Jelena Prodan
Born and raised in Belgrade, Serbia, Jelena Prodan developed an early passion for wine, food, and hospitality through her travels across Europe. At 24, she moved to Chicago, where she began her culinary career working in both back- and front-of-house roles.
In 2021, Prodan became Beverage and Service Director at S.K.Y. Restaurant, curating a global wine list that highlights both classic and emerging regions, with a focus on small, sustainable, and artisanal producers. She has played a key role in the opening and development of all three SMG restaurants, including S.K.Y., Apolonia, and Valhalla.
Prodan is also the creative force behind Le Mistral, a wine and cocktail speakeasy she developed as a Southern European-inspired concept centered on distinctive wines, crafted cocktails, boutique spirits, and a relaxed, culturally driven approach to hospitality.
She is known for creative pairings, including her “All Champagne” and “Anything but Wine” programs, and for offering more than 20 wines by the glass, along with sake, boutique spirits, and inventive cocktails. In 2025, she received the Jean Banchet Award for Sommelier of the Year.
Committed to continuous learning, Prodan regularly travels to wine regions, works harvests, and maintains close relationships with producers. Her long-term goal is to become the first Serbian to earn both the Master of Wine and Master Sommelier titles by 2030.
Stephen Gillanders
Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Stephen Gillanders developed a passion for food at an early age, spending much of his childhood in the kitchen with his Filipino grandmother. Encouraged by his mother, he attended a summer program at the Culinary Arts Institute of Los Angeles, where his first culinary class sparked a lifelong commitment to the craft.
Gillanders went on to complete the Culinary Arts Management program at Los Angeles Mission College and later earned a B.S. in Hospitality Management from the University of Nevada in Las Vegas (UNLV). While at UNLV, he won the prestigious San Pellegrino Almost Famous Chef competition, gaining national recognition.
Following graduation, Gillanders spent a decade working under renowned Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, eventually serving as Corporate Chef and leading the openings of multiple restaurants both in the U.S. and internationally. To prepare for his own venture, he joined Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises’ highly-acclaimed INTRO as a chef-in-residence, a pivotal step toward entrepreneurship.
In 2017, Gillanders launched his first independent restaurant, S.K.Y., in Chicago. The restaurant has since earned widespread acclaim, including Jean Banchet Awards for Best Service and Best New Restaurant.
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