Our People
“The ethos of the Alinea Group is to push boundaries, sacrifice for the benefit of creativity & excellence, and challenge conventions by simply asking...why? Sometimes the way it has been done for years is the best way so we do not change it, but other times we see things just a bit different.”
Grant Achatz
CREATIVE DIRECTOR & CO-OWNER
Chef Grant Achatz stands among the world’s most celebrated and influential chefs, renowned for his innovative, emotional, and modernist cuisine. He is recognized as the Best Chef in the United States by the James Beard Foundation and honored by Time Magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World.
Grant’s culinary journey began at his family’s diner in Michigan. After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America at 21, he honed his skills at Charlie Trotter’s, The French Laundry, La Jota Vineyards and elBulli in Spain before assuming the executive chef position at Trio in Evanston, IL, where his creativity flourished.
In 2004, Grant and Nick Kokonas co-founded Alinea, redefining fine dining by challenging culinary norms and enhancing the guest experience. Alinea has earned many accolades since, including 13 consecutive years with 3 Michelin stars - the longest of any fine dining restaurant in the U.S
In 2008, Grant faced a life-threatening diagnosis of Stage IV tongue cancer. Rejecting the recommended radical surgery, he pursued an innovative treatment at the University of Chicago, leading to his recovery. This journey is chronicled in the New York Times bestselling memoir "Life, On the Line" and featured in the documentary "Spinning Plates" and Netflix’s "Chef’s Table".
Grant’s culinary ventures expanded with Next restaurant and The Aviary bar, both receiving critical acclaim and awards. In 2016, he opened Roister, which earned a Michelin star in its first year, followed by St. Clair Supper Club in 2019.
Grant lives in Chicago with his wife Samantha and their two sons. Despite a demanding career, he finds joy in traveling and exploring new cultures, and in studying science, art, and history, continually drawing inspiration for his culinary innovations.
Jason Weingarten
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER & CO-OWNER
Jason Weingarten joined The Alinea Group in 2024 as CEO. The native-Chicagoan and serial entrepreneur has loved food and dining since childhood.
After college, Jason worked at Capital One, before having a sliding doors moment, when he met Fred DeLuca, the founder of Subway on a plane. At the end of the fortuitous flight, Fred invested in Jason’s first tech startup, eCampusRecruiter.
A decade later, eCampusRecruiter was sold to a strategic. Jason moved to Paris where he took culinary lessons and created a personal dining map of Europe.
Jason returned to Chicago and co-founded Yello, backed again by the DeLuca family. Yello’s customers were primarily HR execs at Fortune 500 companies, and when they visited Chicago, Jason would take them to Roister and The Aviary. These magical dining experiences solidified their most valuable deals, ultimately leading to private equity purchasing interest in 2017.
With 20 years as a successful tech founder and executive, Jason focused on what he enjoys most, delivering joy through food. He rediscovered the business of food and restaurants as Jason received a masterclass years prior, from his mentor, Fred. Together with Fred’s son, Jon, they taught him strategies and tactics that built the world’s largest franchised restaurant.
Jason teamed up with a group of founders and world-class culinarians to test different restaurant models, ultimately opening up Oliver’s, a 1930’s LA vibes supper club in Chicago in 2024.
Jason had known and respected Alinea and Tock co-founder, Nick Kokonas for many years. There were few Chicagoans who had his level of success in multiple disciplines, especially in tech and dining. As Nick sought out working on new ventures, and Jason shared his passion for The Alinea Group, the two were able to work out a deal in 2024, where Jason and his investor group acquired a majority stake in the business.
When Jason isn’t working to grow the business with Grant, Alex or the team at The Alinea Group, he’s spending time with his family where he tries to be the best listener and cheerleader for everything they do and for whatever they aspire to achieve.
Alex Hayes
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
After a fun, surprising, and delicious dining experience at Next: The Hunt, Alex decided to join The Alinea Group. His career began with entry roles – emailing guests, filling in as a host, and accounting work – then quickly grew. He led Alinea’s pop-ups in Madrid and Miami, managed the opening of The Aviary NYC at the Mandarin Oriental, and much more. In 2021, he stepped into his current role as Chief Operating Officer.
Some of Alex’s favorite moments include launching Alinea: Madrid, enjoying Chef Achatz's "bear food", and serving 4,808 Thanksgiving meals November 2020.
Before joining The Alinea Group, Alex worked as a management consultant at Booz & Co. and earned an economics degree from Northwestern University. Alex is a proud father of two and looks forward to sharing their first Alinea meal together in 2033. He enjoys cycling, cooking, and tending to his garden.