About Chris Kuse

Chris Kuse is a 24-year-old bartender based in St. Louis, Missouri, with eight years of experience in the hospitality industry. He began his career as a barback at the neighborhood fine dining restaurant Olive + Oak, where he spent over seven years helping to open four concepts and rising to roles as bartender and floor manager. While pursuing degrees in ecology and cultural anthropology, Chris had the opportunity to conduct research everywhere from the California Channel Islands to the Museum of Natural History. Yet his passion for food, beverage, and the cultural stories they carry ultimately led him to pursue hospitality full-time. He now helps run Monstera, a natural wine and mezcal shop that houses the culinary-driven cocktail bar New Society, where he channels his creativity and love of education. From spring through fall, Chris also helps host multi-course dinners on a nearby farm, where every ingredient is grown, butchered, and processed on-site. Transitioning from academia to hospitality has allowed him to explore sustainability, culture, and storytelling in a hands-on, community-focused way. Outside of work, he can usually be found reading comics with a glass of natural wine, traveling, or cooking with friends.