Chef Dominic Zumpano

The culinary driver of the new concept is James Beard nominated Chef and Chicagoland native Dominic Zumpano, late of Milwaukee’s 3½ star Graffito and 4 star Umami Moto. “I am thrilled to be back home in Chicago and to be able to create a menu that really connects people to the food that they love. For me, cooking is about creating new experiences for diners that is rooted in the familiar and yet takes them to places that they have never been before through new combinations and the freshest ingredients.”

Dominic’s career began as a line cook at the Iconic Bensenville Restaurant Plentywood Farms, and has taken him from Coast to Coast. Zumpano, first in his class at Scottsdale Culinary Institute, has worked at The Rose Garden Restaurant in Maine, one of only 47 5-Diamond restaurants in the U.S., and was Executive Sous Chef at the Camelback Resort in Arizona before settling in Milwaukee. While at the Camelback’s signature Restaurant, Elements, he worked closely with Executive Chef and Iron Chef winner Beau MacMillian to invent innovative seasonal menus based on fresh, local ingredients produced from a network of artisans and organic farmers.

Chef Zumpano was nominated for the James Beard award in 2010 for his bold cooking at Milwaukee’s Umami Moto, and calls cooking at The Beard House in New York “the highlight of my career”. While in Milwaukee, both of his concepts, Graffito, and Umami Moto received great reviews and national attention for his creative, fresh approach to both Italian and Asian Fusion cuisine respectively.