chef johnny sullivan, a pacific northwest native, began his culinary journey in his late teens when he moved to new york city, where he gained valuable experience in both front and back of house roles at renowned establishments such as diner and dumont in brooklyn. in 2011, he earned an advanced certificate from the wine & spirit education trust (wset), deepening his expertise in wine studies. three years later, in 2014, he expanded his artistic horizons by completing the general studies program at the international center of photography (icp).

in 2021, sullivan launched "the marble queen," a pop-up in portland, oregon, named after his favorite houseplant tended during the 2020 lockdown. the pop-up initially occupied the former vita café/café gertrude space on alberta street, offering an eclectic and rotating seasonal menu. marble queen gained a devoted following by appearing at various outdoor venues, including the psu farmers market, portland night market, and portland craft beer festival throughout 2021 and 2022. in october 2022, the pop-up transitioned into a permanent food cart located at 3925 n williams avenue, taking over the former mf tasty cart.

after establishing marble queen in portland, sullivan returned to seattle, settling in the capitol hill neighborhood. he currently serves as the executive chef at mezzanotte, a northern italian restaurant located in georgetown. at mezzanotte, he has curated unique dining experiences, such as the "bittersweet alchemy" series, which pairs his thoughtfully crafted dishes with selections from local amaro producers.

sullivan's diverse background in both culinary arts and photography reflects his commitment to creativity and excellence, which he continues to bring to seattle's vibrant dining scene.