Brian Leri, 51, of Natrona Heights, the longtime executive chef at Hoffstot’s Cafe Monaco in Oakmont, died Monday, Nov. 25, 2024.
Leri spent 30 years at the eatery after graduating from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y., in 1994. He became the restaurant’s executive chef in 2002.
“That was his child away from home,” said Leri’s oldest son, Blake. “He wanted to make sure whoever walked through the door at Hoffstot’s, it was basically a second home to people.
“He did a lot of catering jobs, whether it was funerals, celebrations of any kind, graduations. He worked weddings. Anything he could get his hands on with someone coming in, that was the most important thing to him at that moment.”
Blake Leri stressed that his father had a way of treating people as though they were family members. That family mentality could be seen in a post Brian Leri had made on the Hoffstot’s Cafe Monaco website.
“Having been here more than a quarter of a century, this place and these people are more like family,” Brian Leri wrote. “Danny and Tommy Monaco always treated me as a son, pushing me beyond my doubts and reminding me when I didn’t give my best.”
A tribute to Leri was posted on Hoffstot’s Cafe Monaco’s Facebook page Tuesday, reading, in part: “Brian brought not only innovation to our menu but also an unmistakable warmth and energy to our kitchen and dining room. His infectious personality made every guest feel like family, and his commitment to excellence elevated every dining experience.”
A cause of death was not given. A Facebook post from a year ago indicated he was battling cancer.
One employee who worked under Leri described him as a “down-to-earth, great boss.”
He was described as charitable and always willing to help with fundraisers in the community — even at the last minute. This was especially true during the pandemic when the restaurant was closed, but Leri and his kitchen staff still would make high-quality hot meals for drive-thru customers.
“Beyond his culinary genius, Brian was a man of extraordinary heart. He was deeply committed to giving back, whether through our breast cancer fundraisers, supporting Toys for Tots or lending his time and expertise to community initiatives,” the restaurant’s Facebook post read.
The post precipitated an outpouring of love from a community heartbroken to lose a chef — and a man — who was regarded so highly by so many in the Oakmont area.
Leri was proud of the reliably good work his kitchen put out. He said in a 2011 interview with TribLive: “When we get our feedback, a lot of people say, ‘You can always get a consistent meal. It’s always good and consistent.’ ”
He believed in quality service and quality ingredients.
In 2021, he told TribLive: “You can make the fanciest dish in the world, but if you don’t have good quality ingredients, it isn’t going to be very good.”
“He was a leader in multiple ways, whether it was life leadership or work mentality as well,” Blake Leri said.
Leri is survived by his wife, Megan, and three children, Blake, Adison and Carter Leri.
No public visitation or services are planned at this time. Vereb Funeral Home Inc. in Natrona Heights is handling the arrangements.