About Paris
A Casual New Approach to French Dining
A French awakening is happening in River North. Internationally-acclaimed French Chef Joho and RJ and Jerrod Melman have teamed up to introduce the highly-anticipated Paris Club in Chicago’s popular River North neighborhood. The trio has set out with a goal of serving up approachable French fare in a casual, urban setting that appeals to a new generation of diners.
With an emphasis on plates to share and their spin on updated classics, the Melman brothers and French powerhouse Chef Joho (Everest, Eiffel Tower, Brasserie JO Boston) have assembled an impressive culinary team of some of the most respected names in French dining. The Paris Club kitchen will be led by executive chef Tim Graham (Brasserie JO, TRU), as well as notable French-trained chefs Walter Manzke (Church & State, Bastide), Doug Psaltis (Alain Ducasse, French Laundry) and Michael Bellovich (HUB 51). Offering a lighter, casual take on French fare, the menu is reminiscent of one found in the City of Light. Highlights include Scallop and Uni Tartare, Sweet Frites, Short Rib Bourguinon and Vegetable Cassoulet plated with an array of fresh and seasonal sautéed vegetables. Smaller portions make ordering simple and encourage guests to try a variety of offerings, such as Escargot by the piece, Lamb Meatballs with Harissa Tomato Sauce, and bite-size Croque Monsieurs “fingers”. In addition to these items, Paris Club also serves an array of homemade charcuteries and pates.
As approachable as the food, Chef Joho and the Melmans carefully handpicked a list of more than 10 champagnes, 25 reds and 25 whites representing France and U.S. vintners to offer guests easy, reasonably-priced, drinkable wines by the glass or bottle. The restaurant will also feature a number of proprietary wines and craft beers on tap, as well as signature champagne cocktails and aperitifs.
Designed by NYC based Monolayer, Paris Club’s vibe doesn’t disappoint, offering a modern Parisian escape from Chicago’s typical dining scene. Presenting a sophisticated, yet gritty atmosphere, the character of the nearly 5,000 square-foot main dining space is expressed through décor reminiscent of present-day Paris.
Known the world over for having made an indelible mark on the culinary world with his exquisite personal cuisine, Chef Joho humbly entered the profession as a 6-year-old, peeling vegetables in his aunt’s restaurant kitchen. His rise to international success began on the 40th floor of the Chicago Stock Exchange with, what is now one of the world’s premier dining rooms, Everest. Today, his establishments across the country in Chicago (Everest and Paris Club), Boston (Brasserie Jo) and Las Vegas (Eiffel Tower Restaurant) set standards for dining and win accolades at every turn.
Most recently, Chef Joho opened the highly-anticipated Paris Club, which serves approachable French fare in a casual, urban setting that appeals to a new generation of diners. Chef Joho also opened his kitchen to readers with the Eiffel Tower Cookbook, sharing 50 of his signature dishes and transporting the magic of Paris into kitchens of gourmet homes across the country.
Chef Joho’s formal training began as a 13-year-old apprentice for Paul Haeberlin of the acclaimed L’Auberge de L’Ill in Alsace, France, and continued in kitchens in France, Italy and Switzerland. By the age of 23, Joho was the sous chef at a Michelin three-star restaurant where he commanded a 35-person staff. It was while he was studying at the Hotel Restaurant School in Strasbourg that Joho immersed himself in the hotel and restaurant business, as well as the arts of pastry, cheese and wine.
Below please find a sampling of Chef Joho’s professional accomplishments:
Restaurants
- Everest, Chicago
- Brasserie Jo, Chicago and Boston
- Eiffel Tower Restaurant, Las Vegas
- Paris Club, Chicago,
- Co-founder of the Corner Bakery concept
- Partner of M Burger, Chicago
Accolades
- James Beard Foundation (JBF) “Who’s Who,” JBF “Best New Restaurant,” JBF “Best American Chef: Midwest”
- Robert Mondavi “Culinary Award of Excellence”
- Bon Appetit’s “Best Chef of the Year”
- Gourmet Magazine’s “Best Restaurant for Business Dining”
- Everest has been named by Travel + Leisure magazine as one of America’s most romantic restaurants
- Chicago Magazine’s “Best Restaurant in Chicago”
- Mobile Dining Award, Everest
- JBF nominations for “Best Outstanding Restaurant,” “Outstanding Chef,” “Outstanding Service”
- Everest consistently rated 4 stars from Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times and Chicago Magazine
- Everest’s wine list has been credited as the “country’s best selection of Alsace wine” by USA Today, The New York Times and Saveur
- Five-Diamond AAA rating, Everest
- Gayot’s Top 40 Restaurants in the U.S.
Television Appearances
- BRAVO’S Top Chef
- TBS’s Dinner & A Movie
- PBS, CNN
- Detroit: WXYZ
- Chicago: ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, WGN
- Las Vegas: CPTV
International Press
- l’Ame & I’Esprit
- Les Saisons d’Alsace
- Le Monde, France
- Business Travel, China
- The International Herald Tribune
- Le Figaro, France
- Elle Magazine International
- Tribune de’ Logne, France
- Gourmet International
- Der Feinschmecker, Germany
Highlighted Praise
“The jovial Mr. Joho stands astride the culinary heap” - The New York Times
“Best Alsace wine list in the hemisphere” - Johnny Apple, New York Times
“A brilliant meal from a great chef who is at the top of his game” - Robert M. Parker Jr.
“Four stars – Chicago’s most romantic restaurant” - Chicago Tribune
“Four stars – spectacular in every way” - Chicago Sun-Times
Member Of
- Le Grande Table Du Monde Traditions & Qualité
- Relais & Chateaux/Relais Gourmand
- Maitre Cuisiniers de France
Jerrod Melman
Managing Partner of HUB 51, SUB 51, Paris Club, M Street Kitchen & Stella Rossa
email Jerrod
Jerrod Melman is managing partner of HUB 51, SUB 51 and Paris Club, the dining, nightlife and social establishments created by him and his brother, RJ Melman, in Chicago’s River North neighborhood, as well as M Street Kitchen and Stella Rossa in Santa Monica, California.
Jerrod’s earliest memories of working in restaurants began at the young age of 10 as a busboy at the original Maggiano’s. After Maggiano’s, Jerrod took a five-year hiatus from the restaurant business to pursue other interests, namely finishing grade school. During high school and college, he held various roles in a dozen or so Lettuce Entertain You (LEYE) restaurants, as well as IN-N-OUT Burger in Arizona, learning the business from the ground up.
The summer before his senior year in college, he participated in the LEYE internship program which confirmed his interest in pursuing a restaurant career. After graduating from DePaul University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, Jerrod managed LEYE restaurants Osteria Via Stato and R.J. Grunts and gained valuable experience in New York working for B.R. Guests and Union Square Hospitality Group.
Jerrod brings this wealth of restaurant knowledge to each new venture he pursues. In June 2008 with his brother, RJ, he opened HUB 51 and lower-level club SUB 51, offering Chicago’s most coveted neighborhood a unique mixture of dining, nightlife and entertainment. The brothers most recently teamed up with internationally-acclaimed Chef Jean Joho to present Paris Club, a casual French restaurant and bar that opened in February 2011.
A longtime Chicago resident, Jerrod is an avid supporter of several local philanthropic and community initiatives. He also enjoys playing basketball and softball, going to the movies, and a night out with good friends.
