Dan Pilkey Joins The Boarding House

Fresh off its hot opening last month, The Boarding House is adding sommelier Dan Pilkey to its team. Pilkey, who previously worked at the now shuttered RIA as wine director and manager, will join the talented Alpana Singh as he prapares for his Master Sommelier exam. Singh hopes the experience of working in a professionally led wine program will help springboard young sommeliers onto greater heights. "In fact, my desire to open my own place was, in part, to create and foster talented individuals such as Dan and provide a home base and training ground for them to pass their Master Sommelier exam," she said.

With Pilkey's already impressive body of work and the tutelage of Singh, it should be exciting to see how this partnership influences the The Boarding House's beverage program. And in addition to his new position, Pilkey is also a finalist in the Central Region for 2013 Top Sommelier by the Guild of Sommeliers. He is joined by fellow Chicagoan Jon McDaniel of The Purple Pig while Ian Louisignau of The Italian Village is up for Top New Sommelier. As with chefs and mixologists, it's clear that Chicago is not bereft of quality wine experts.

· Top Somm & Top New Somm Regional Qualifiers [Facebook]