SEATTLE, Wash. – August 6, 2013?- Noble House Hotels & Resorts (NHHR) proudly announces the appointment of Bruno Oakman as Executive Chef to The Commons Hotel, located close to downtown Minneapolis on the University of Minnesota campus. In this role, Oakman will oversee all culinary operations for the hotel and its signature restaurant, The Beacon Public House, which features superior regional cuisine and reinvented classic cocktails in a contemporary, gastro-pub setting.
“We’re extremely excited about the level of passion for savory cuisine that Chef Bruno Oakman brings to The Beacon Public House,” said Duane Rohrbaugh, general manager at The Commons Hotel. “His creativity and ability to master new techniques in the kitchen exemplifies what an incredible asset he is to the team.”
Boasting more than 20 years of professional cooking and kitchen management experience, Chef Bruno Oakman has an established history of success in high volume scratch kitchens, four-star hotel operations, catering, and boutique destination restaurants. Oakman joins the Commons’ team most recently from Lunds and Byerly’s Catering, where he achieved years of success in his role as executive chef – producing more than $3.5 million in revenues, while significantly reducing monthly inventory and weekly kitchen waste. Driven by his passion for food, flawless service and commitment to creating memorable guest experiences, the critically acclaimed chef is best known for his consistent and verifiable experience in menu creation and engineering, the implementation and management of culinary systems, staff training and accountability programs, as well as restaurant and hotel openings.
Incorporating a theme of contrasts inspired by its collegiate ties to the university and industrial history of the Twin Cities, The Commons Hotel provides a welcoming atmosphere that embraces diverse people, cultures and communities who share the common desire to discover. Celebrating both the intellectual and the artist, the 304-room property gives nod to the geek-chic persona with playful experiences fancied around literary, art and science, from beakers of local brew and alchemist mixology lessons at The Beacon Public House, to Sudoku Sleep-Ins and complimentary, in-room book deliveries from the resident Book Butler.
With a philosophy that emphasizes “location, distinction and soul,” Noble House Hotels & Resorts reflects the importance of individuality. Identifying each property for its culture and appeal, Noble House is unwavering in its dedication to create and manage unique, quality properties that reflect and make profound contributions to their communities, staying true to the local history, culture and ambiance that defines each region.