Our Team

Our Story

Cooking With Cuellar was born in December 2020 at the height of a pivotal moment for the hospitality industry. As restaurants across Chicago closed and opportunities became uncertain, Chef Christopher Cuellar saw a different path forward—one that brought the restaurant experience directly into people’s homes. What began as a single dinner for a close friend quickly sparked something much greater. That one experience ignited a passion for creating intimate, elevated dining moments in personal spaces—laying the foundation for what would become a rapidly growing culinary brand. Since its founding, Cooking With Cuellar became known for delivering thoughtful, chef-driven experiences tailored to each client. From intimate dinners to larger gatherings, the focus was always the same: exceptional food, seamless service, and genuine hospitality. As demand grew and the vision expanded, so did the company.

What started as a personal chef service evolved into a full-scale catering and event experience company—leading to the rebranding of Cooking With Cuellar into Elite Events Chicago. This evolution marked more than just a name change. It represented a commitment to a higher level of execution, refined systems, and the ability to produce larger, more complex events while maintaining the personalized, hands-on approach that defined the brand from the beginning. Today, Elite Events Chicago offers a full spectrum of services—from in-home dining experiences to large-scale weddings and corporate events—while continuing to prioritize intentional design, cultural depth, and elevated hospitality at an approachable cost.

The Founder

I’m Chef Christopher Cuellar, founder and the former executive chef of Elite Events Chicago. I was raised in the Chicago suburb of La Grange and began my professional career in sales, where I spent over a decade learning how to build relationships and truly understand client needs.

Over time, I felt a strong pull toward something more creative—something rooted in connection, hospitality, and experience. That led me to pursue formal culinary training through Café Liberty in Wheaton, Illinois, where I completed an intensive 240-hour program focused on career placement in the culinary field. From there, I refined my skills at Lockwood Restaurant, located within the historic Palmer House in downtown Chicago. I actually worked my way through many restaurants to refine my craft and further my dreams of becoming a business owner.

In 2020, during a time when the hospitality industry was facing significant challenges, I made the decision to build something of my own—centered around bringing elevated, restaurant-quality dining directly to clients. What started as Cooking With Cuellar has since grown and evolved into Elite Events Chicago.

Today, I lead our team with a simple but unwavering philosophy: create meaningful experiences through food, execute with precision, and ensure every client feels genuinely cared for throughout the entire process.

Director of Sales and Marketing

A woman with long, curly brown hair, wearing a white suit, sitting on a light-colored chair, smiling, with a light-colored background and sheer curtains.

Hi, I’m Hannah Mitre. As Director of Sales and Marketing at Elite Events Chicago, I lead our client experience from the very first inquiry through booking—ensuring every interaction feels thoughtful, clear, and aligned with the vision our clients have for their event. I’m a hopeless romantic at heart, which is what first drew me into the event industry.

With over four years of experience in the wedding industry, I’ve worked closely with a wide range of clients, helping transform initial ideas into structured, elevated experiences. I take a consultative approach to every conversation—guiding clients through decisions, simplifying the planning process, and helping them feel confident every step of the way.

I’m deeply passionate about creating experiences that feel both seamless and meaningful. My role is not only to help bring a vision to life, but to ensure it’s executed with intention, care, and a level of detail that reflects the importance of the occasion.

Becoming a mother has further shaped how I approach my work—reinforcing my appreciation for life’s most meaningful moments and the small details that make them truly unforgettable.

Event Director

Close-up portrait of a woman with red hair and blue eyes, wearing a purple top, against a dark teal background.

Katelyn Biancardi serves as our Event Director, bringing a service-first perspective and over a decade of experience managing restaurants throughout the city of Chicago. Her background is rooted in high-level hospitality, operational precision, and delivering exceptional client experiences at scale.

In addition to her work with Elite Events Chicago, Katelyn is a full-time Client Event Specialist for one of the largest law firms in the world—further strengthening her expertise in managing complex events with professionalism, discretion, and attention to detail.

She has worked closely with our team since 2022 and has been an integral part of our growth and success. Her leadership in executing large-scale, high-touch events reflects a deep understanding of both service and logistics, ensuring every experience is delivered seamlessly from start to finish.