Le Bernardin
Kimberly Maha Akhtar is an experienced sommelier and wine writer with a diverse background in the hospitality and publishing industries. Currently serving as a sommelier at Le Bernardin since August 2021, Kimberly has also held positions as a wine director at Veronika Restaurant and Le Bilboquet, as well as head sommelier at Garance. In addition to working in restaurants, Kimberly is an author for A Suitable Necklace and has contributed articles on wine and travel for Departures Magazine. Kimberly's education includes a Bachelor's degree in Economics and French from Bryn Mawr College and a high school diploma in Economics from Ecole Active Bilingue.
Le Bernardin
Le Bernardin, New York's internationally acclaimed, 3-Michelin starred seafood restaurant by chef Eric Ripert and co-owner Maguy Le Coze, opened in 1986. The celebrated restaurant earned four stars from The New York Times three months after its opening and is the only restaurant to maintain the rating over the course of six reviews and over three decades. Le Bernardin continues to be recognized for its excellence in food service, earning its top spot on La Liste as the number one restaurant in the world as well as its designations as a World’s 50 Best, Forbes Four Star and AAA Five Diamond restaurant. Under the guidance of wine director and celebrated sommelier Aldo Sohm, Le Bernardin’s wine program is distinguished with a 2009 James Beard Outstanding Wine Service award and as a Wine Spectator Grand Award winner