Chef Francis PAscal
Culinary Director and Owner
Formerly of Japonais by Morimoto, Momotaro, and Roister of The Alinea Group, Chef Francis Pascal believes high-level cuisine shouldn’t restrict anyone to the walls of the favorite restaurant.
Life’s most important and intimate celebrations should transpire anywhere for any occasion. And never at the cost of a skillfully plated meal.
By focusing on technique, the vetted Chef Francis showcases locally sourced ingredients with a relentless commitment to hospitality in your home, office or venue of your choosing.
Chef Francis was born and raised in Albania. Before moving to the US, Chef’s experience was one of direct contact with the people who were growing his food. He is inspired by their traditions. His mission is to raise awareness about people’s relationship to the quality of the food they are consuming, with special attention to the ingredients’ journey from farm to table. With tribute to this European heritage, he brings an ever-resilient commitment to hospitality, a genuine desire to give, and a globally-inspired perspective to food innovation that is evident with every bite.
our team
Francis Pascal
Culinary Director and Owner
MichaelAngelo Florez
Chef
Next (Alinea Group), Boka + Somerset, S.K.Y./Apolonia/Valhalla
-
Michaelangelo has been a key figure in Chicago's elite kitchens for nearly a decade, working under renowned chefs at Next (Alinea Group), Boka & Somerset, and S.K.Y./Apolonia/Valhalla. After meeting Chef Francis at Alinea Group, he now divides his time between Stephen Gillanders' kitchens and Vendador, while serving as Culinary Director of El Hongo Magico, a new plant-based taqueria. Raised on Chicago's South Side, Michaelangelo draws inspiration from his parents' Mexican and Texan culinary heritage. His passion for sustainability and hospitality led him to earn a Hospitality Management and Education degree from Robert Morris University in 2018
Erinn Fredin
Event Manager
-
Erinn is the Event Manager at Vendador, runs operations behind the scenes, and attends events. She previously worked at Chicago’s Boka, The Warbler, and Silverberry Cafe on the top of Hampstead Health while living in London. She grew up in Stockholm, Sweden, and, alongside telling the story of Vendador, is a passionate, professional actress. She can be seen in dozens of commercials and on nationwide network television.
She holds an MFA from The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London.
For marketing and social media collaboration inquiries, please email hospitality@vendador.com.
MaDison August
Alinea, Saison, Smyth
Server
-
Madison's culinary journey began in Bay Area schools before bringing her to Chicago's Alinea. Her diverse experience spans both front and back of house at acclaimed restaurants including Saison and Smyth, complemented by time in bakeries and cooking in Basque Country. While now primarily in corporate consulting since 2023, Madison maintains her passion for hospitality through ongoing collaboration with Vendador.
Rashad Williams
Server
Roister (The Alinea Group), Machine, Dearly Beloved
-
With over a decade in fine dining, Rashad brings exceptional expertise in upscale service and team leadership. Their comprehensive knowledge of wine pairings, menu presentation, and dining etiquette enables them to anticipate needs and deliver personalized experiences. Known for warmth and meticulous attention to detail, Rashad builds lasting relationships while continuously refining their craft through industry trends and culinary innovations. Every occasion benefits from their unwavering professionalism and commitment to hospitality excellence.
Alexa Giterman
Spiaggia, Elske
Server
-
At prestigious establishments Spiaggia and Elske, Alexa has refined the art of fine dining service over many years. She excels in creating warm, memorable experiences through her expertise in wine pairing, thoughtful guest attention, and ensuring seamless execution of every dining detail.
Jaxon Klein
Esme, Coda di Volpe
Executive Administrator
-
Jaxon’s experience includes Chicago’s esteemed Esme and Coda di Volpe.
Camille Carter
Culinary Event Sales Manager
-
Camille comes to Vendador with over 15 years of hospitality experience in both front and back of house, and specializes in private events. Growing up in Los Angeles, she developed an early appreciation for food and service which brought her to culinary school in Dublin, Ireland before moving to Chicago for pastry school. With a strong commitment to providing exceptional service and creating memorable experiences, Camille brings a wealth of expertise, creativity and professionalism to every event she oversees for her clients.
Our Purveyors
-
Long Island City, NY
Regalis Foods is New York City's leading importer of exceptional, elusive food products. Highlights of their portfolio include fresh truffles, uni, caviar, Japanese Wagyu, wild foraged edibles, and live exotic seafoods.
-
-
Sturgis, MI
Butternut Sustainable Farm was started by Jon Templin in 2012 on ground which his ancestors farmed for four generations. Butternut Farm's mantra is - "Growing food the responsible way." Jon is making sure his ground will continue to be healthy for more generations to come.
-
For more than 35 years, D’Artagnan has been committed to free-range, natural production and sustainable humane farming practices on products from organic chicken to grassfed beef to lamb, heritage pork and other meats. Together with their collection of mushrooms, foie gras and finishing oils, they offer the most flavorful products available on the market.
D’Artagnan partners with independent family farms and ranches who satisfy our quality standards; to never use added antibiotics or hormones, and sign affidavits to that effect. They support these methods so that we can procure the best-tasting, conscientiously raised meat possible.
-
San Diego, CA | Portland, OR
Girl and Dug Farm believes products are only as good as the company behind them, and companies are only as good as the employees that comprise them. With a total of 180 acres and about 100 workers, they provide their unique offerings to chefs nationwide including the top Michelin-starred restaurants in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, and New York. Their “Lucky Growers” brand serves nearly all Korean retail markets in the US through retail partners and distributors.
-
Chicago, IL
Rare Tea Cellars specialize in the finest and rarest teas and ingredients available on planet earth. For over 15 years they have supplied top chefs, hotels, restaurants and mixologists with unique ingredients.