Virginia Miller
Ultimate Secret Shopper
Virginia Miller is a globally recognized food and drink journalist, editor, food/spirits/cocktail/drink consultant and dining authority who has shaped culinary conversations worldwide for nearly two decades. As founder of The Perfect Spot (2007) and her influential Substack, she covers global dining, cocktails, spirits, wine, travel and luxury hospitality for audiences spanning six continents.
Editorial Leadership & Media Presence
Virginia’s editorial expertise reaches millions through her work with over 60 international publications. Her regular columns and features appear in prestigious outlets including Bon Appétit, Distiller Magazine, American Whiskey Magazine, Whisky Magazine, Time Out, Liquor.com, Thrillist, and Food Republic. Previously, she served as Zagat San Francisco editor, SF Bay Guardian restaurant critic, and Table8 National Editor/VP of Content, establishing her as a trusted voice in culinary journalism.
Her authority in spirits and cocktail culture led to authoring the books, The Official Emily in Paris Cocktail Book and Uneasy Elixirs: 50 Curious Cocktails Inspired by the Works of Edward Gorey, both showcasing her ability to blend cultural storytelling with beverage expertise.
Industry Leadership & Recognition
Virginia holds influential positions across the hospitality industry’s most prestigious institutions. She serves as West North America Academy Chair for The World’s 50 Best Restaurants and the West USA Academy Chair for North America’s 50 Best Restaurants, helping shape dining and tourism worldwide. She also sits on the national James Beard Awards Beverage Committee, contributing to America’s most important culinary honors. These roles underscore her deep knowledge of international cuisine and drink trends and emerging talent.
As a respected competition judge and lead judge, Virginia blind judges and medals spirits, cocktails and dining in international competitions, including San Francisco World Spirits Competition, American Distilling Institute Craft Distilling Awards, Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards, Good Food Awards, International Wine & Spirit Competition (London), New Orleans Spirits Competition and Whiskies of the World. Her judging expertise spans traditional categories to cutting-edge products.
Spirits Consulting & Product Development
Virginia’s consulting practice bridges editorial knowledge with hands-on product development. She co-created Avión Reserva Cristalino tequila with Pernod Ricard’s House of Tequila, working in multiple categories with their innovation, marketing, sales and distilling teams—a collaboration that reached to multiple corners of the company and led to further forward-thinking long term projects she’s consulted on with Pernod Ricard.
Her spirits consulting encompasses multiple long and short-term projects in all spirits categories and countries, including cutting-edge products and custom blends for diverse clients. Virginia works directly with distilling teams to create samples and flavor profiles, writes and edits tasting notes, consults on food pairings and cocktail recipes for spirits, provides strategic feedback on marketing materials, leads virtual and in-person tastings and trainings for staff and fellow media, as well as corporate events, private parties and industry gatherings.
Restaurant Consulting & Menu Development
Virginia’s restaurant consulting combines her global dining perspective with practical menu development expertise. Notable projects include creating the complete cocktail menu and narrative stories for Dominique Crenn’s Michelin-starred Golden Poppy in Paris—a multi-month collaboration that produced both alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails alongside custom photography and thematic, historic, cultural storytelling.
Her menu development services extend beyond beverages to comprehensive food and drink curation, helping establishments refine their culinary identity and enhance guest experiences, creating custom expressions and adjustments pulling from local, national and global trends in relation to each business’ unique story.
Global Dining Authority
With over 15,000 restaurants visited worldwide—and even more bars—Virginia possesses unparalleled firsthand knowledge of global dining trends, emerging markets and hospitality innovation. She’s consistently called out industry greats, from people to places, long before they were broadly recognized, with an “ear to the ground” for what is up-and-coming, growing into a renaissance or is setting the standard for its peers.
This extensive travel, judging (blind and otherwise), tasting hundreds of thousands of dishes and drinks and in-depth research makes her insights invaluable to both media audiences and industry clients seeking to understand international food and beverage landscapes. Virginia’s unique combination of editorial authority, product development expertise and global dining, drink and bar knowledge positions her as one of the hospitality industry’s most influential voices, connecting culinary traditions with contemporary innovation across continents.
Amanda Shepherd
Social Media Strategist
Amanda Shepherd is a results-driven social media strategist and digital marketing consultant who transforms brands’ online presence through data-driven campaigns and authentic storytelling. With a background spanning hospitality, food and beverage, entertainment, and destination marketing, Amanda brings a unique cross-industry perspective to social media management and public relations strategy.
Social Media Excellence & Measurable Results
Amanda’s social media expertise delivers exceptional growth metrics for clients across diverse industries. Her strategic approach generated a remarkable 5,757% increase in social media following for The Chef’s Press over two-and-a-half years, while her real-time campaign integration for Northwest Cherries drove significant follower growth and earned multiple media placements. Her innovative social media strategy work with ChefsGiving earned honorable mention recognition from PR Daily, showcasing her ability to create campaigns that resonate with both audiences and industry professionals.
Her viral content creation skills gained national attention when a single Facebook post helped the small city of Fallon, Nevada achieve widespread social media recognition, demonstrating her ability to generate organic engagement and media coverage for unexpected clients.
Industry Expertise & Client Portfolio
Amanda’s diverse client portfolio spans food and beverage brands, hospitality destinations, cultural organizations, and entertainment properties. She has successfully managed social media and public relations campaigns for Study Hall Rooftop Lounge, Davidson’s Tea, CANFEST beer festival, Chilean Fruit Exporters Association, Pacific Northwest Canned Pear Service, and numerous restaurants and boutique hotels throughout her career.
Her strategic campaigns have secured media placements in prestigious publications including Real Simple, Inc. Magazine, and PR Daily, while consistently driving increased brand awareness, follower engagement, and sales conversions for her clients.
Educational Leadership & Industry Training
Recognizing the growing demand for skilled social media professionals, Amanda founded The Social Media Manager Society, a comprehensive training program designed to help women build successful social media management careers. This educational initiative reflects her commitment to elevating industry standards while empowering the next generation of digital marketing professionals.
Her teaching approach combines practical, hands-on training with real-world case studies, ensuring participants develop both technical skills and strategic thinking capabilities essential for social media success.
Media Production & Entertainment Industry Background
Amanda’s extensive film and television production experience enhances her content creation and client management capabilities. She has worked on major productions including American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance, Bad Ink, Millionaire Matchmaker, The World Food Championships, and Viena and the Fantomes starring Dakota Fanning.
Her production roles have encompassed everything from production assistance and writing to talent coordination and guest relations, providing valuable behind-the-scenes experience that informs her approach to brand storytelling and audience engagement.
Global Travel Perspective & Cultural Insight
Amanda’s passion for travel and cultural exploration began with a transformative 45-day European backpacking adventure through 15 countries, immediately following her graduation from the UNLV Hank Greenspun School of Journalism & Media Studies. This foundational experience sparked her interest in hospitality and destination marketing while developing her understanding of diverse consumer behaviors and cultural preferences.
Her ongoing travel experiences—from weekend Napa Valley escapes to extensive backpacking through Australia—continue to inform her content creation and strategic approach, providing authentic insights into travel and hospitality marketing that resonate with modern consumers.
Strategic Approach & Industry Vision
Based on her diverse industry experience and proven track record of driving measurable results, Amanda helps brands navigate the ever-evolving digital landscape through strategic social media management, content creation, and integrated marketing campaigns. Her approach combines analytical thinking with creative storytelling, ensuring clients achieve both engagement metrics and business objectives in an increasingly competitive digital environment.
Adrienne DeAngelo
Food & Hospitality Communications Specialist
Adrienne DeAngelo brings a unique brand-to-table perspective to food industry communications, having literally eaten and worked her way through every level of the culinary landscape. From artisanal cheese counters to executive boardrooms, her comprehensive experience spans public relations, marketing, sales, food education, and retail operations—creating an unmatched understanding of how food brands connect with consumers.
Strategic Communications Leadership
Since launching her independent consulting practice in April 2023, Adrienne has partnered with distinguished clients including Donato Restaurant Group, Mr. Espresso, and Pomella, providing strategic communications counsel that drives brand awareness and customer engagement. Her freelance practice builds on nearly a decade of agency experience helping food and hospitality brands navigate complex market challenges and launch successful new ventures.
As Senior Account Manager for Public Relations at af&co., a boutique San Francisco hospitality agency, Adrienne orchestrated high-profile campaigns that generated significant media coverage and consumer buzz. Notable achievements include partnering with the legendary One Market restaurant team to launch their wildly successful Jewish deli pop-up Mark ‘n Mike’s, collaborating with “Top Chef” contestant Nelson German on the grand opening of his Oakland cocktail lounge Sobre Mesa, and guiding TCHO’s complete brand transformation into an entirely plant-based chocolate company.
Her af&co. portfolio also encompassed comprehensive PR strategies for Gott’s Roadside and regional destination marketing for Taste Tri-Valley, demonstrating her versatility across restaurant brands, consumer products, and tourism marketing.
Specialty Foods & Artisanal Products Expertise
Adrienne’s deep understanding of specialty foods stems from hands-on experience at every level of product creation. At Ellipses PR she has honed her skills in restaurant launches and hospitalitybrand positioning. Earlier roles at Fortune Public Relations connected her with pioneering all-natural specialty food brands including Sahale Snacks, Amy’s Kitchen, and GimMe Foods, where she developed expertise in health-conscious consumer marketing and natural products positioning.
Her operational food industry experience includes serving as a communications specialist at Italian food importer A.G. Ferrari Foods, where she authored monthly newsletters and designed comprehensive retail employee training programs focused on artisanal Italian products. This role deepened her understanding of import logistics, product education, and retail sales support—knowledge that informs her strategic communications approach.
As a cheese and charcuterie specialist at Oakville Grocery, Adrienne developed direct customer interaction skills and hands-on product knowledge that enhance her ability to craft authentic, compelling brand narratives for food and beverage clients.
Market Knowledge & Personal Approach
Based in Oakland, California, Adrienne maintains deep connections throughout the San Francisco Bay Area’s influential food scene while serving clients nationally. Her personal passion for culinary exploration—from neighborhood bakery discoveries to fine dining experiences—keeps her connected to evolving consumer trends and emerging food movements.
A Mills College graduate originally from New Jersey, Adrienne brings East Coast directness to West Coast innovation, creating communications strategies that resonate with diverse audiences. When not developing campaigns for clients or exploring the Bay Area’s dynamic restaurant landscape, she can be found cycling through the East Bay hills, maintaining the active lifestyle that fuels her creative approach to food marketing.
Adrienne’s combination of operational food industry experience, strategic communications expertise, and genuine culinary passion creates authentic storytelling that helps food and hospitality brands build meaningful connections with their target audiences.
Michael Ortlieb
Creative Technologist
Michael Ortlieb has been a designer and creative technologist for over 30 years, serving startups to Fortune 100 companies, utilizing his background in visual design, coding and platform management to help businesses bring forward the best version of themselves to the right audience. He has created numerous websites for Ellipses clients, including those for Altamirano Restaurant Group, Omakase Restaurant Group, Kahnfections, Ritu Indian Soul Food and The Chef’s Press.
Maker Compass Studio
Video Production
Ellipses’ go-to video partner places your creative process front-and-center in content tailored for websites, social feeds and more. Maker Compass Studio is powered by three longtime friends and collaborators—Tom Schreiber, Rory Earnshaw, and Rob Keil—who bring together decades of experience across brand strategy, advertising, storytelling, photography, filmmaking, and design. United by a shared belief in meaningful work and design that truly connects, they create high-impact video content for mission-driven brands, makers, chefs and dreamers.
Maker Compass Studio’s approach is intuitive, collaborative, and designed to give growing businesses access to the kind of world-class creative usually reserved for big-budget brands. With a deep respect for process and an eye for detail, they specialize in crafting videos that resonate—emotionally, visually, and strategically.
Tom Schreiber
Schreiber draws on a rich background across design, art direction, and brand storytelling—shaped by his practice as a painter and his work with organizations such as Robert Half, ELLE Magazine, Publicis, and Digitas. He specializes in translating a brand’s essence into visuals and stories that connect and inspire.
Rory Earnshaw
Earnshaw brings a fine art sensibility to photography and video, with work rooted in light, emotion, and a global perspective. He fluidly moves between analog and digital mediums, capturing authentic moments with depth and grace.
Rob Keil
Keil leads post-production with a filmmaker’s eye and a marketer’s mind. An experienced editor and ad agency art director, he ensures every project is polished, compelling, and strategically aligned—handling everything from narrative flow and color grading to sound design.
