Chapel Street Café Announces Executive Chef Jorge Mosquera, Bringing Over 30 Years of Culinary Excellence to Chicago’s First Australian-Style Café

Chapel Street Café, led by hospitality veteran Shawn Uldridge, is proud to announce the appointment of Jorge Mosquera as the Executive Chef of what will be Chicago’s first Australian-style café. The Aussie-style concept, serving authentic, house-roasted Australian-style coffee, fresh-made bread, and pastries, along with a full lunch, dinner, and bar menu featuring all-Australian wines, is set to debut on the Magnificent Mile in early January 2025. Originally from Ecuador, Jorge brings more than three decades of culinary expertise and a passion for hospitality to this exciting new venture.

Jorge’s love for cooking was ignited after moving to the United States, where he found joy in crafting dishes that delighted guests. Starting his journey as a dishwasher, Jorge worked his way up through various roles in the hospitality industry, accumulating a wealth of experience at top properties like Marriott, Hyatt Hotels, Maggiano’s, and Bravo Restaurant Group. Over the years, he has managed restaurants across Illinois and beyond, honing his skills and developing a deep passion for sharing his knowledge with others.

“Jorge’s culinary talent and deep experience are invaluable to our team,” said Owner Shawn Uldridge. “His dedication to his craft aligns perfectly with our vision for Chapel Street Café, and we’re excited to introduce his creations to Chicago this winter.”

Before joining the Chapel Street team, Jorge held the position of Area Executive Chef at Vinayaka Hospitality, where he oversaw kitchen operations for four prominent hotels in the Chicago suburbs. He was also recognized as the Manager of the Year at Hyatt Hotels, a testament to his dedication and leadership. Amid the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Jorge showcased his resilience and entrepreneurial spirit by launching a successful pasta-to-go service restaurant in Elmhurst, IL, which he continues to own and operate.

At Chapel Street Café, Jorge will work alongside Melbourne native and owner Shawn Uldridge. Shawn moved to Chicago in 2014 and opened the highly-regarded boutique bed and breakfast, The Publishing House, as well as the modern American wine bar, The Press Room, in Chicago’s West Loop. Inspired by his early memories of selecting the finest ingredients from Melbourne’s food markets for family meals, Shawn’s passion for food has been a lifelong journey, leading him to build Chapel Street Café, where he brings an authentic Australian dining experience to Chicago.

Chapel Street will be opening its doors in January 2025. For more information and updates on the highly anticipated opening of Chapel Street Café, follow @chapelstreet.cafe and visit www.chapelstreet.cafe.