Our story

Bartleby & Sage

So, who are we?

3 min read

Bartleby & Sage is a premier catering company based in Brooklyn, New York. We have serviced our community and everyone from brides-to-be, corporations celebrating launches and milestones, bar and bat mitzvahs, to New York’s elite and celebrity for thirty-plus years.

We pride ourselves on delicious food, exceptional service and attention to detail, and a commitment towards sustainability. Our approach to event catering is always bespoke, personalized, and elevated.

Back in 1997, armed with a passion for great food, a master’s degree in English literature, and a ridiculously affordable lease in Long Island City, Leslie Levin Nilsson began the Sage story. The original Sage American Kitchen was an homage to The Silver Palate, New York’s first gourmet take-out shop. The gals and guys at HBO’s “Sex & The City” and “The Sopranos” discovered the tiny lunch spot and a culinary star was born. With reverence for regional American cooking, sustainable food, and emerging flavors and techniques from around the globe, Nilsson grew the catering branch of Sage into its own distinct event-planning company, Bartleby & Sage.

Leslie Levin Nilsson

Founder & Creative Director

Leslie Levin Nilsson grew up in the Midwest obsessed with food, so obsessed that in 1997 she left a career as an English professor and Glamour editor to start the Sage brand. The original Sage American Kitchen shop led to a boutique catering company focused on handmade foods and sustainable business practices. Leslie has guided the company, featured on the Today Show, The Food Network, ABC, The New York Times, Martha Stewart Weddings, and New York magazine, to name a few. She serves on the board of several local organizations as part of her commitment to community, staff and education.

Meet our lovely team at Bartleby & Sage

Rachael Livingston-Meko

VP Marketing & Sales/Event Planner

Rachael Livingston-Meko spent three years developing the sales and corporate partnerships for a tech company that devises applications for corporate event planners. Her non-stop energy, tech savvy and sales smarts have taken B&S into the 21st century. She has a B.A. in public relations and advertising and completed a culinary entrepreneurship program at the International Culinary Institute. Rachael is as passionate about baking as she is about sales growth and is developing many new projects for Bartleby & Sage.

Monica Wolyniec

Director of Marketing

Monica Wolyniec is a digital liaison and connector with a knack for networking, both online and offline. She has worked in marketing and hospitality for nearly two decades for multiple brands and services, including event-tech unicorn, Hopin. Monica is a 2018 Bartleby & Sage bride and has supported the company’s marketing initiatives and growth since then. One of her favorite Bartleby & Sage moments was assisting in the production of an authentic Argentine asado in Rye, NY, with Chef Francis Mallmann’s team.

Chef Ramon

Executive Chef

Ramon Lara hails from the Dominican Republic, graduated from the Culinary Institute of Miami, and worked for very respected institutions, from the Delano Hotel to Great Performances, before joining Bartleby & Sage in 2012. His instinct for the cuisines of the Caribbean, Italy and the Americas, along with his experience cooking for high-end events like the Grammys and award dinners for Oprah Winfrey, Barbara Walters, fashion clients, and NYC mayors, make Ramon the perfect chef for our vast array of clients, from the farm-obsessed to the fashion-focused.

Chef Hans

Pastry Chef/Creative Food

Hans Baang graduated from the New England Culinary Institute, then started working with Bartleby & Sage creating chic minimalist pastries and cakes, along with savory items developed specifically for our clients. Having grown up in the Philippines, Hans has developed a knack for recipes that merge the flavors of Asia and the Americas, not to mention those hand-iced wedding cakes and completely innovative flavor combinations. His food blog, “The Sugar Hippie” (www.thesugarhippie.com), is dedicated to the art of food, flavors and design.

Fabian Quintero

Senior Captain of Catering & Events

Fabian Quintero is a long-time member of our service team. He has managed food service operations for Deloitte and Bloomberg.

Let’s plan an unforgettable moment!

That important company event, the day you exchange vows, the upcoming mitzvah celebration, the in-office milestone, or the exclusive gathering. We’re here to help.

Start planning your event

Remember tomorrow with Bartleby & Sage