Jean Tomaro is passionate & knowledgeable on all beverages – from wine to cocktails to coffee, all libations fall under her professional umbrella. She is a Certified Sommelier and Corporate Beverage Consultant for wine & beer programs, cocktail menus, coffee shops, beverage education & bar design. Her approach to hospitality is focused on knowledge and sincerity with a fun, welcoming style. She strongly believes that beverage programs should be exciting, approachable, quality driven & profitable. Jean began her professional career under the tutelage of Master Sommelier Doug Marello and Sue Kim-Drohomyrecky of Spring Restaurant. She went on to become an Assistant Sommelier at the 3 Michelin star restaurant L2O and currently serves as the Senior Executive Beverage Director of Hogsalt - a hospitality brand with unique concepts in Chicago, New York, Las Vegas & Paris. She has been working in hospitality & restaurants for 20 years.
All prices are an estimation and vary based on guest count, event location, and menu. You will get a better estimate during the booking process.
I am from Michigan, but spent almost 20 years in Chicago. Midwest born & raised!
Gilt Bar- I love it because it is casual and comfortable, with great food & drinks. The menu has something for everyone, so it's the perfect place to bring family & friends.
I love making Vespers for my husband & I at the end of a long day, after we put the kids to bed. I always chill the glasses, use a great gin & I prefer Cocchi Americano instead of Lillet Blanc. Don't tell James Bond that I changed his recipe!
I have expertise & experience in wine, beer, cocktails, coffee & tea - but my specialty is classic, well executed cocktails & value driven wine. I take a lot of pride in making wine & craft cocktails approachable & delicious for everyone.
I grew up in a household where cooking, drinking & having dinner together was a family tradition every night. This familial event every day really made me realize the importance of breaking bread together. My Mom & Dad have always cared about & appreciated wine, which I saw from a young age. Learning about beverages on a professional level brought together so many things that I was interested in- culture, food, tradition, travel & farming. It was exciting to see all of these influences culminate in one area.
My family! I love spending time with my husband and our two small children. As a family, we enjoy golfing and hanging out at the pool. I also collect & sell vintage glassware.
Working for Elite Personal Chefs allows me to share Hospitality, an industry that I love, with chefs, bartenders, sommeliers & servers in a way that is more approachable & realistic for people's lives. I love that EPC provides the opportunity for ownership, right from the beginning. It's such a unique model that really allows everyone involved to thrive and be a part of something special.
The flexibility and the chance to truly connect with clients. Working with people on such a private basis really allows for creativity and the chance to create custom, unique events. These events tend to affect guests on a deeper level because they are so personalized. It's exciting to be able to work with clients on this level.
