State College, PA (October 1, 2024) — The Nittany Lion Inn, announces the appointment of Mirko Loeffler to executive chef overseeing the hotel’s new and renovated dining outlets, Lionne & 1855 Lounge, Dear Joe: Cafe and Bakery, and Triplett’s. Loeffler boasts 50 years of hospitality experience having started his career as an apprentice chef in his native Germany at a young age. Over the course of his career Loeffler has worked at several regarded restaurants and hospitality brands across Europe, the U.S. and China.
“We’re delighted to welcome Chef Loeffler to our team at The Nittany Lion Inn,” said Gary Brandeis, CEO and founder of Scholar Hotel Group. “This historic hotel has long been a destination for esteemed alumni, government leaders, and other notable guests who have come to expect a certain level of service and we believe Chef Loeffler’s leadership will help us further elevate and enhance our offerings as we launch our new and refreshed culinary program following an extensive renovation of the hotel.”
Loeffler’s vision has helped inform the creative direction at the hotel’s newly refreshed dining outlets. The hotel’s signature restaurant Lionne offers fine dining with a selection of meticulously prepared menu items made with locally sourced ingredients. The menu features a selection of new dishes and favorites such as the legendary Nittany Lion Inn Lobster bisque. To complement the menu Chef Loeffler has curated an extensive wine list and a curated cocktail selection. Chef Loeffler has also placed his stamp on the Triplett’s which now pairs comfort with culinary ingenuity offering a menu of dishes and carefully crafted cocktails that lend themselves to the bar’s high-energy vibe making it the perfect place to celebrate a Penn State victory.
Loeffler joined The Nittany Lion Inn after spending several years as Executive Chef at the historic Oglebay in West Virginia. Prior to that he spent six years at Omni Bedford Springs Resort. In addition to Omni Hotels & Resorts, Loeffler has held positions with a number of top hotel brands such as Wyndham and Hilton Hotels. Prior to his relocation to the U.S., Loeffler worked across some of Europe’s finest hotels throughout Monaco, France, Germany, Switzerland and Italy. Loeffler attended the Hotel Fach Schule in Bad Überlingen Germany, where he earned a degree in culinary arts.
For more information and hotel reservations, visit www.nittanylioninn.com or call (814) 816-8500. Follow The Nittany Lion in on Instagram at @NittanyLionInn or Nittany Lion Inn on Facebook.
