JOSH HALPER
Josh Halper has spent nearly his entire life in hospitality, beginning in his family’s restaurant in Santa Monica. After graduating from UCLA, he attended Johnson & Wales University’s culinary program before cooking at the Michelin-starred Hostellerie de Levernois in Burgundy and Hanakoji Sawada in Hokkaido, Japan.
After transitioning to the front of house, Josh worked with Wolfgang Puck and Thomas Keller before holding leadership roles with The Malibu Beach Inn, Merriman’s across Hawaii, and Gin & Luck, the hospitality group behind Death & Co. Today, he serves as Director of Operations for M Street Collective, leading the development of Esquire on Chicago’s Oak Street.
Josh is most passionate about building exceptional hospitality teams through continual education, checking your ego at the door, and recognizing that there is always something to learn from the people around you. He brings that same philosophy to wine—making it approachable, engaging, and, above all, fun.