Leon Bistro

Ann Leon
Executive Chef

With LEON BISTRO, Chef Ann Leon fulfills a dream that has guided her during more than twenty years of restaurant, casino and resort experience. Leon studied at the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco, graduating at the head of her class and receiving the Danielle Carlisle Walker Award for outstanding work in the culinary arts.

She then went to work at Berkeley’s famed Chez Panisse, where she gained experience that has influenced her work ever since. In 1994 she joined the Claremont Resort Hotel, first as Banquet Chef and then Pastry Chef, and ultimately Restaurant Chef. Under her leadership the Claremont’s restaurant’s AAA and Mobile ratings were raised to Four Diamonds and it received its first Golden Plate Award from the California Restaurant Association. Leon then joined the Regency Plaza, in San Mateo as Executive Sous Chef. There she developed the signature style of its restaurant and banquet operations. Using California/Mediterranean cuisine as the theme, she created innovative menus for a full range of catering events.

After relocating to Chico, Ann worked as Sous Chef at Spice Creek Café, and then went to Rolling Hills Casino, where she supervised a staff of twenty, and trained them to produce an array of outstanding dishes that won extensive praise from customers and management.

Now at her own restaurant, Ann continues to create distinctive soups, salads, meats, sauces and fine desserts using locally-grown products that express the best of contemporary California cuisine.