Ryan Leonard
Ryan Leonard is an American chef who grew up in the diverse South. Originally from Tucker Georgia, outside of Atlanta, Ryan’s family relocated to South Florida when he was very young. Here his love for food started to develop before he could see over the counter and he quickly started joining in cooking family meals which evolved into firing up the grill late at night with friends, trying his best to not wake mom. In the summers Ryan joined his father working in a bakery with family friends and fell in love with the pressures and triumphs of kitchen life
Ryan began his career as a line cook with local institutions and progressed steadily. He attended the University of Central Florida for anthropology and cooked his way through college. Growing up in the melting pot of South Florida, he draws inspiration from native & regional cultures, histories, art forms and environments.
Ryan specializes in melding different cuisines together through culture and context. He has been recognized for numerous culinary awards in the region, including Best Burger at 2021 SOBEWFF Burger Bash and most recently 2022 Sandwich Hunt for his Waygu Steak Melt. He also had recipes published in local and national publications. Ryan has been an executive chef for American Social for the past six years, leading culinary ideation and menu development.
