Leahy's first restaurant in Syracuse was opening Phoebe's Garden Cafe 35 years ago. It was designed after a parisian cafe, where diners could get a cup of loose leaf tea and a pastry, a bowl of French Onion Soup or a sautéed Delmonico Steak Bercy anytime between 11 a.m. and 11 p.m. No rules, what you wanted as you wanted, but always fresh and affordable. Phoebe's was also the first CNY restaurant to establish a fine wine by the glass program, which is mainstream in today's bars.

As the Innkeeper at the Sherwood Inn in Skaneateles, Leahy instigated the lighter fare in the Tavern all day and night, for a more casual dining experience that has continued to delight diners from near and far to Bill Eberhardt's long running establishment.

In the late 1990s, Leahy partnered with long time Armory Square restauranteur Karyn Korteling at Pastabilities to establish the scrumptious Daily Bread Bakery concept with bakers Laura Holland and Peter Lord (who now operates the Patisserie Bakery behind the Sherwood Inn).

"What I am most proud of are all the people I have worked with and what they have gone on to accomplish," Leahy said.

Most notably in the CNY area are independent operators, Terry Riley of Riley's on Park Street, Syracuse; Chuck Pascale of Pascale's in Fayetteville; Bernie Simmons of Balloons Restaurant, Auburn (balloonsrestaurant.net/); Peter Lord of the Patisserie Bakery behind the Sherwood Inn in Skaneateles.

The list goes on to include many great managers and operators including bc's founding chef and partner Bill Collins, who together with his wife Sara, established bc in 2004. The couple has since retired from daily operations to pursue other work. Sara has established her own reality company and Bill is teaching hospitality full time at Syracuse University.