Gervasi Vineyard Shopping Cart

Chef Bob Sferra

Chef Bob SferraBob grew up in a large Italian family, where food was central to gatherings, fueling my passion for cooking. After earning a marketing degree from John Carroll University in 1986, he transitioned to the culinary world, apprenticing with renowned chef Parker Bosley for 7 years. Bob honed his skills at L’Ecole Lenotre in France and earned a Grand Diploma in Pastry Arts from The French Culinary Institute in NYC in 1997.

In 2012, he expanded his catering business, Bob Sferra Culinary Occasions, into a retail space in South Euclid, OH, adding a pastry shop specializing in French-inspired desserts. After 10 years, he moved the business to Cleveland Heights, restoring a 1935 building to open Sophie La Gourmande Café + Patisserie and rebranding his catering business as Sophie Events, honoring my beloved labrador, Sophie.

His company has been the primary caterer for the Cleveland International Film Festival, served as Executive Chef for Trevarrow, Inc., and provided exclusive catering for The Daily Show during the 2016 RNC. Throughout Bob’s career, he’s championed equality in the workplace, supporting LGBTQ+ and minority communities.