NEW ORLEANS — New Orleans-based hospitality group LeBLANC+SMITH said in a press release that its founder and CEO Robert LeBlanc has been named 2019 Restaurateur of the Year by the Louisiana Restaurant Association. LeBlanc is heavily involved with the LRA and served as keynote speaker at this year’s LRA Education Foundation’s ProStart Invitational, inspiring area high schoolers to pursue their dreams of a career in the culinary arts.
“Robert is one of those guys who embodies what the Restaurateur of the Year is for the LRA,” said Paul Rotner, 2019 Louisiana Restaurant Association Chair and CEO of Acme Management Group.
“A lot of folks talk about how wonderful they are. Robert talks about how wonderful [his] team is, how they develop concepts, and how they execute at a really high level,” said Stan Harris, President and CEO of Louisiana Restaurant Association.
LeBLANC+SMITH is a boutique hospitality group comprised of five restaurants and bars in New Orleans, including the French Quarter restaurants Sylvain, Longway Tavern and Meauxbar; the Uptown restaurant Cavan; and the Lower Garden District bar Barrel Proof. LeBlanc’s latest project is redeveloping a historic Uptown mansion to become Hotel Chloe, a 14-room luxury F&B-driven hotel, in early 2020.
LeBLANC+SMITH says its portfolio of bars and restaurants is approaching $12 million per year in gross revenues.
Robert LeBlanc[/caption]
