Our Story

Cooking With A Traditional Heart And A Modern Hand, Monteverde Offers Food That Is Soulful, Surprising And Filled With Storytelling.

About the Chef

About the Chef

Since her childhood cooking with her grandparents on their ranch in Victoria, Texas, Sarah Grueneberg knew she was destined to work in the culinary world. Originally from Houston, Grueneberg moved to Chicago in 2005 to join the team at the award-winning Spiaggia under the leadership of Tony Mantuano. Beginning as a line cook, she quickly rose the ranks to Chef di Cucina in 2008 and then Executive Chef in 2010. During her tenure as Executive Chef, Spiaggia was awarded one Michelin Star for three consecutive years.

After graduating from culinary school in 2001, she started her first career-changing job with a position at the iconic Brennan’s of Houston and by 2003 was named the restaurant’s youngest female sous chef. Grueneberg has traveled throughout Italy, Asia, Europe and the U.S., which has inspired her culinary approach of “following the food” and truly understanding “the dish” by knowing the people and culture that created it.

In 2017, Grueneberg received her first James Beard Foundation Award for “Best Chef: Great Lakes.” Grueneberg has been a competitor and finalist on Bravo’s “Top Chef: Texas” and Food Network’s “Iron Chef Gauntlet.” She has also been named a “Rising Star Chef” by Chicago Social magazine in 2009 and 2016 and Eater Chicago’s “Chef of the Year” in the 2011 Eater Awards. In April 2018, Grueneberg premiered the new WTTW – PBS Chicago show “Dishalicious,” where she serves as host and invites three guest chefs, and friends, to create dinner party dishes in front of a live studio audience.

Grueneberg is currently Chef/Partner of Monteverde Restaurant & Pastificio in Chicago’s West Loop, which she opened in November 2015 with business partner and long-time friend Meg Sahs. The restaurant has received acclaimed reviews from various outlets, including three out of four stars by The Chicago Tribune. In 2016, Monteverde received accolades including: one of Food & Wine’s “America’s Best Restaurants,” a top 50 finalist in Bon Appetit’s “Best New Restaurants” list, Eater’s "21 Best New Restaurants in America,” GQ’s “12 Best New Restaurants,” Eater Chicago’s "Restaurant of the Year” in the 2016 Eater Awards, the “Worth the Wait” award in Chicago Tribune Dining Awards, and named one of Chicago Magazine’s “15 Best New Restaurants.” In 2017, Monteverde was named one “America’s 38 Essential Restaurants" by Eater and then awarded “Restaurant of the Year” in the 2018 Jean Banchet Awards.

Pastificio

Elevated behind the bar is our custom-built pastificio where the team creates hand-made pastas throughout the day, fresh and on display. You’ll see our team mix and rollout dough, create shapes through the extruder, and fill and craft some of the most delicate pastas. A vintage mirror hanging above the butcher-block counter focuses on the detailed handwork involved in making everyone’s beloved food item.

Batteria

On a trip to Italy in 2008, Grueneberg met third-generation traditional balsamic producer Andrea Bezzecchi. Since that meeting, Grueneberg has shared in Bezzecchi’s passion for telling the story of authentic, traditional balsamic vinegar. Guests will see this first-hand with the Monteverde® batteria, or series of wood barrels that will age his traditional vinegar for the restaurant.

Drinks

Monteverde offers an Italian focused but globally sourced wine list to complement Chef Grueneberg’s flavors. With a variety of styles, the list is appropriate for the casual weeknight dinner or the biggest celebration. The bar program features craft classic cocktails with a twist, highlighting Italian ingredients whenever possible.

Team MV

Meg Sahs

Owner

Jaime Canete

Managing Partner

Robert Mosher

Managing Partner

Dave Sahs

Partner

Bailey Sullivan

Chef di Cucina

Justin Kaderabek

General Manager

Abby Schroder

Sous Chef

Justin Spitz

Floor Manager

Colin Tuska

Wine Director/
Beverage Manager

Richard Beltzer

Lead Bartender

Flor Ortega

Prep Supervisor

Collaborators

Team Monteverde