travel.
culture.
style.

Based in Chicago and Spain, Bonhomme Group is comprised of Casa Beatnik Hotels, Maison Bonhomme and Bonhomme Hospitality. Across Bonhomme’s family of companies, travel, culture and style are at the heart of all that we do. We love hosting and enveloping our guests with joyous hospitality, rich storytelling, and true escapism filled with pleasure. We thank you for the opportunity to welcome you into our restaurants, cocktail bars, cabarets, lounges and Casa Beatnik Country House, our first boutique hotel.

Founded in 2012 by Daniel Alonso, the group’s name traces its origin to the two main qualities that their establishments strive for in service: to be humble and gracious. In French, “bonhomme” means good-natured, a character the Group embraces and endeavors to be known for. Bonhomme was also the name of the street Daniel grew up on, serving as a reminder to never forget one’s roots and personal story. For more information, please visit bonhommegroup.com and follow along on IG @bonhommegroup.

THE TEAM

 

Daniel Alonso

 

Founder | Creative Director
Bonhomme Group

— What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Laughing with my family & friends

— Which living person do you most admire?
My wife, Marina

— What is your greatest extravagance?
Designing & building Bonhomme’s hotels and hospitality venues

— Which words or phrases do you most overuse? Absolutely! Right? And a prolific overuse of expletives.

— What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? My reaction to criticism

— When and where were you happiest?
Cuddling in bed with Marina and our kids

— Which talent would you most like to have?
To speak multiple languages and master guitar and saxophone.

— Where would you most like to live?
As a citizen of the world, living seasonally between the US, Spain, Mexico and Morocco.

— What is your most treasured possession?
My family, good health and spirit — and time to relish all three.

— What is your most marked characteristic? Inexhaustible energy & determination

— Who are your favorite writers?
Twain, Hemingway, Dickens, Wilde, Lorca, Rosalia de Castro, Emilia Pardo Bazán

— Which historical figures do you most identify with?
YSL, Ricardo Bofill, David Bowie, Diana Vreeland

— Who are your heroes in real life?
People with manifest integrity or who hazard their well-being to help others.

— What are your favorite names?
Alejandra, Santiago, Daniela, Marina

— What is your motto?
Sea astuto como una serpiente y sencillo como una paloma (María Delia); A leader is one who out of clutter, finds simplicity... from discord, finds harmony… and in the middle of difficulty, sees opportunity (Albert Einstein)

  • Marcos Campos Sanchez

    Partner | Group Executive Chef
    Bonhomme Hospitality

    — What is your most treasured possession?
    Having two families: The one I came from in Valencia, Spain and the one that I built in Chicago

    — Which living person do you most admire?
    All the women that are part of my life. Without them, I wouldn't be able to be where I am in the present.

    — What is your greatest extravagance?
    As a chef, I go crazy with unique Japanese chef's knives and cookbooks from around the world.

  • Brian Sturgulewski

    Partner | VP Hospitality
    Bonhomme Hospitality

    — What is your idea of perfect happiness?
    In the abstract, some combination of unencumbered creativity, constant motion, adventurous/new challenges, the unconditional love of my family. And coffee. In the tangible: waking early in an exotic locale and writing at a small desk by a window… with coffee.

    — Which talent would you most like to have?
    The ability to forget mistakes and ignore the opinions/actions of others; to be completely unaffected by the outside world and focused only on the task at hand

  • Juan Carlos Alonso

    Partner | Managing Director
    Casa Beatnik Hotels

    — What is your greatest extravagance?
    The ability to travel, live abroad, and to taste and experience exceptional things.

    — When and where were you happiest?
    It’s not a moment in the time but rather a goal for the future: to reflect and show gratitude for the advantages I’ve had in this life and to work toward being better and happier each day.

    — Who is your favorite writer?
    Bill Watterson, retired American cartoonist and the author of the comic strip Calvin and Hobbes. A true genius.

  • Nicole Stegenga

    Director of Operations Mama Delia | Bordel Bambola | Coquette | Expat

    — What is your idea of perfect happiness?
    Perfect happiness for me is when everything is crossed off my to-do list and I can take a moment to not think about anything else but the present.

    — When and where were you happiest?
    I am happiest whenever I am in New Orleans day drinking listening to jazz.

    — Which talent would you most like to have?
    To crush out a tune on the saxophone

    — Where would you most like to live?
    Anywhere that the ocean is so close I can hear the waves when I go to sleep.

  • Marina Alonso

    Founder | Art Director
    Maison Bonhomme

    — What is your idea of perfect happiness?
    Finding inspiration and color in all corners of the world and of course, the love and laughter of my family and loved ones.

    — What is your greatest extravagance?
    A hot cup of coffee in peace and silence just as light breaks before the morning routines commence in our full household.

    — Which talent would you most like to have?
    Time travel!!!! I would love to visit ancient civilizations as well at future ones and have the ability to relive every special moment I ever experienced.

  • Kelsey Del Monico Lucas

    Group Director of Events
    Bonhomme Hospitality

    — Which living person do you most admire?
    My mom. Her patience and positivity amaze me every day.

    — Who are your favorite writers?
    Marian Keyes. She’s an Irish author. Her books always take me away from real life, but teach me lessons about real life and impress me again and again.

    — Who are your heroes in real life?
    My family. My friends. My colleagues. All of the people that keep my world spinning on.

    — What is your most treasured possession?
    My Jeep Wrangler. Her name is Stella.

  • Alvaro Medina Fernandez

    Sommelier | Director of Hospitality
    Casa Beatnik Hotels

    — What is your greatest extravagance?
    A growing collection of rare Galician wine bottles.

    — Which talent would you most like to have?
    Infallible memory

    — Where would you most like to live?
    In Rias Baixas, next to the beach.

    — What are your favorite names?
    Lúa, Dora, Xabi and Edgar

    — Who are your heroes in real life?
    Those who seek social equity and welfare.

  • Shannah Primiano

    Group Executive Pastry Chef
    Bonhomme Hospitality

    — Which living person do you most admire?
    Tom Brady. GOAT.

    — What is your motto?
    You win some, you lose some.

    — What is your idea of perfect happiness?
    Drinking a nice cold glass of rosé or Diet Coke. That, or eating a hot dog outside at a ball game in the summertime.

    — What is your most marked characteristic?
    I like to crack jokes, smile and have a good time.

  • Erwin Mallet

    Culinary Director
    Coquette | Mama Delia | Porto

    — What is your idea of perfect happiness?
    Simply live and share moments with the people I love.

    — Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
    Life is beautiful.

    — Where would you most like to live?
    Provence, France, in a middle of the vineyards.

    — Who is your hero of fiction?
    Shaft (with Samuel L. Jackson)

  • Paloma Martinez

    Director of Culture
    Bonhomme Hospitality

    — What is your idea of perfect happiness?
    Being at peace with yourself: your mind, heart, soul and with others. When you are an adult, that mental peace is happiness.

    — Which talent would you most like to have?
    Being able to speak in 5 different languages.

    — What is your most treasured possession?
    My family.

    — Which historical figure do you most identify with?
    With every woman who contributed to achieve changes to a more equal, fair and better world. #heroinas

  • Saam Hagshenas

    Director of Music & Experiences
    Bonhomme Hospitality

    — Which talent would you most like to have?
    Flying a plane could come in handy for both leisure and emergencies, which are the only two speeds of my life.

    — What is your motto?
    "Without music, life would be a mistake" (Nietzsche)

    — What is your greatest extravagance?
    Super nerdy tech stuff for my "smart" home (that tend to work about 50% of the time)

    — Where would you most like to live?
    Somewhere along the Côte d'Azur in France

  • CHRIS BOUTROS

    General Manager Kashmir

    — What is your life motto?

    Silence is golden

    — When and where are you happiest?

    I am happiest when I am with the people that I love, drinking.

    — Where would you like to live?

    I would like to live on the slopes of a mountain in Colorado. I love mountain towns and the peaceful escape I find when I am there.

    — On what occasion do you lie?

    I lie and deceive only when I'm at the poker table.

    — What is your most treasured possession?

    My most treasured possession is the memory of my late best friend, Josh Kaplan. Without the memory of him in my mind and the decision making of "what would Josh do" I would not be in the position I am today. He is the reason I strive to reach my life goals from conversations we had as young adults.

  • Alyssa Quider

    General Manager Beatnik On The River

    — What is your idea of perfect happiness?

    Watching my husband play music for our son!

    — Which talent would you most like to have?

    The ability to duplicate myself and be in two places at once.

    — Where would you most like to live?

    Chicago. Midwestern hospitality meets big city, there’s nothing like it!

    — When and where were you happiest?

    Backpacking through Europe.

    — What is your most treasured possession?

    A 1966 Martin baritone Ukulele

  • Nicole Untiedt

    General Manager Beatnik West Town

    — When and where were you happiest?

    I am happiest in my bathing suit soaking up the sun with a cold cocktail in my hand!  

    — Who are your heroes in real life?

    My brothers.  I cannot imagine getting through life without them!

    — What is your motto?

    Life moves fast.   Live in the fast lane.

  • Cassandra Hannan

    Events Manager
    Bonhomme Hospitality

    — Where would you most like to live?
    Hogwarts. Just waiting for an owl to deliver my invitation....

    — What is your most marked characteristic?
    My laugh! You can hear it from around the world!

    — When and where were you happiest?
    Christmas time at home with my family, surrounded by all the old Xmas crafts /cards/decor my mom puts up. It's simply magical!

    — Who is your hero of fiction?
    Atticus Finch, hands down!

  • Michael Choi

    General Manager Bambola | Coquette | Expat

    — What is your greatest extravagance?

    Sneakers. I LOVE sneakers. I always have to give any person that comes to my apartment for the first time a warning that I have A LOT of sneakers.

    — Where would you most like to live?

    I would love to live in New York City. I went to school for a bit in Syracuse and frequently made trips down to the city. I love the food, city, and culture. There was never a dull moment in New York.

    — When and where were you happiest?

    Whenever I get the chance to travel, there is this moment when I feel that I can actually disconnect. Turn off my phone, enjoy the moment that I am in. That is the best feeling ever.