Chef George Mendes
Born to Portuguese immigrants in Danbury, Connecticut, Chef Mendes has spent more than three decades shaping and elevating contemporary Portuguese cuisine in America. Upon graduating from the Culinary Institute of America in 1992, he began his professional journey with Chef Ed Brown at Tropica in New York City. In 1994, he joined his longtime mentor David Bouley at Bouley in Tribeca, an experience that profoundly influenced his craft.
Mendes’ pursuit of classical training then led him to Paris, where he apprenticed at Alain Passard’s three-Michelin-starred Arpège. In the late 1990s, he continued refining his technique in the South of France under legendary chefs Roger Vergé and Alain Ducasse. After returning to New York for several formative years—including serving as Chef de Cuisine at Tocqueville—he expanded his European perspective with stages in Spain, first with Martín Berasategui and later at the iconic El Bulli on the Costa Brava.
In 2009, Mendes opened his first signature restaurant, Aldea, in New York City. Aldea earned immediate acclaim, receiving two-star reviews from The New York Times and New York Magazine, named one of Food and Wine’s Best New Chefs, and was awarded a Michelin star in 2011, which Mendes maintained through 2020.
In 2023, Mendes together with his family, moved to Boston and opened Amar at Raffles Boston.
Today, he is building his next chapter in Boston’s South End, debuting Agosto and Baby Sister in 2026, continuing his lifelong commitment to craftsmanship, heritage, and modern Portuguese expression.
Suzanne Mendes
Partner & Head of Marketing
Suzanne is a seasoned marketing executive with more than two decades of experience building, launching, and scaling both globally recognized brands and startups poised for accelerated growth. As Partner & Head of Marketing for The Mendes Table’s newest ventures, Agosto and Baby Sister, Suzanne leads brand strategy, communications, partnerships, and go-to-market execution.
Suzanne’s career spans senior leadership roles at some of the world’s most respected companies, including Estée Lauder and Kiehl’s Since 1851, as well as executive positions at UNIQLO and Inspire Clean Energy, where she translated brand vision into action, consistently over delivered on targets, and stewarded companies through pivotal moments at the highest organizational level - always with a focus on long-term equity and cultural relevance.
In parallel with her corporate leadership, Suzanne is an Executive Coach and Business Consultant, working with founders, leaders, and organizations to align strategy with purpose. She also serves on the Board of Spoons Across America, a national nonprofit dedicated to advancing food literacy for children. Her board work reflects a longstanding commitment to the role food plays in education, equity, and community health, and informs her belief that food businesses have the power - and responsibility - to shape culture beyond the table.
For The Mendes Table, Suzanne brings a rare combination of brand rigor and an intimate understanding of the personal story behind the concepts - ensuring that every touchpoint, from press and partnerships to guest experience and community engagement, reflects both the culinary vision and the values that underpin the projects themselves.
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