

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brahm Callahan.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Brahm. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I am the Beverage Director for Himmel Hospitality Group – a Boston based restaurant group that owns Harvest, Grill 23 & Bar, Bistro du Midi, and Post 390 restaurant. I am also a Master Sommelier, one of only 236 in the world. When I came to Boston, I started working at Excelsior Restaurant and spent the next 10 years in a number of Boston’s top restaurants and ended up opening Post 390 Restaurant as the beverage director for HHG. I took over the beverage program for Grill 23 & Bar in 2010. While there, I was able to grow the already world class program and we were awarded the Grand Award from Wine Spectator in 2017, joining a group of only 89 restaurants in the world to hold the Grand Award.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There were certainly a number of obstacles, however, I had a huge amount of support from my wife and from our ownership and was able to not only pass the absurdly difficult Master Sommelier exam but also helped to build a world class beverage program at Grill 23 & Bar.
Himmel Hospitality Group – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Himmel Hospitality Group (HHG) is a family-owned business, owning and operating four of New England’s top restaurants: the legendary Grill 23 & Bar; Harvest, New England’s original “farm to table” restaurant; the creative neighborhood tavern and dining room, Post 390 and Bistro du Midi, the modern Mediterranean bistro overlooking Boston’s Public Garden. HHG through its affiliated companies also has ownership interests in several restaurants in New York City and in real estate projects in Boston, New York, Abu Dhabi and West PalmBeach. Founded by Ken Himmel and now overseen by his son Chris Himmel, HHG is dedicated to delivering a world-class experience at each of its restaurants, including the highest quality food, beverage, service and hospitality.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
For me, passing the Master Sommelier exam was the absolute professional highlight, it has changed my life in ways that I couldn’t imagine!
Contact Info:
- Address: 161 Berkeley Street (at Stuart)
Boston, MA 02116 - Website: https://grill23.com
- Phone: 617.542.2255
- Instagram: @grill23andbar
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grill23andbar/
Image Credit:
Himmel Hospitality Group, Melissa Ostrow
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