About

ANDREW RICHARDSON

EXECUTIVE CHEF

One of Canada’s finest chefs, Andrew is a native of Newcastle, England, and graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University with a Bachelor of Science with honours in Hotel and Catering Management.

He began his cooking career as sous chef under Chef Terence Laybourne at the Michelin-starred 21 Queen Street in Newcastle, and later as Head Chef at sister restaurant Brasserie 21, which received the Michelin Bib Gourmand rating.

Andrew moved to Vancouver in 1999 and was actively involved in the opening of Cioppino’s as Executive Sous Chef, and then, took up the same role at West. He further honed his skills at Sooke Harbour House and the Carter House Inn in Northern California before accepting the Executive Chef role at Whistler’s Araxi Restaurant + Oyster Bar. He later returned to Newcastle to open Laybourne’s Jesmond Dene House Hotel, performed an extended stage at The French Laundry, and then moved to Calgary to open the top-rated Blink as part owner. He rejoined Toptable Group in 2012 as CinCin Ristorante + Bar’s Executive Chef.

Having built and established the CinCin team over the last several years, Andrew now takes the helm at Elisa as Executive Chef. His experience tending the Grillworks Infierno inspires him to elevate the art of wood-fired cooking for Elisa’s signature dishes and to perfect the craft of presenting prime ingredients on the plate.

RICARDO FERREIRA

RESTAURANT DIRECTOR

Toptable Group welcomes back Ricardo Ferreira as Elisa’s Restaurant Director. Ricardo led the team at Gastown’s award-winning L’Abattoir Restaurant; prior to that he managed the OPUS Hotel’s food and beverage program.

After earning a Bachelor’s degree from Simon Fraser University, Ricardo was bitten by the hospitality bug while working at Vancouver’s Relais & Chateaux-designated Wedgewood Hotel.

He spent three years contributing to the growth of Blue Water Cafe + Raw Bar as Restaurant Manager, before leaving to work and travel in the UK. Ricardo returned to the West Coast to rejoin the Toptable family and then spent four years at the helm of CinCin Ristorante + Bar as Restaurant Director. Ricardo comes home once again to add his hospitable energy to Elisa’s persona and charisma. With a love of orchestrating nightly service, Ricardo creates an unparalleled experience at the city’s premier steakhouse.

FRANCO MICHIENZI

wine director

Franco graduated from the University of Western Ontario with a Bachelor of Science degree (Honours). He also holds the Certified Sommelier accreditation from the Courtof Master Sommeliers, and has continued his education by completing the WSET Level III certification with Distinction.

Franco began his Toptable Group career at sister restaurant Araxi Restaurant+ Oyster Bar. After relocating to Vancouver, he continued his hospitality career at West Restaurant + Bar as Head Server in2007. He became Sommelier at Hawksworth Restaurant in 2011 where he was promoted to Head Sommelier in 2016.

At Elisa, Franco’s passion for wines can best be showcased in the floor-to-ceiling glass cellar of over 6000 bottles from both the New and Old worlds.

CLAIR HETTICH

operations manager

Clair Hettich is one of Vancouver’s most respected Restaurant Managers — her effervescent personality and genuine love for her craft lead to great guest experiences.

Clair began her career in Penticton where she quickly found her passion for hospitality. She also became immersed in the Okanagan Valley wine culture and developed an appreciation for the regional food movement. She moved to Vancouver in 2014, where she became Manager at The Water Street Cafe and discovered a new love on the management side of the restaurant business by developing others to deliver unsurpassed dining experiences. More recently, Clair was Assistant General Manager at Cibo Trattoria and Uva Wine Bar.

In the good and capable hands of Clair, a dining experience at Elisa is sure to be a memorable one.