Exposed to a whirlwind of flavors from a young age growing up in Puerto Rico, Society Cafe's Executive Chef Manuel Gonzalez inherited his passion for cooking from his family. At the age of 18, Chef Gonzalez left Puerto Rico to pursue his dreams, gaining acceptance to The Institute of Culinary Education in New York City. Upon graduation, he continued to hone his skills at a diverse array of top dining establishments, working his way up the culinary ladder from a Tournant role at Michelin Starred Restaurant Mark Forgione to Executive Sous Chef at Laotian favorite Khe-Yo, before accepting the role of Chef de Cuisine at Society Cafe in 2016, where he worked to develop integral relationships with local farmers; the backbone of the restaurant's successful market to table concept. In November of 2018, Chef Manuel Gonzalez was named Executive Chef of Society Cafe.

Director of Food & Beverage Keith Santos brings a decade of diverse hospitality experience to his role at the Walker Hotel Greenwich Village. Growing up in a Portuguese household surrounded by flavorful dishes, and warm, rowdy family meals naturally propelled him toward a career in hospitality. Upon graduation from Boston's Wentworth Institute of Technology, Keith moved to the West Coast to pursue a career in hospitality management, honing his skills in the storied casinos of Las Vegas before taking on Management roles at The Redbury, The Mondrian Hotel West Hollywood and The Raleigh in Miami. In 2017 an opportunity with New York City's historic Del Frisco'sSteakhouse brought him to New York, where he oversaw restaurant operations, before taking on his current role at Walker Hotel in 2018. Under his leadership, Society Cafe continues to deliver stellar market to table cuisine.