Chef Lenny Martinsen is a seasoned culinary professional with more than three decades of experience, and nearly two of those spent in New Orleans. As Sodexo Live!’s Regional Executive Chef at Caesars Superdome, he has cheered on the Saints and fed fans for 18 seasons now.
With his interest in the culinary field sparking in high school, he went on to study at Johnson & Wales University where he got a degree in Culinary Arts before heading to Florida International University to get a second degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management.
Chef Lenny’s career kicked off at a small acclaimed French restaurant in Miami where he gained valuable fine dining experience for five years before moving to New Hampshire to work at a convention hotel. It’s here where his skills in large-scale hospitality grew and eventually led him back to Florida to work in various hospitality leadership positions for Walt Disney’s MGM Studios and All Star Resort Hotel, as well as SeaWorld Adventure Park and Discovery Cove in Orlando, which he helped open and grow over the course of a decade.
With a honed, wide skillset in leadership, entertainment, menu development, fine dining and volume services, his journey led him to New Orleans and the Superdome in 2007 where he now feeds 74,000 fans on gameday, and up to 83,000 fans for concerts.
Over the years, Chef Lenny has left an incredible mark on his New Orleans community by lending his skillset to help others thrive. In 2018, he started a partnership with the Down Syndrome Association of Greater New Orleans (DSAGNO) to offer employment to those interested in starting a career in hospitality, which now includes around five individuals per year. In 2019, he was honored by the Louisiana Governor's Office of Disability Affairs with a Governor's Outstanding Leadership in Disabilities (GOLD) Award, celebrating the effort he puts into making his kitchens a more inclusive place.
Mentorship is firmly at the core of Chef Lenny’s leadership style. He works closely with the state Job Corp to give underprivileged youths the opportunity to work at the iconic Superdome to learn about hospitality and how to build a career; one cook having joined his team full-time ten years ago from the program. For the first time last year, he also provided a current team members the opportunity to participate in Lobster Ink training, a Culinary Institute of America certified continued education program, where they were able to expand their knowledge about everything from knife skills to kitchen leadership, investing in his team to ultimately provide an ever better guest experience to those visiting the Superdome.
He's also developed strong relationships with Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and the New Orleans Mission to package and donate prepared but unused food after Superdome events for community members in need. He and his team also spend time volunteering at both venues, often helping to serve the meals at the Mission.
In February 2025, Chef Lenny will lead culinary operations for his second Super Bowl at the Superdome, but this marks the sixth Super Bowl he’s participated in, with his first being in 2010 when the Saints took home the win in Miami. He’s also worked many other major sporting events including multiple NCAA Final Fours and NBA All Star Games, the Sugar Bowl, and Belmont Stakes. As the Regional Chef, he also supports Sodexo Live!’s other local venues, including Champion’s Square outside the Superdome, Smoothie King Center, The National WWII Museum, the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center and Shrine on Airline.