Behind each beautifully plated dish and every dining experience is a team of passionate chefs, driven by creativity and a love of sharing food with others. Today, we're thrilled to introduce two of the culinary visionaries leading our food and beverage department, Thomas Gisler, Director of Food & Beverage and Eric Szymczak, Executive Chef.
Thomas Gisler, Director of Food and Beverage
With an incredible amount of international experience, Chef Thomas brings a wealth of knowledge to his role. Originally from Altdorf, Switzerland, Chef attended Hotel School Lucerne, Switzerland and graduated in 1988. His career started in Orlando, then to Japan, South Korea and Germany with Hyatt Hotels and back to the United States in Cooperstown, New York. Through these experiences, Chef has developed excellent training skills and a solid understanding of cost/inventory control. With his passion for Food and Wine, he wanted to get into the glamor of serving guests and work with great individuals and getting to eat and drink "professionally." He loves it when celebrities show up and be able to show off the capabilities of his team. He is grateful for having seen much of the world while working in some of the finest hotels worldwide in amazing cities. These are wonderful memories that have created the exceptional leader that he is today.
Anthony Bourdain was a huge inspiration to Thomas. He had the privilege to cooked dinner with Anthony while on his promotional tour for his best-selling book "Kitchen Confidential" at the Hyatt in Cologne, Germany. Thomas recollects, "Ever since, he has been one of the most inspiring people in my life. A great quote from Anthony "If you're 22, physically fit, hungry to learn and be better, I urge you to travel - as far and as widely as possible."
When asked what his most significant achievements are, Chef's response was, "Bringing up three great daughters that I love hanging out with and a beautiful wife that I am still happily married to, after a long career in the Hospitality Industry covering several continents." But those most influential in his life were his parents who taught him his key guiding principles: Honest, genuine, thoughtful, and caring. The advice that he offers to our students is, "No one learns to drive in the back seat. Step up!"
Eric Szymczak, Executive Chef
Chef Eric leads The Statler Culinary Team, aided by a wealth of experience in the hotel industry and dedication to teaching and learning in the kitchen. His own educational journey began at the prestigious Culinary Institute of America, which gave Chef Eric a strong base knowledge of the culinary arts and the discipline needed to lead robust teams.
Throughout his career, Chef Eric has had dynamic and rich experiences, touching nearly every aspect of the culinary industry. The only industry Chef Eric has not touched is working on a cruise ship! Though he would say serving for 4 years in the US Navy is close enough. From the hospitality standards of The Ritz Carlton to the resilience achieved after working under unrelenting French chefs, Chef Eric has learned many lessons along the way.
American author Fran Leibowitz once said, "I really think that musicians and cooks are responsible for the most pleasure in life." This has always resonated with Chef Eric because food is instant happiness. You take a bite of something and immediately feel joy. No food brings Chef Eric more "joy" than pizza. He often says, if you see him and he is not eating pizza, he is thinking about where he can get some!
Living in Ithaca for the last ten years, Chef Eric and his wife have sown roots and are in the process of raising two young boys. When Chef Eric is not in the kitchen, you can find him cherishing time with his family!
Both Chef Thomas and Chef Eric embody The Statler Hotel's values, especially the commitment to OWN IT! Whether mentoring students, refining menus, or creating memorable guest experiences, they take pride in their work and lead by example.
We are honored to have these two exceptional chefs and the next time you dine at Taverna Banfi or attend an event at The Statler Hotel, know that every detail is touched by their passion, purpose, and pride.