Owner/Wine Director Jill Carnevale
Jill grew up in NYC and Florida in a large Italian family – most Sundays spent by her grandmother’s side, making the same traditional Italian feast every week. This is where her passion for Italian cuisine and cooking was born. Her family’s Italian background spans across southern Italy – Napoli, Sicilia, and Abruzzo. These regional cuisines run in her blood and are the heart and soul of Ellina. A student of technique and cooking styles – she understands the essentials of classic and rustic Italian cooking but loves modernizing the menu with worldly flavors and ingredients.
After graduating from the University of Colorado, Jill’s path led to a career in finance in NYC and Chicago. But the mountains were calling, and she picked up and moved to Aspen “for a season or two”. Jill has worked at Ellina since day 1 (2009) and worked her way around the restaurant, from expo to server, to sometime line cook, and sommelier. In 2018, she purchased the restaurant from the previous owners and the rest is history..
Executive ChefMiguel Diaz
Chef Miguel Diaz's culinary career began in his grandmother's kitchen in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - a place he still draws inspiration from and pays homage to in his cooking.
Chef Diaz has been at the helm of the Elina kitchen since day 1 – before that working in the kitchens of Aspen for almost 30 years, honing his culinary skills and learning from many great chefs along the way. A master of contemporary Italian cuisine, the influence of coastal Mexico often finds a way to shine through in many of his creations.
Sommelier Chris Haas
Born and raised in Palm Coast, Florida, Chris landed in Aspen in 2012, working in the restaurants of the Aspen Skiing Company. He joined Ellina in 2021, and quickly worked his way up from expo to a brief stint as a server, before owner and wine director Jill Carnevale took notice of his passion and enthusiasm for wines. Under her mentorship, Chris has become one of Aspen’s top sommeliers. With a deep knowledge of the wines of the world, and one the the most skilled palates around, Chris has a special way of explaining wines and helping customers choose the perfect glass or bottle. Chris is WSET Level 3 Certified and current candidate for Level 4 Diploma Wine Expert. He is also an incredible cook and a really good rapper.
Bar ManagerWilly Lopez
Willy Lopez is a Cabo San Lucas, Mexico native, who cut his teeth in hospitality at some of Cabo's top resorts. Starting his career as a bartender at both One & Only Palmilla and Chileno Bay, he also held the tequila master position at Las Ventanas.
He then found himself in Napa Valley, running the bar at the prestigious Calistoga Ranch.
Willy joined the team at Ellina in 2018, and is the face of the bar. Locals and visitors alike love sitting at the bar and trying and learning about new tequilas or his current spirit of choice (usually tequila).