Brendan Sodikoff

Brendan Sodikoff is a Chicago-based restaurateur and chef who founded the restaurant group behind Au Cheval, Gilt Bar, Maude's Liquor Bar, Bavette's, the Doughnut Vault, and others. He trained at The French Laundry under Thomas Keller, the Ritz (Escoffier's stomping ground), and with Alain Ducasse before working with Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises under Rich Melman, developing recipes for Hub 51. Sodikoff built Gilt Bar from scratch using salvaged materials and has expanded to concepts like the diner Au Cheval and steakhouse Bavette's, emphasizing a mix of artistic finesse and business pragmatism.