At the 2025 Chef to Chef Conference in Baltimore, Geoffrey Lanez, MBA, CEC, Executive Chef of The Patterson Club and Club + Resort Chef 40 Under 40 alum, was named the 2025 Club + Resort Chef of the Year. Lanez’s entree was a scallop credo with mango, pickled jalapeño, pickled red onion, and a passion fruit sauce.
Lanez worked alongside apprentice Jack Wagner, also on C+RC’s 40 Under 40 list and the Executive Sous Chef of Brentwood Country Club in Los Angeles. Lanez received $4,0000, plus the prestigious title, and a feature in Club + Resort Chef.
The runner-up was Sous Chef Alejandro Rivero of Blackthorn Club in Jonesborough, Tenn., alongside apprentice Jake Powers, Sous Chef of Great Oaks Country Club. Rivero receives a $1,000 prize. Other competitors included Cynthia Romstadt, Executive Chef of Colonial Country Club (Fort Worth, Texas), alongside apprentice Hans Howland, Chef de Cuisine at Blue Hills Country Club, and Brad Menhorn, former Executive Chef of Druid Hills Golf Club (Atlanta), alongside apprentice Susanna Larson, Executive Sous Chef of Yellowstone Country Club.
Special thanks to Mikasa Hospitality, the official dinnerware sponsor of the 2025 Club + Resort Chef of the Year Culinary Competition.
The Club + Resort Chef of the Year Culinary Competition continues to be a vital part of the Chef to Chef Conference, offering an exciting, live cooking experience that celebrates the passion, innovation, and expertise of club chefs.
Former Club + Resort Chef of the Year Winners:
- 2024: Conor Ball, Executive Chef of Martis Camp Club
- 2023: Sam Brod, CEC, Executive Chef of The Landings Golf & Athletic Club
- 2022: Robert Meitzer, CEC, AAC, Forest Lake Country Club
- 2022: James Allen, CEC, Blackthorn Club at the Ridges
- 2020: Scott Craig, CEC, CCA, WCMC, Myers Park Country Club
- 2020: J. Kevin Walker, CMC, AAC Ansley Golf Club
- 2019: Eva Barrios, CEC, Austin Country Club
- 2019: Nelson Millán, San Antonio Country Club
- 2018: Brandon Gross, The Metropolitan Club of the City of Washington D.C
- 2017: Todd Walline, CEC, CCA, Blue Hills Country Club
- 2016: Thayer Johnson, Castlewood Country Club
Chefs interested in competing for the 2026 Chef of the Year title at the next Chef to Chef Conference, March 8-10, 2026, at The Broadmoor should email Editorial Director Joanna DeChellis or Senior Editor Isabelle Gustafson.
