Opening Soon

• RJ Melman
• |
• Jerrod Melman
• |
• Molly Melman
• |
• Doug Psaltis
• |
• Giuliana & Bill Rancic

Giuliana & Bill Rancic

Giuliana Rancic is an entertainment journalist, fashion and beauty expert and trusted television personality with over 2.6 million followers on Twitter. She’s been on the red carpet for every mega-event in the entertainment industry and recently co-hosted the Miss USA pageant alongside Bravo’s Andy Cohen in Las Vegas. She is the anchor of E! News and is the co-star of E!’s hugely popular Fashion Police team alongside Joan Rivers.

She is currently a weekly fashion contributor for OK! Magazine and in 2011 launched FabFitFun, a daily newsletter focused on beauty, health and wellness that reaches tens of thousands of readers.

Her debut book, Think Like a Guy, is the first project under her production company GDP Entertainment, Inc. Think Like a Guy is a practical and funny handbook of rules compiled by Giuliana, released in 2006.

In 2012, she created “Fab-U-Wish,” a program to grant fashion, beauty and celebrity-themed wishes to women battling breast cancer. This program is just one aspect of her ongoing mission to help those going through hardships to find happiness and a positive outlook on life.

Born in Naples, Italy, Giuliana first realized her dreams of becoming a television journalist at age seven, after moving to Washington, D.C., with her family. Unable to afford a tutor, she learned English by watching television before enrolling in the public school system.

She received a bachelor’s in journalism from the University of Maryland and a master’s in journalism from American University. Upon graduation, she relocated to Los Angeles to pursue her true passion—entertainment, where she currently resides with her husband, Bill Rancic.

Bill first burst onto the scene when he was chosen as Donald Trump’s right-hand man out of a competitive pool of 250,000 applicants on the first season of The Apprentice. Raised in the suburbs of Chicago, Bill is an example of a true entrepreneur. He founded cigarsaroundtheworld.com after graduating cum laude from Loyala University, now a thriving multimillion dollar national operation.

Today he is one of the world’s most extraordinary, respected, and in demand entrepreneurs. Bill has worked for and been personally mentored by Donald Trump for years and has traveled with Mr. Trump across the US and internationally. He is developing real estate in Chicago, producing and appearing in several television programs and speaking to businesses and organizations on motivational and business topics.

Bill makes regular appearances on numerous programs including Today, The Tonight Show, The View and various CNBC programs to talk to viewers about business and entrepreneurship. A published author, he wrote Beyond The Lemonade Stand to help educate and motivate young people worldwide about the value of money and how to leverage skills, talents and abilities at an early age. All proceeds from the sale of this book have gone to charity. Beyond The Lemonade Stand is the follow up to the New York Times best-selling book, You’re Hired: How To Succeed In Business And Life From The Winner Of The Apprentice, which chronicled Bill’s successful life, experience and proven advice.

Together Giuliana and Bill charm millions of viewers each week on their reality show Giuliana & Bill and published their book I Do, Now What? — a must read for newly married couples, those about to take the plunge, or anyone who wants to know the secrets of everlasting love.

The couple is also partners in a new Chicago-based restaurant, RPM Italian, with restaurateurs RJ, Jerrod and Molly Melman of Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises and acclaimed chef Doug Psaltis.

Click here for more on Giuliana & Bill

Doug Psaltis

CHEF PARTNER, RPM ITALIAN

Having earned three stars from The New York Times and a Michelin star while running the kitchen of New York’s Country restaurant, Doug Psaltis is one of the most accomplished, rising star chefs in America today. He has worked with the world’s most lauded chefs and in some of the country’s most prestigious kitchens. Today, he is part of the nationally renowned Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises (LEYE) and serves as Chef Partner at the company’s newest venture – RPM Italian – in conjunction with celebrity couple Bill and Giuliana Rancic, and RJ, Jerrod and Molly Melman.

Psaltis began his culinary career working in his grandfather’s diner at the age of 10 and eventually landed a job at Panama Hatties, one of Long Island’s most acclaimed restaurants. Having gained an affinity for haute cuisine, Psaltis spent many of his days off staging in Manhattan kitchens, eager to learn as much as possible. He caught the attention of Wayne Nish, Chef/Owner of March restaurant, who offered him a full-time position in the mid-1990’s. Psaltis learned a methodical approach to cooking from Nish, who instructed him to think through the composition of a dish before ever putting a pan to fire.

Psaltis next worked with David Bouley to open Bouley Bakery, which earned four-stars from The New York Times in 1999. Psaltis was most influenced by his time in the highly demanding kitchen of Alain Ducasse at the Essex House which earned four-stars from The New York Times in 2000. There, Psaltis learned a philosophy and new approach to cooking that he fully embraced. Ducasse imparted on Psaltis the notion that simplicity and integrity of ingredients comes first in cooking. Ingredients should always shine and the recipes should complement their flavors. Psaltis was singled out by Ducasse and offered the opportunity to study at the Chef’s three-star Michelin restaurant in Monaco, Le Louis XV. When Ducasse opened his next New York restaurant Mix, he chose Psaltis as the Chef de Cuisine. It was the first time an American had been given the position in any Ducasse kitchen.

After Mix, Psaltis was offered an opportunity to help run Thomas Keller’s highly-acclaimed French Laundry in Napa Valley. After just five months, Psaltis realized that he needed to be back home in New York, where he became executive chef of Country restaurant and received a glowing three-star review from The New York Times as well as a Michelin star in each of the years that Psaltis headed the kitchen (2005-2009).

In September 2005, Doubleday Broadway published Psaltis’ memoir The Seasoning of a Chef: My Journey from Diner to Ducasse and Beyond.  Written with his twin brother Michael, the book provides an inside look into the restaurant world and relates his journey from his grandfather’s diner to some the country’s most esteemed kitchens.

Doug has been a much sought-after consultant to a number of respected restaurants throughout the country, providing his insight in both the front and back of the house and utilizing his experiences working for some of the nation’s most esteemed restaurants.

In February 2012, Psaltis opened the much-anticipated RPM Italian, presenting a menu that is Italian in spirit and modern in style. The restaurant, located in Chicago’s vibrant River North neighborhood, offers a variety of house made pastas, hot and cold antipasti, signature cichetti or “small bites”, as well as salads, fish and prime steaks.

Psaltis lives in Chicago with his fiancé and beloved rescue dog, Fletch, and enjoys dining out and traveling when he’s not busy in the kitchen.

Molly Melman

Partner and Divisional Training Manager for HUB 51, Paris Club and RPM Italian in Chicago

Molly Melman is a Partner and Divisional Training Manager for HUB 51, Paris Club and RPM Italian in Chicago.

Having literally grown up in the restaurant industry, it wasn’t a far stretch for Molly to get her start at a young age. In high school, she began hosting and later serving at Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises (LEYE) restaurant RJ Grunts in Lincoln Park, Ill.

Molly received her Bachelors of Arts from The University of Michigan in 2007, double majoring in English and Psychology. After school, Molly headed east, where she taught kindergarten in the South Bronx. Realizing that her true passion lay within the restaurant industry, Molly moved back to Chicago in 2008, as her brothers RJ and Jerrod were opening River North restaurant HUB 51. Eager to jump back into the business, Molly began hosting at HUB 51 and after realizing she loved coming to work every day, soon moved into a management role.

Seeing an opportunity to apply her teaching skills to a position within the restaurants, Molly approached her Dad and brothers to discuss the opportunity.  She worked with human resources to help develop and update the company’s training department.   From there, she moved into the training management role in February 2010 when French restaurant Paris Club opened, just two doors down from HUB 51.

As Divisional Training Manager, Molly is responsible for hiring at HUB 51, Paris Club and RPM Italian, as well as administering and facilitating staff training classes and ongoing development.

When not working at the restaurants, Molly enjoys spending time with friends and family and going out to eat.

Jerrod Melman

Managing Partner of HUB 51, SUB 51, Paris Club, Studio Paris, RPM Italian, M Street Kitchen & Stella Rossa Pizza Bar

Jerrod Melman is managing partner of HUB 51, SUB 51, Paris Club, Studio Paris and RPM Italian, the dining, nightlife and social establishments created by him and his brother, RJ, in Chicago’s River North neighborhood, as well as M Street Kitchen and Stella Rossa Pizza Bar in Santa Monica, Calif.

Jerrod’s earliest memories of working in restaurants began at the young age of 10 as a busboy at the original Maggiano’s. After Maggiano’s, Jerrod took a five-year hiatus from the restaurant business to pursue other interests, namely finishing grade school. During high school and college, he held various roles in a dozen or so Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises (LEYE) restaurants, as well as IN-N-OUT Burger in Arizona, learning the business from the ground up.

The summer before his senior year in college, he participated in the LEYE internship program which confirmed his interest in pursuing a restaurant career. After graduating from DePaul University with a bachelor’s degree in communications, Jerrod managed LEYE restaurants Osteria Via Stato and R.J. Grunts and gained valuable experience in New York working for B.R. Guests and Union Square Hospitality Group.

Jerrod brings this wealth of restaurant knowledge to each new venture he pursues. In June 2008 with his brother, RJ, he opened HUB 51 and lower-level club SUB 51, offering Chicago’s most coveted neighborhood a unique mixture of dining, nightlife and entertainment. The brothers teamed up with internationally-acclaimed Chef Joho to introduce Paris Club, a casual French restaurant and bar that opened in February 2011. In June 2011, the duo opened Studio Paris above the restaurant, an exclusive indoor/outdoor lounge. In February 2012, Jerrod, RJ, and their younger sister Molly, partnered with celebrity couple Bill and Giuliana Rancic and acclaimed chef Doug Psaltis to open RPM Italian, presenting a menu that is Italian in spirit and modern in style.

In summer 2012, the Melman brothers, in partnership with acclaimed bartender Paul McGee (LEYE Director of Cocktail Development) and Joe’s Bar founders Ed Warm and Tom DiSanto, plan to open a 8,000 square foot bi-level country/tiki concept, also located in Chicago’s River North neighborhood.

A longtime Chicago resident, Jerrod is an avid supporter of several local philanthropic and community initiatives. He also enjoys playing basketball and softball, going to the movies, and a night out with good friends.

RJ Melman

Managing Partner of HUB 51, SUB 51, Paris Club, Studio Paris, RPM Italian, M Street Kitchen & Stella Rossa Pizza Bar

RJ Melman is managing partner of HUB 51, exclusive nightclub SUB 51, Paris Club, indoor/outdoor lounge Studio Paris and RPM Italian – all located in Chicago’s River North neighborhood –and M Street Kitchen and Stella Rossa in Santa Monica, Calif.

With an interest in restaurants dating back to his teenage years, RJ began bussing tables and running food at age 13 at the former Bub City in Chicago. By high school, he was cooking at various Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises (LEYE) restaurants where he further developed his understanding and passion for the restaurant business.

In 2001, RJ received his degree from the University of Kansas with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Communication Studies. Upon graduation, he immediately embarked the next phase of his career – restaurant management. In the past decade, RJ has helped open nine LEYE restaurants and has served as the general manager of LEYE’s iconic first restaurant, R.J. Grunts. He has also served as a consultant to a variety of restaurant projects outside of the company.

With his strong background and varied expertise in the restaurant business, RJ, along with his brother Jerrod, opened HUB 51 and lower-level club SUB 51 in June 2008, offering Chicago’s most coveted neighborhood a unique mixture of dining, nightlife and entertainment. In February 2011, with an ultimate goal of reintroducing French cuisine to a new generation of diners, the duo teamed up with internationally-acclaimed Chef Joho to create Paris Club – a casual French restaurant and bar – located two doors down from HUB 51. In June 2011, the duo opened Studio Paris above the restaurant, an exclusive indoor/outdoor lounge. In February 2012, RJ, Jerrod, and their younger sister Molly, partnered with celebrity couple Bill and Giuliana Rancic and acclaimed chef Doug Psaltis to open RPM Italian, presenting a menu that is Italian in spirit and modern in style.

In summer 2012, the Melman brothers, in partnership with acclaimed bartender Paul McGee (LEYE Director of Cocktail Development) and Joe’s Bar founders Ed Warm and Tom DiSanto plan to open a 8,000 square foot bi-level country/tiki concept, also located in Chicago’s River North neighborhood.

Residing in Chicago, RJ is active within the Chicago philanthropic and business community and serves on a number of boards and committees.