Our Team

Jamie Mammano

From the day that Chef Jamie Mammano opened the doors to Mistral in 1997, his biggest culinary venture yet was destined to become a legend of the Boston dining scene. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in New York, Jamie established a reputation for himself amongst the country’s most highly-regarded chefs during stints at The Jockey Club and Le Pavillion Restaurant in Washington DC, as the chef for the United States Ambassador to Spain, and 10 years spent in the kitchens of the Four Seasons Hotel Company, where he honed his culinary skills at the company’s Washington DC, Seattle, Chicago and Boston properties. While serving as Executive Chef for the Four Seasons Hotel Boston, Jamie single-handedly catapulted its dining room, Aujourd’hui, to the #1 ranking in the Zagat Survey of Boston Restaurants in 1995, and soon after readers of Boston Magazine chose Aujourd’hui as the #1 restaurant in Boston and Condé Nast Traveler named it the #4 restaurant in the country.

Seeking the next big challenge, Jamie left the Four Seasons, and along with partners Paul Roiff and Seth Greenberg, created the concept for Mistral, a French/Mediterranean bistro in Boston’s South End. Through crafting the menu, hiring the staff, handpicking the tableware, choosing the décor and designing the kitchen, Jamie was able to give life to the restaurant he had always dreamed of and that Boston diners could not wait to frequent. Throughout the past 13 years, Jamie and Mistral have consistently delivered excellent food, exceptional service, and garnered numerous accolades including “Top 25 New Restaurants in America” by Esquire Magazine, “Sexiest Bar” by Food & Wine, and four “Best of Boston” awards from Boston Magazine. Jamie has appeared on NBC’s “Today Show” as well as CNN’s “On the Menu.” In June 1999, Nation’s Restaurant News named Mistral as one of “5 Hottest Restaurants in Boston” and in July of the same year, Jamie was invited to be a guest chef at the famed James Beard House.

In November 2005, Jamie and Paul followed up their success when Paul made Jamie a partner in The Federalist. The team then opened Sorellina in January 2006, offering regional Italian-Mediterranean cuisine with a modern twist, a unique wine list focusing on hidden Italian gems, upbeat and sophisticated service, and a warm-modern design. In August 2007, The Federalist was transformed to Mooo, a modern steakhouse inside the XV Beacon Hotel. The latest venture, L’Andana in Burlington, MA, opened in October 2007, focusing on Tuscan Wood-Grilled cuisine. In 2013, Mammano and Roiff opened their newest concept, Ostra, a contemporary Mediterranean seafood restaurant. Ostra provides a sophisticated and inviting dining room with an elegant bar and piano lounge, as well as an exclusive private dining space.

Paul Roiff

As one of Boston’s most acclaimed real estate developers, and known for pursuing projects that the real estate “establishment” has often deemed too daring, Paul possesses a drive and vision for urban architectural splendor that has led to the renaissance of some of Boston’s most treasured communities. Paul, who has been working in the field of real estate since the age of 18, originally planned to pursue a career in music, but found himself being drawn towards a love for urban architecture.

Throughout his career, Paul, who earned a baccalaureate and MBA from Boston University, and a JD degree from Suffolk Law School, has worked on the acquisition and renovation of Boston real estate in such diverse areas as historic rehabilitation, mill restorations, HUD projects, , the development of hundreds of residential lofts in Boston’s Leather district and the development of a luxury 28-acre beachfront cabana club in Florida

In 1997, together with partners Jamie Mammano and Seth Greenberg, Paul built and became a co-owner of Mistral, a French/Mediterranean bistro located in one of his most successful developments, Boston’s Albert A. Pope Building. Quickly after the opening, Mistral was named one of the “Top 25 New Restaurants in America” by Esquire Magazine, “Sexiest Bar” by Food & Wine, and earned four “Best of Boston” awards from Boston Magazine.

His first foray into the luxury hotel world, Paul renovated a 1903 Beaux Arts building to create XV Beacon in January of 2000. In developing the hotel, Roiff adhered to the vision of a classic and elegant environment combined with modern style that would provide an unforgettable service experience for travelers, as well as a culinary destination, The Federalist, with an atmosphere reminiscent of the world’s most prestigious private clubs.

Paul followed up the success of Mistral and The Federalist, which is now Mooo, with three other restaurants: Sorellina in January 2006 and L’Andana in 2007, which he owns in conjunction with Jamie and The Columbus Hospitality Group. The latest additions to CHG are The Inn at St. Botolph, a limited service boutique hotel & the sister property of XV Beacon, and Ostra, a contemporary Mediterranean seafood restaurant. Serving as president of Heath Properties, a real estate development and finance company, Paul has also served on the board of directors of a professional software company, and as a director of Capitol Bancorp in Boston.

Seth Greenberg

With over twenty years of experience acquiring and developing high-end hotel, restaurant and nightlife properties in New York, Boston and Miami, Seth Greenberg is regarded as one of the premiere impresarios of today’s hospitality industries.

Greenberg began his illustrious career at the age of seventeen as a promoter of fashionable private parties in nightclubs, ballrooms, and event facilities in the Boston area. Soon after graduating from Boston University, Greenberg purchased and successfully launched a number of the city’s most popular nightlife properties, including the Paradise, a venue credited with giving vital early exposure to then-up and coming acts such as U2 and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and M-80 playing host to some of the city’s most fashion-forward socialites.

Following a successful string of over twelve nightclub ventures along the East Coast, Greenberg shifted his focus to developing high-end hotels and restaurants. In 1997, Greenberg established himself as a respected restaurateur with the opening of Mistral, a French-Mediterranean inspired restaurant in Boston. He also participated in the development team for the award winning XV Beacon Hotel in 1999.

In November 2002, Greenberg once again showcased his talent and vision by successfully debuting his first New York City venue, the resplendent Stanford White-designed ballroom and event space, Capitale. Through the purchase and renovation of the historic Bowery Savings Bank, a Beaux-Arts building constructed in the 1890s, Greenberg established Capitale as one of New York’s most distinguished fine dining and event spaces. Celebrities, fashion designers, models, socialites, entertainers and politicians alike have all congregated at Capitale to celebrate at one of the venue’s many exclusive parties. Clients and guests include Virgin Airlines, Elton John, Marc Jacobs, Louis Vuitton and Angelina Jolie. In 2007, Greenberg expanded his catering infrastructure in New York by developing Espace, a 20,000 sf. event space in the beautiful new Atelier Tower in midtown Manhattan.

In 2009, Greenberg completed the development of the Ames Hotel located in the historic Ames Building in Boston with his longtime friend, Richard Kilstock. The Ames Hotel is a joint venture with Normandy Realty Partners.

In 2010, Greenberg finalized an agreement with Marriott Hotels to develop restaurants in their properties. His first project, 1500 Degrees, a Farm to Table Dining Concept received the Esquire Magazine award for Best New Restaurant in America. Greenberg’s latest project, Bastille Kitchen, is slated to open in summer 2014 in Boston’s Innovation District.

In addition to his hotel and restaurant ventures, Greenberg is co-founder of Boston Common; a magazine developed by Niche Media, LLC, a robust lifestyle publishing company whose other titles include Hamptons, Gotham, Aspen Peak and Los Angeles Confidential.

Mr. Greenberg is the recipient of The Boston University Young Alumni Council Award (2002) for his achievements, character, and continued support of the University. He remains a sponsor of Boston University’s School of Management. Additionally, he is a co-founder of the Center for Jewish Discovery in Manhattan.

Please visit the appropriate web link below for all current projects.

www.sterlinggroupmanagement.com
www.espaceny.com
www.amesbostonhotel.com
www.bastillekitchen.net
www.foreveryoungwine.com
www.mistralbistro.com

Mark D’Alessandro

Personality and passion are the twin hallmarks of Mark’s hospitality style. The details of attentive and individualized service are key, he says, to successful interaction with every guest. And as for passion, there is no substitute for an employee’s true attitude of ownership and responsibility. Mark exhorts his staff to assume a top-to-bottom approach to guest service so as to make a lasting impression each and every time.

These dual principles of personality and passion were imbedded early in Mark’s career. A succession of ‘name brand’ learning experiences molded his professional development. Mark got his first taste of the epicurean world at Cardoos International Foods, a gourmet food shop in Boston (MA). Selling exotic foods, spices and coffees from around the world was a superb training ground for later employment with such established businesses as Legal Sea Foods, Sheraton Hotels, Skipjack’s, and Caffe Lampara. The 1980s were spent working in both Florida and Massachusetts, and the heady experience of opening new locations added to his broad knowledge and management skills. The depth and breadth of his background moved Mistral to hire Mark in 1996, and he quickly advanced from Assistant General Manager to General Manager, then in 2006 to Director of Operations for not only Mistral but all of the properties in the Columbus Hospitality Group [Sorellina, Mooo, L’Andana and Ostra].

Mark believes in building strong and long-term relationships with guests. He enjoys meeting people, and has a knack for remembering each guest and putting him or her at ease. He strives to instill this trait in all 175 front-of-house employees under his supervision. Among the training highlights, Mark stresses consistency of execution, continual growth, and boundless commitment to guest service. He bookends each guest experience with a strong opening – “a real sincere welcome right at the door” – and a memorable finish – “that appreciative acknowledgement and farewell is crucial to guest retention.”

Those basic tenets of a good time at the dinner table were introduced at Mark’s own family gatherings in his childhood. His Irish-Italian upbringing in Dedham (MA) offered ample opportunity to enjoy good cooking, celebratory feasts, and shared laughter. Today, he brings those early lessons of warm hospitality to a new level of sophistication. Whether it’s having a regular guest’s habitual cocktail ready and waiting, or calling a customer at home to reveal that Mistral’s famous truffle macaroni is back on the menu, he makes every guest feel special and singled out for personal attention. That is the essence of true hospitality.

Lisa Flores

Lisa joined the Columbus Hospitality Group in 2001, after traveling from her native state of Texas, and completing her bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Boston University. After impressing General Manager Mark D’Alessandro and Chef/Owner Jamie Mammano, Lisa was quickly promoted from being a hostess to the Reservations Manager. In 2004, she was elevated again, to Special Events Manager for Mistral’s private dining room, le Salon du Mistral. As the Events Manager, Lisa planned and executed all private events for the restaurant, including full restaurant buyouts. Her commitment to establishing relationships with guests and bringing visions of celebrations to life, has created long-lasting, successful partnerships, spanning two decades.

In 2008, Lisa was promoted to Director of Sales and Marketing, and began spearheading campaigns for the opening of each new restaurant and venue. Today, this includes Mistral, Sorellina, Mooo Beacon Hill, Ostra, and our newest restaurants, Mooo Seaport and Mooo Burlington, as well as two hotel properties: XV Beacon Hotel and the Inn at St. Botolph.

 Recognizing the need for a more formal network of event planners within the restaurant industry, Lisa founded the Society for Event Planners: Restaurant Venues (SERV), in 2016. SERV aims to establish connections for people in the industry, so they can learn from one another and enhance their businesses. Meeting quarterly, members discuss topics such as the value of private events to a restaurant’s bottom line, marketing and public relations, and various challenges. SERV quickly caught the attention of dozens of top restauranteurs and planners in the area, increasing membership and gaining accolades from The Boston Globe and Boston Common Magazine. In 2017, following SERV’s success in Boston, Lisa expanded her outreach and began a second chapter in New York City.

Beyond Lisa’s dedication to the event and hospitality industry, she has devoted her personal time to supporting causes that connect her to the community and inspire others. For more than a decade, Lisa volunteered and fundraised for Helping Hands: Monkey Helpers for the Disabled, a national non-profit, serving quadriplegics and people with mobility impairment, where she helped raise close to one million dollars. Her commitment to serving others has also driven her involvement in The Women’s Lunch Place and other local Boston charities. Gaining further attention for her impressive style, Lisa was featured in Boston Common Magazine’s Women of Style issue, and in the spring of 2019, Lisa joined the Board of Advisors for the Boston Ballet and took on the role of Auction Chair for the Boston Ballet Gala in 2021 and 2022.

Today, Lisa is returning to her hospitality roots as an adjunct professor for Boston University’s School of Administration, teaching the Introduction to Food and Beverage Management Course. She hopes her experience and expertise will continue to inspire and encourage the next generation of industry professionals during this increasingly challenging time. Additionally, Lisa continues to assist in the expansion of the Columbus Hospitality Group. From concept and design to flawless project management, every experience Lisa creates is a true marriage of CHG’s promise and the guests’ vision of excellence.

Shane Gray

Shane Gray began his confectionary career as the pastry chef for a small bistro in Worcester, and soon went on to gain formal training in baking and pastry arts at the Culinary Institute of America. Upon graduation in 1996, Shane was hired by The Ritz-Carlton, Boston where he trained under Chef Henry Mastrov and eventually became the hotel’s assistant pastry chef. After spending five years with The Ritz-Carlton, Shane was hired by Chef Jamie Mammano in 2001 to oversee Mistral’s a la carte dessert menu, private dining and special events, employee training and daily production. Shane has some of his dessert creations featured at Sorellina as well. Shane has received numerous accolades for his creative pastries and delectable desserts including, 2003 Best of Show, Best Taste and Best Overall awards for his depiction of Norman Rockwell’s Studio using only sugar and chocolate at the Edible Arts event.