The Union Club of Cleveland is currently the only club with two Certified Master Chefs on staff.

Arnaud Berthelier, Executive Chef of The Union Club of Cleveland, successfully passed the American Culinary Federation (ACF), Certified Master Chef (CMC) Examination, hosted at Schoolcraft College in Livonia, Mich.

The Certified Master Chef examination is the highest and most demanding level of certification for the over 17,500 American Culinary Federation members nationally. With Berthelier’s passage of the exam, there are now only 69 CMCs in the United States. In 2001, The Union Club’s General Manager and COO, Lawrence McFadden, passed the CMC examination. With Berthelier’s successful passage and McFadden’s previous designation, The Union Club is the only club in the world with two Certified Master Chefs on staff.

“It was an unexpected challenge, but I enjoyed the journey,” says Berthelier, who was one of four chefs to pass this examination class.

“We are so thrilled to have a culinary artist of Chef Berthelier’s stature at The Union Club,” says McFadden. “His talents and extensive experience puts him at the level of any chef in Cleveland. His presence will certainly enhance this great city as well as The Union Club.”

Berthelier has cooked in some of the best restaurants and properties across the globe. A native of France, he started his career in fine restaurants in his homeland. The highlight of his career thus far includes a two-year stint at the three-star Michelin restaurant, Le Louis XV in Monte Carlo, France where he worked under legendary chef, Alain Ducasse.

Before coming to The Union Club, Berthelier worked at The Ritz Carlton in Sheikh, Egypt, Sir Elly’s in The Peninsula Hotel in Shanghai, China, The Resort at Pelican Hill in Newport Beach, Calif, and, most recently, at The Everglades Club in Palm Beach, Fla.