The Grill Room at Windsor Court is pleased to announce the return of John Mitchell to its food and beverage team as Sommelier and Director of Outlets. The Grill Room is one of New Orleans’ premier dining venues and the only restaurant in the city to hold both Forbes Four Star and AAA Four Diamond dining awards. An award-winning sommelier, Mitchell brings with him an extensive knowledge of wine, years of experience and a passion for French and Creole cultures.
Mitchell’s relationship with Windsor Court began in 2008 when he worked for the Orient-Express Company which relocated the East Coast native to New Orleans. He was an integral part of the team who propelled The Grill Room back to its renowned status after Hurricane Katrina with a revamped wine program.
“We are delighted to have John back on the Windsor Court team,” said Skip Adams, Windsor Court Food and Beverage Director. “His familiarity with The Grill Room and his passion for delivering excellent and memorable dining experiences will further elevate our food and beverage offerings.”
Mitchell joins a team of innovative professionals on The Grill Room culinary team including Executive Chef Vlad Ahmadyarov, Chef de Cuisine Daniel Causgrove and Pastry Chef Shun Li. As Sommelier and Director of Outlets, Mitchell will oversee The Grill Room, Polo Club Lounge, Cocktail Bar, Suite Service and events. Mitchell will also work closely with the Executive Chef and Chef de Cuisine to develop astute pairings for dinner and chef’s tasting menus.
“The Grill Room has a long standing culture of serving great wine,” said Mitchell. “I hope to build on the great foundation already in place and present the best selections, bar none, from around the world. I look forward to working with Daniel and Vlad to pair wines with the inventive Grill Room menu. There is nothing more fun than opening up wine for guests and seeing their satisfaction from the perfect recommendation.“
Prior to moving to New Orleans, Mitchell worked with South Carolina restaurants McCrady’s Tavern and Restaurant O, and held the title of Assistant Sommelier at notable Atlanta restaurants Seeger’s Restaurant and Joel Restaurant. Post-Atlanta, John returned to Charleston to work, at the award winning Charleston Grill in the Charleston Place Hotel, with new skills in management, wine-pairing and a newfound appreciation for French cuisine and wine. In January of 2007, Mitchell received his Sommelier certificate through the Court of Master Sommelier.
While working at The Charleston Grill, Mitchell was transferred to the Windsor Court Hotel in 2008. Most recently, Mitchell was the Wine Director at Stella!, where his team was awarded the Distinguished Restaurants of North America award four years in a row. During his tenure, Stella! was named one of Wine Enthusiast’s Top 100 Wine Restaurants in the U.S. Mitchell was also named Star Chefs’ Rising Sommelier in 2012.
About Windsor Court
Windsor Court has been the choice for discerning travelers for 30 years. The 23-story hotel is located in the heart of the Central Business District steps from the French Quarter. The award-winning luxury hotel features 316 oversized guestrooms and suites, the acclaimed Grill Room Restaurant, the storied Polo Club Lounge, the celebrated Le Salon for afternoon tea and an extensive art collection with mostly works of British origin, among other amenities and services. In January 2012 the Windsor Court completed a $22 million restoration to all its guestrooms, suites, and public spaces, including the Club Level Lounge, the pool, addition of the lobby Cocktail Bar and Spa at Windsor Court. The hotel was purchased in October 2009 by a new ownership team led by The Berger Company of New Orleans and the Dallas-based Crow Family Holdings. Windsor Court is a member of Preferred Hotels and Resorts and is a member of the Southern Living Hotel Collection, an invitation-only group of four- and five-star hotels that represent the best in authentic Southern hospitality. For more information, please visit www.windsorcourthotel.com.
