A native Montrealer, Ferdinando found his passion for the hospitality and restaurant industry very early in his life. He entered Montreal’s bustling restaurant scene as a young adult and had the good fortune of being mentored by a Parisian Maître D. , This mentorship exposed him to the upscale dining scene in Montreal all while honing his expertise in luxury and service.
After several years in the restaurant business, Ferdinando spent the next decade as an estate manager for one of the most notable families in North America. His experience included organizing and managing more than 200 highly personalized prestigious events per year internationally, with a team of over 50 employees
With his 30 years of experience in hospitality, his professionalism and devotion to making people’s lives better, Ferdinando is now looking to share his broad experience and refinement within Henri Brasserie Française.
Originally from the Paris, France, Gilles Tolen has had the opportunity to work in world renowned restaurants such as ‘Café de la Paix’ at Opera, ‘Jule Vernes’ at the Eiffel Tower and “George V” at the Four Seasons. It was during this period that he became familiar with the basics of French cuisine.
He went on to join the “Scribe” team as “chef de partie” to reclaim the famous Michelin guide star lost a year earlier. After recovering the star a year and a half later, Gilles continued his journey in Paris until 2010 where he settled in Quebec to join Normand Laprise as chef at the “Brasserie T “on the Place des Arts.
He quickly discovered and adopted regional products to his cuisine which helped build his reputation within the Montreal food scene.. He went on to start his own Home Chef company where he spent six years sharing his experience and creativity through his dishes, before joining Henri Brasserie Française as Executive Chef.
Gilles is a fan of simple and elegant cuisine, showcasing the best local seasonal products that he likes to enhance while retaining their natural appearance. His dishes are tasty and absolutely delicious.