Jonas Bittencourt
formerly of John's Food and Wine | Chicago
SEPTEMBER 2024
Born in New York, Jonas Bittencourt moved to Brazil when he was nine years old and didn't return to the States until he was a teenager. After high school, Bittencourt turned down offers from colleges to play soccer and decided to jump right into the workforce. When he was 19, his brother got him a job at Periyali in Chelsea, where he picked up the ins and outs of hospitality while working as a server. Bittencourt left and joined the team at Milos nine months later. He worked his way up to captain and dove into wine under Wine Director Michael Coll, learning how to both taste and sell bottles to guests. After a break from the industry and a trip back to Brazil, Bittencourt went to work at a Midtown Mediterranean restaurant.
In early 2018, Bittencourt decided it was time for something new. Through a friend, he secured an interview with Rising Stars alum Pascaline Lepeltier at Racines NY. Lepeltier hired Bittencourt on the spot and he started as a sommelier two weeks later. The experience completely changed the way he viewed wine, service, and hospitality. Learning from Lepeltier, Bittencourt familiarized himself with the historical relevance of grape varietals and was exposed to new wines while becoming a more hospitable and skilled communicator and sommelier. Then, he relocated to Chicago and started working at Verve Wine, before moving to Asador Bastian, where he built up an entirely Spanish wine list with over 20 Sherry options. After connecting with Chefs Adam McFarland and Thomas Rogers, Bittencourt joined the team at John’s Food and Wine. At the New American counter-service spot in Lincoln Park, Bittencourt curated an accessible and flexible wine list that encouraged guests to taste something new and emphasized organic and biodynamic wines.
