors, including the acclaimed James Beard award-winner Janos Wilder, a chef-proprietor in Tucson, Arizona.
“I’m excited bring my passion, creativity and expertise to the NOPSI Hotel team,” says Chef Neal. “I hope to build on the hotel’s existing culinary reputation by creating memorable and distinct dining experiences for all of our guests to enjoy.”
Committed to further elevating the hotel’s dining experience, Swidler is expanding the number of seasonal items and ingredients on every menu, introducing bold flavor combinations that inspire guests to fully engage in the culinary experience. Significant modifications have also been made to the Public Service menu, NOPSI Hotel’s signature restaurant. Menu highlights include:
- Shrimp Toast with creole tomato glaze and spicy boil potato salad
- Rockefeller Bisque with cornmeal crusted oysters and applewood smoked bacon
- Heritage Beef Tenderloin Filet with Brabant potatoes, bacon jam brussels and cambozola
Under Swidler’s direction, NOPSI Hotel will continue to elevate its onsite food and beverage programming with regularly scheduled events and offerings available to hotel guests and neighborhood residents alike – including a weekly line-up of live music, entertainment and happy hour specials throughout all three of the hotel’s food and beverage outlets, monthly wine and spirit dinners at Public Service, NOPSI Neighbors a complimentary, membership-based guest savings program created for the local community, as well as the launch of Henry’s Gin Bar, a new lobby bar concept named aptly for New Orleans’ notoriously law-abiding citizen and inventor of the gin fizz, Henry C. Ramos.
NOPSI Weekly Line-Up includes:
- Industry Night at Public Service
Mondays from 9:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.; Music by DJ Marcus Lott; Enjoy ½ price glass wine, $5 drafts, Boilermaker Specials starting at $5, $12 Public Burger
- Tempo Tuesdays at NOPSI
Tuesdays from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.; Music by Shawan & The Wonton
- Wholenote Wednesdays at NOPSI
Wednesdays from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.; Live music by Amanda Ducorbier
- Above the Grid Thursday Nights
Thursdays from 9:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.; Music by DJ Otto & Friends
- Funk ‘N Boogie at Above the Grid
Fridays and Saturdays from 9:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.; Music by DJ Otto & Friends
- Jazz Brunch at Public Service
Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.; Live music by Sidewalk Swing Band
Conveniently located in the heart of New Orleans’ Central Business District and just steps away from the historic French Quarter, NOPSI Hotel, New Orleans is a timelessly refined luxury hotel with a community spirit. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, NOPSI — which stands for New Orleans Public Service, Inc. — is located in the former headquarters of the city’s power and transportation company, welcoming guests with 217 refined guest rooms, including 76 suites, a lively signature restaurant, Public Service, 14,000 square feet of architecturally significant indoor and outdoor meeting space, Henry’s Gin Bar and sophisticated rooftop pool and bar, Above the Grid.
For more information, please call NOPSI Hotel at 504.962.6500 or visit www.NOPSIhotel.com. NOPSI Hotel is located at 317 Baronne Street, New Orleans LA 70112.
