OUR STORY
Spirit Elephant and elephant+vine were created to shine a light on all the great reasons to eat a diet rooted in plants instead of animals. It's remarkable that by choosing to eat plants, we can have a direct and positive effect on the lives of others. Eating food from plants is consistently found to be very healthy for humans, with extreme athletes touting veganism as a means to be in the best possible physical condition, as well as the fact that physicians recommend a plant-based diet for improved heart health and better cancer outcomes.
Why is elephant in our name? Elephants are powerful herbivores who are also compassionate, intelligent, have traditions and culture of caring for everyone in their herd communities. That ethos and spirit represent our passion and purpose beautifully.
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Of course people don't just eat for purpose, they eat for pleasure and enjoyment, and that's why we created food so delicious and a space so lovely, you won't miss eating animals, and we hope you leave our restaurant with a whole new perception of how it feels (and tastes) to eat plant-based.
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eat plants feel beautiful
OUR TEAM
TANNER JOHNSON
General Manager
Tanner Johnson - General Manager
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Tanner has been with Spirit since its inception and is drawn to the people-aspect of the restaurant industry. He thrives on working to ensure the restaurant operates at its best and you will frequently see him jumping in to help the team.
JORDAN PEDONE
Assistant General Manager
Jordan Pedone - Assistant General Manager
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Rooted in his love for animals, Jordan has been passionately living a vegan lifestyle since 2017. In 2021, he earned his plant-based nutrition certification from Cornell University. Jordan blends his expertise in hospitality with his knowledge of plant-based eating to cultivate an exceptional experience for our guests.
HUGO ORTEGA and COOK TEAM
Sous Chef
Hugo Ortega - Sous Chef
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Hugo has been with Spirit since its opening and enjoys helping to create a memorable culinary experience every time for our guests. Here he is pictured with the Cook Team.
SILVIA ORTEGA
Pastry Chef
Silvia Ortega - Pastry Chef
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​Silvia has been working with Spirit Elephant since it opened and has recently been promoted to head of pastry. Silvia loves the precision and fine art of baking
JOSE SANDOVAL
Bar Manager
Jose Sandoval - Bar Manager
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Jose has been part of the Spirit bar team for years and especially enjoys the chemistry behind creating the perfect cocktails.
PREP TEAM
Front of House Team
BRIAN TUBOLINO
Managing Director, Fast Casual
Brian Tubolino
Managing Director, Fast-Casual
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Brian brings a powerhouse combination of growth strategy and hands-on execution to our team. With a proven track record of launching and scaling multi-unit concepts from scratch, paired with extensive experience streamlining high-volume systems at Starbucks, Brian knows exactly how to grow a brand without losing its soul. He is uniquely positioned to lead our fast-casual division forward—building smart processes that support intentional, purposeful growth.
IAN RECTOR
Strategy and Analytics
Ian Rector​
Senior Strategy Analyst
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Ian's background in AI and computational analytics allows him to provide the team with the tools to inform our growth. Ian is also a self-proclaimed foodie who enjoys bringing his friends to our restaurants and giving us lots of valuable insights from these frequent diners.
JEFF MATUSZEWSKI
Managing Director, Full Service
Jeff Matuszewski - Managing Director, Full Service
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Jeff has worked for some of the biggest full-service restaurant groups and is excited to apply his experience and expertise to our growing group. He is passionate about the positive impact plant-based eating has on the environment.
DENNIS WALTER
Director of Finance
Dennis Walter - Director of Finance​
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​Dennis has a background in corporate accounting and loves that he can combine that with a passion for great food in his new role.
CD YOUNG
Founder & CEO
CD Young - Founder & CEO
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CD's life was changed in so many wonderful ways as a result of changing her diet to food made from plants rather than animals. Because of how positive this change was for her, she hopes to share with the world how beautiful eating plant-based makes you feel, and how delicious it can taste.
MORGAN RALPH
Events and Catering Manager
Morgan Ralph - Events & Catering Manager
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Morgan brings her incredible organizational skills and her restaurant acumen acquired through her years in restaurant management to the events team. She believes event success lies in the details and strong communication with clients.
