Meet The Team

Chef Vinny got lucky and fell in love with cooking early in life at the age of 19.  He loved the energy of the kitchen and, as he advanced in his career, he found himself developing a taste for new flavors & ingredients he had never tried before.  Chef Vinny prides himself on making people happy and connecting with them through his food, flavor & experiences.  Originally from Chicago, Chef Vinny began his career in the Windy City but spent years advancing his culinary skills in New York City before "flying south" to the US Virgin Islands in 2014.  He started his successful catering business in 2019 as a way to have creative freedom and make a name for himself and his team.  In both his catering business and at STJ Speakeasy, Chef Vinny loves working with fresh local seafood, seasonings and produce, exploring classical techniques with a new paintbrush of flavor!

Juan's twenty plus years of diverse experience in different culinary settings has equipped him with a broad skill set and a deep understanding of countless cuisines.  You might know him as the former Executive Chef at the Longboard if you are a frequent visitor to St John.  But, prior to his five-year stint in that position, he gained invaluable knowledge while working at various restaurants and hotels in Florida.  Originally from Puerto Rico, Juan attributes his time spent in the Florida culinary industry as the designation where developed his love for fresh local ingredients and Caribbean cuisine.  However, he attributes his nine years spent on St. John, and the beautiful backdrop, as a source of inspiration for his culinary creations.  Working in restaurants on an island like St. John presents unique challenges, such as sourcing fresh ingredients and dealing with unpredictable weather conditions. However, Juan loves these challenges because they push me to be more creative and resourceful.  The close-knit community and the opportunity to work with local farmers and fishermen are incredibly rewarding for him.  And his true love for food and his passion that surrounds it is the way it brings people together for memorable dining experiences.  And he can't wait to help you create those incredible experiences here at STJ Speakeasy!

Chef Vinny and Chef Trace first met and collaborated on the culinary arts at the once famed St. John restaurant, Asolare.  Although this iconic establishment was destroyed in the 2017 hurricanes, Trace and Vinny's professional relationship has flourished far beyond that distant memory.  Chef Trace has been cooking for fourteen years, nine of which have been on St. John where he has run his own kitchens and worked as a wildly successful Sous Chef.  Much of this time has been spent working alongside Chef Vinny and eventually led to Trace being his right hand in the catering company and now, at STJ Speakeasy.  Earlier in his career that began in Chillicother, Illinois with a similarly small and collaborative community, Chef Trace knew that cooking was a way that he could see the world.  As time went by, it became an obsession and his biggest passion in life.  He loves the team sport aspect of working in a kitchen; working with a group of people to achieve the same goals every day, melded with the beautiful ingredients and techniques that makes every day a new opportunity to grow.  Chef Trace also dives head-first into the challenges of cooking on a remote island that consistently 

demand flexibility and readiness to adapt.  In the kitchen, he says, they refer to it as "JAZZ."

Tarn is truly our wizard at both STJ Speakeasy and Chef Vincent Alterio catering and we would not be able to do any of this without her!  Originally, from Massachusetts, Tarn lived on St. John for a stint from 2003-2020.  During this time, she worked with Chef Vinny at La Tapa where she was the hostess and he was the Chef de Cuisine.  The two hit it off in the workplace and when the catering company he founded in 2019 began to grow too popular for the Chef to manage on his own, he knew Tarn was the right person for the job!  Now living back in Massachusetts, Tarn works full-time and remotely, running the back end of all of the catering events, customer relations, billing, vending, and...Well, you name it.  She does it all!  And now, she is the voice you will hear when you place your reservation at STJ Hideaway.  Cheers to this fantastic wizard of a woman for keeping us all in line and organized!

Aubrey, AKA AC, brings to the table a wealth of knowledge, experience and passion in the realm of fine food and wine.  He ensures that each and every visitor feels like a welcomed guest in our home here at the Hideaway and will happily guide you through the food and beverage menus and our curated wine list!  AC has spent 35 years creating amazing guest experiences here on St. John and remembers the days when many of the bars and restaurants on island were operating out of Igloo coolers instead of electric refrigeration!  His training in Classical French Cuisine and vast experience in fine dining restaurants around the country will ensure you an incredible experience here at STJ Speakeasy.  And his decades spent on St. John lends to some incredible storytelling throughout your meal!