Chef Chris Viaud, Executive Chef at The Lake Estate, is a two-time James Beard Award nominee and Top Chef alum with Haitian ancestry and New England roots. Chef Viaud’s food is rustic in its approach, yet refined, by classic techniques. Focusing primarily on seasonal products, most of which are grown locally, helps to fuel his passion when creating menus. He plans and executes balanced meals that incorporate different flavors and textures that entertain the palate.
Raised in the Boston suburbs, he then later moved with his family to Londonderry, NH where he completed high school. Upon graduating, he attended Johnson & Wales University in Providence, RI where he received a bachelor’s degree in culinary arts & food service management. After culinary school, he returned to Boston where he spent three of his most formative years at modern French restaurant, Deuxave, where he working through the ranks to become Jr. Sous Chef. Following his tenure at Deuxave and a few chef positions throughout the years in MA & NH, Chef Viaud opened his first restaurant Greenleaf in 2019 located in Milford, NH which serves seasonal dishes with local ingredients sourced from farmers throughout New England. He also owned a similar concept in Wolfeboro, NH called Pavilion. Throughout his career he has also opened a restaurant called Ansanm where he worked alongside his family serving traditional and modern Haitian inspired cuisine, and a scratch bakery called Culture that produced artisanal breads and pastries.
Chef Viaud continues to challenge himself by pushing the boundaries and taking himself out of his comfort zone by exploring new ideas, styles, trends and concepts to keep fueling his passion and believes that every day there is the opportunity to learn something new.
2:00 pm - 5:30 pm
