Blend 111 Executive Chef Abby McManigle launched her career at Le Cordon Bleu at the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco, where she graduated with honors. She honed her skills at several prestigious Bay Area restaurants including Chez Panisse, Alma, Aqua and Sabor of Spain. She also served as Executive Chef at Tina’s Bistro, a long-standing Willamette Valley wine country institution. Her deepening passion for organics and biodynamics led her to a position as Executive Chef of a Demeter certified winery. Returning to the Washington D.C. area, as a partner in Blend 111, Abby fuses art and science creating seasonal menus with locally sourced ingredients and an unrelenting focus on quality.

Michael Biddick is the head sommelier and owner at Blend 111. He is a Master of Bordeaux wine, a certified French Wine Scholar (FSW) and was trained by the Court of Master Sommeliers. Author of the award-winning book “43 Wine Regions” (2018) Biddick has been a contributor to Somm Journal, Food and Travel, and Go World Travel magazines. Biddick also founded one of the fastest growing information technology firms in the country in 2009, earned a Master of Science in Information Systems from Johns Hopkins University and undergraduate degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Biddick speaks English, Spanish and French. He is also a certified barista and coffee roaster.

Judy Elahi, Blend 111’s Assistant General Manager and Beverage Director has a passion for natural creative cocktails. Judy’s work ethic and determination allowed her to excel in the restaurant world, most recently as restaurant and beverage manager at True Foods Kitchen.  Judy’s love of craft cocktails and capturing the essence of each season in a drink drove her to Blend 111. Here, she is committed to matching the passion and love that goes into Chef Abby’s food with an exciting and constantly evolving beverage program. Judy embraces a spirited approach to hospitality, being part of a team that is as passionate about learning as she is, and as excited to bring that knowledge to Blend 111 guests. She is determined to create the total experience for the diner from the time they walk in our doors.

Bhairevi Aiyer is our Sustainability & Community Coordinator. Her professional experience has primarily been in municipal solid waste management while at EcoPro in India, and the NYC Department of Sanitation. Her interest in food systems sprouted in childhood as her grandfather owns a naturally farmed orchard in Hyderabad, India. It was fueled by her concern for the welfare of farmers and her exposure to organic & biodynamic farming practices while at EcoPro in Auroville which coincidentally has a heavy European influence. She then pursued her master’s in environmental studies from University of Pennsylvania where she focused on the sustainability of food systems. She joined us this April, to make Blend111 environmentally & socially responsible while being economically sustainable.