We are pleased to welcome the newest addition to the team at The Boarding House, Sommelier Dan Pilkey.
Dan brings a very high level of commitment to customer service and hospitality and the entire team at The Boarding House is excited to welcome him to the floor. In preparation of his Master Sommelier exam in May, Dan will have the opportunity to continue honing his skills assisting guests with their wine selections. He brings more than a decade of epicurean experience and service expertise to his new position, most recently working as a member of the Elysian (now the Waldorf Astoria) team as wine director and manager of the two-star Michelin RIA restaurant. Dan passed the Advanced Level of the Master Sommelier exam in 2007 and will also represent the Midwest division in the upcoming Top Somm competition held by the Guild of Sommeliers.
Dan discovered his passion for food and wine while working at Wente Vineyards at age 14. Using his skills and knowledge of production from Wente, Dan helped transform an avocado farm into a small, labor-of-love project called Milagro – making wines, cider and olive oil.
After devastating wild fires took the farm in 2006, Dan became a wine and sales consultant for the Lafayette Wine Company, followed by his next role as restaurant manager and wine director at the 910 Restaurant in the Grand Colonial Hotel in La Jolla, California. After receiving his Business of Wine Certificate at San Diego State University, Dan teamed up with Addison Restaurant at The Grand Del Mar Resort, working closely with prestigious sommeliers from around the nation.