John Winterman
John Winterman
John Winterman is an accomplished fine-dining chef who began his career at Charlie Trotter’s in Chicago as a front of the house server. Later, he worked as maitre d’hotel at Gary Danko and Restaurant Daniel in New York City before opening James Beard Award-winning Tribeca eatery Batard.
Now he has joined forces with celebrated chef Chris Cipollone to open Francie in Brooklyn, a neighborhood brasserie named after the protagonist from A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.
Early Life and Education
John Winterman was raised in Indiana and has spent his professional career honing his skills within the hospitality industry. He began as a busser at Breckenridge Ski Resort before progressing to become the dining room manager of Charlie Trotter’s Restaurant in Chicago.
He then relocated to San Francisco and worked as a maitre d’hotel at Gary Danko before joining Daniel Boulud in New York City. It was during this period that he developed an appreciation of cheese, wine and table manners which has enabled him to excel in his current position as co-owner and executive chef of Batard Restaurant.
Winterman is an accomplished restaurateur and writer, regularly contributing to magazines like Food & Wine and Town & Country. His latest venture is Francie, a neighborhood brasserie in Williamsburg, Brooklyn that recently earned its first Michelin star.
Professional Career
John Winterman is an experienced front-of-house leader who has led teams at some of the country’s premier restaurants, such as Charlie Trotter’s and Gary Danko in Chicago, Daniel Boulud’s flagship restaurant in New York and Michelin-starred Batard in Tribeca. Additionally, he writes for publications such as Food & Wine and Town & Country magazines.
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in English and history from Indiana University Bloomington. A native of the Tri-State area, he now resides in Brooklyn after growing up near Fort Myers. Recently he opened Francie, an innovative brasserie inspired by Betty Smith’s semi-autobiographical novel “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.”
Achievements and Honors
John Winterman, an Indiana native and esteemed restauranteur, has led teams at some of America’s most esteemed establishments. He opened Batard in Tribeca – a James Beard Award winner – and then launched Francie with celebrated chef Chris Cipollone that earned its first Michelin star two years ago.
He is also a writer for publications like Food & Wine and Town & Country, covering hospitality trends (and sometimes cheese). When not writing for clients, he enjoys skiing, watching 80’s films, and cooking at home with family.
After two decades in the oil industry, Winterman transitioned into executive roles at US-based Occidental Petroleum, where he gained leadership experience in global exploration, business development and asset management. After leaving Occidental in 2013, he now provides strategic advice to international oil companies on oil company matters.
Personal Life
John Winterman, a native of Indiana, has extensive experience working as the maitre d’hotel at some of America’s top restaurants. Prior to opening Batard in Tribeca – which earned its first Michelin star – John served as maitre d’hotel at Gary Danko and Daniel Boulud.
Winterman has a professional career as well as being an accomplished writer. His works have appeared in Food & Wine, Town & Country and Esquire magazine among others.
He has extensive experience in the oil and gas industry, having joined Occidental Petroleum in 1981 as a geologist and working globally on discoveries of over two billion barrels of oil equivalent across Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Russia and Yemen. After leaving Occidental in 2013, he now provides strategic advice to international oil and gas companies.
Net Worth
John Winterman is currently employed as a Non-Executive Independent Director at EnQuest Plc and boasts an estimated net worth of GBX62,000.
Winterman was born and raised in Indiana, earning his Bachelor’s degree from Indiana University Bloomington before working at Charlie Trotter’s restaurant as a dining room manager. Afterwards he relocated to San Francisco as the maitre d’hotel at Gary Danko before heading off to New York where he served as maitre d’hotel at Restaurant Daniel before opening Michelin-starred Batard four years later. In 2019 Winterman joined chef Chris Cipollone to open Francie – named after Betty Smith’s semi-autobiographical novel “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn”– which received rave reviews from Food & Wine and Town & Country magazines. As part of this venture, this restaurant will receive its first Michelin star recognition 2021.
