Meet Chef Tony Lemens

The heart and soul of the Rush Creek kitchen

2021 Travelers' Choice Tripadvisor

Welcome to a culinary experience...

It was assisting his mother in a small bakery where he learned the importance of fast and efficient work. Ultimately sparking his curiosity to dive deeper into the world of cooking and how the kitchen – restaurant dynamic works as a whole.

FOSTERING THE PASSION

In 2004, this curiosity brought Lemens to enroll into Madison Area Technical College’s Culinary Arts Program. With his completion in 2006, Lemens left MATC with a Degree in Culinary Arts and a Sous Chef position at the Capitol Chophouse  located in the Madison Hilton, downtown in the hub of Wisconsin’s capitol. Not only was this the perfect place for Lemens’ to hone his skills, it also got him to get back to what attracted him into the kitchen to begin with– a community focused on local and seasonal cooking.

Visiting the Dane County Farmers’ Market, allowed Lemens to work directly with farmers and the artisan food suppliers in his community. These relationships gave way to a menu that highlighted local seasonal ingredients in dishes. So it was no surprise when Madison Magazine noted Anthony Lemens as an ‘Up and Coming Local Chef’ in 2007.

Opportunity knocked in 2009 when Lemens moved to the United Kingdom. Lemens took his time abroad to work in a variety of kitchens. Cooking it kitchens specializing in traditional pub fare to Michelin Starred restaurants in both Scotland and England. Upon returning from Europe, Lemens became the Executive Sous Chef for the Hilton Milwaukee City Center working in Milwaukee Chophouse and the Miller Time Pub. In 2014, Lemens returned to where he began his professional career as a Sous Chef, the Madison Hilton Capitol Chophouse, only this time he taking the lead as the Executive Chef.

JOINING RUSH CREEK LODGE

Now as Executive Chef at Rush Creek Lodge, Lemens looks to use his skills and diverse experience to bring contemporary food to the mountain lodge setting. Utilizing and showing off all the superb resources northern California has to offer with an exciting menu.

Chef Tony Lemens Presents Winemaker Dinner
Chef Tony Dish (Kim Carroll Photography)
Chef Lemens in Action (Kim Carroll)
Chef Lemens with Sous Chef Joe Tracey & Sous Chef Peter Boylan (Kim Carroll)
Chef Lemens in action (Kim Carroll)