Our Team
CHEF PAUL VIRANT
Executive Chef and Owner
Chef Paul Virant is executive chef and owner of Vie, Vistro Prime and Gaijin.
Virant's other projects include Jar Sessions, a locally produced, small-batch line of pickled and preserved products, and his 2012 cookbook, The Preservation Kitchen: The Craft of Making and Cooking with Pickles, Preserves, and Aigre-Doux.
Accolades include 2015, 2014, 2013 and 2011 finalist nominations for the James Beard Foundation Award's Best Chef: Great Lakes.
Read more about Virant at paulvirant.com.
KITCHEN
FRANCISCO VAZQUEZ
Chef
ANGELYNE CANICOSA
Pastry Chef
MANAGEMENT
Paul Solomon
Director of Operations
Paul was born nearby at Hinsdale Hospital and grew up in Naperville. Thereafter, he went to the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, where his interest in food began as his father would visit often on business trips and would take him out to try different cuisines.
Paul then moved to Italy where he studied, lived and completed his master's degree. It was while living in Italy that he became infatuated with food, wine and culture. During his years abroad, he traveled to over 25 countries, which included visits to chateaus and wineries in famous wine-producing areas around Italy, Austria, France and Portugal.
Paul's hospitality career progressed after several years of serving and bartending at local Italian favorite Il Poggiolo when he took over as assistant GM/beverage director. His next experience took him to Hotel Arista in Naperville, where he served as assistant food & beverage director for Chef Mark Grimes. He helped oversee the multi-unit operation at Che Figata, Zorba Bar/Lounge and Lavazza coffee shop, along with in-room dining. During his time there, he assisted in building a Wine Spectator award-winning wine list.
However, Paul felt called to work at family-run restaurants, so he then worked with Chef Tony Priolo at Nonnina in River North as assistant GM/sommelier. He then worked as lead restaurant manager and beverage director for the Chicago Firehouse Restaurant, a steakhouse in the South Loop. During his time there, he took the Certified Sommelier Exam with the Court of Master Sommeliers and passed. Paul has overseen Vistro Prime in Hinsdale for Chef Paul since the concept reopened as a steakhouse and is now very excited to welcome you to Vie!
GRACE BRADLEY
Wine Director
Grace joined the Vie team in 2016. A native southwest suburbanite, Grace grew up in La Grange and graduated from Lyons Township High School (the "friendliest school in the nation”). She is a music enthusiast and spent four years as a part of the Tuba/Euphonium studio at Illinois Wesleyan University.
She loves exploring the vibrant Chicago restaurant scene, but her love for the industry grew in the burbs with stints at the La Grange Country Club, Kama Indian Bistro and Francesca’s.
At Vie, Grace has been a server, office coordinator and general manager, and is now the restaurant's wine director. The seasonal menus at Vie have ignited Grace's passion for food and wine pairings. After passing her first sommelier exam in 2019, Grace passed the Certified Sommelier Exam with the Court of Master Sommeliers in 2022. Grace is grateful to be part of the warm and inviting Vie family, and thrilled to support Paul Virant's flagship restaurant here in Western Springs.
In 2021, Grace took on the role of wine director for Vistro Prime as well. Vistro Prime is Chef Paul’s neighborhood steakhouse in downtown Hinsdale.
PATRICK SWANSON
Bar Manager
Patrick got his start in the restaurant industry working at the local cafe Now Serving, while attending high school at Lyons Township. At College of DuPage, he enrolled in hospitality courses and had the good fortune to travel to Italy. It was there that he found his passion for food and all that comes with it. After turning 21 and working at Nicksons Eatery in downtown La Grange, Patrick was ready to learn the beverage side of things.
He later joined the Vie bar team and, working under then-beverage director Bill Anderson, had the opportunity to learn the art of craft cocktails and fine dining.
During this time, Patrick also worked at Quincy Street Distillery in Riverside to better his craft, putting his own spin on classic cocktails, making new beverage creations for guests, and interning as assistant distiller. When not at work, he continued down the beverage path, learning all about homebrewing with his brother.
Back at Vie, after working under Vie’s former bar manager Julius H. White for a time, Patrick himself was named bar manager in 2019. He continues the tradition of imbuing Vie’s cocktail program with the seasonality of locally sourced produce and Chef Paul Virant’s passion for pickling and preserving.