Brian Aussant

I have always had a passion for food. Growing up in an Italian family helped me realize that food is more than just a meal. Our family gatherings always focused on sharing food and enjoying each other’s company. Early on in my career I took a part-time job as a bartender at a small bar attached to Mulino’s Trattoria in Northampton. This bar was designed as a waiting area for the patrons of Mulino’s. After only a few months I realized how much I enjoyed my work. I soon became the bar manager and proceeded to turn a small restaurant waiting area into a hot nightspot called Bishop’s Lounge. I introduced live music, a quality atmosphere and fine drinks to Bishop’s Lounge. I was also trained to cook in the kitchen and sometimes helped out cooking during busy times. After five years of tremendous success and growth, Mulino’s Trattoria and Bishop’s Lounge moved across town to a larger space with four floors. My responsibilities grew to include General Manager for Mulino’s Trattoria, Bishop’s Lounge and a new restaurant created by the same owners called Brassiere 40A. Throughout my career in the restaurant industry, my experiences have included cooking, bartending for six years, managing for eight years and booking music for six years resulting in twelve years of restaurant experience.

Phillip Hillenbrand

I was born and raised in Northampton, MA. I attended high school at Smith Vocational for Culinary Arts and graduated in 1990. I went on to attend the Culinary Institute of America in New York where I nurtured my passion for food and wine. After graduating from CIA in 1995, I decided to return to western Massachusetts. Over the last 15 years I have had the opportunity to perfect my craft by working in some of the areas finest restaurants and Inns, such as The Lord Jeffery Inn, Mulino’s Trattoria, The Deerfield Inn and Silkroad restaurant in Northampton. My expertise expanded to include Italian, French and Asian fusion cuisine. During this time I also taught Culinary Arts at Smith Vocational for approximately 2 years and I have helped employ many of my students throughout the Northampton area.