Stephanie Saputo

Stephanie has been in the hospitality industry for over 12 years, devoting most of her career to hotels. After attending culinary school in 2009, she moved from Pennsylvania to Asheville, North Carolina to work at the Inn on Biltmore Estate. Over her 4 years there she spent time in almost every front of house position available, centering her focus on bartending and private events. In 2013 she moved to Pittsburgh, PA where she began directing events on the Gateway Clipper and cooking with a private catering service. Once an opportunity arose to open a new prohibition-style bar in Hotel Indigo in 2015, her love affair with craft bartending began.

Ever since, Stephanie devotes her time to education and perfecting her craft. She attended Camp Runamok 1n 2016 and returned for leadership in 2019 on the Chef’s team, as well as attended and participated as a panelist in what is formerly known as Bar Institute, now Portland Cocktail week. She’s obtained several certifications, including BarSmarts Advanced, Green Dot, and Tequila CRT. She enjoys creating menus and cocktails with a lean and focused concept, while honoring complex flavors and sustainable practices. In 2019 she competed in and won the Woodford Manhattan Experience for Atlanta, and continued on to finals in Louisville, KY. Her personal goal with GRITS is to educate and help inspire young wxmen in the industry, while promoting mental health and wellness. She is now a whiskey guardian for Angel’s Envy, sharing her love of bourbon and spirit education with the masses.