About Us
JOHN RUSS
Owner & Chef
Chef John Russ, a 2023 James Beard Award finalist for Best Chef: Texas, was born and raised in New Orleans, where his grandmother’s quenelles de brochet first expanded his palate beyond fried oyster po-boys. After studying at Delgado Culinary in New Orleans, he honed his craft in fine dining at the Ritz-Carlton and The Capella Group before moving to San Antonio in 2012, where he felt instantly at home in the city’s food community.
John and his wife, Elise, organized Alamo City Provisions, a popular series of pop-up dinners that showcased San Antonio’s growing culinary talent and collaborative spirit. Encouraged by the response, they established their restaurant group in 2016.
John is an advocate for better practices in food sourcing, sustainability, and industry support. He works alongside the National and Texas Restaurant Associations to support bipartisan, commonsense immigration reforms that help expand employers’ ability to hire a legal workforce in the U.S.
Grateful for the support of an amazing community, John is thrilled to continue growing his family and business in San Antonio.
ELISE RUSS
Owner & Pastry Chef
Pastry Chef Elise Russ has loved dessert for as long as she can remember—beginning with childhood cookies piled high with icing, long before she learned the art of temperance in pastry. After taking a cake decorating class at a local craft store, Elise began making custom sweets for neighbors and keeping her grandfather well-stocked with biscotti and pizzelles.
What started with Barbie and soccer ball cakes eventually led her to a formal education in Baking & Pastry Arts at Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island. Her culinary journey has taken her through hotels, restaurants, and bakeries in London, Chicago, Georgia, and Maryland before finding a home in San Antonio.
Today, Elise is the Pastry Chef and Co-Owner of Clementine, the restaurant she runs with her husband, John. She is also a proud member of the San Antonio chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier International.
When she's not creating elegant desserts for the restaurant, Elise enjoys baking at home with her three children—passing on the joy of sweets, sprinkles, and sticky fingers.
