James Alefantis is an Americanchef andrestaurateur. He founded and owns two restaurants inWashington, D.C., including the pizzeriaComet Ping Pong and a restaurant, Buck's Fishing & Camping. He is the president of Transformer, an art gallery inLogan Circle, Washington, D.C. In 2012,GQ named him as being one of the 50 most powerful people in Washington, D.C.[1][2]
Alefantis grew up inBuffalo, New York and Washington, D.C.[3] Prior to becoming a restaurateur, he owned a small art gallery inGeorgetown, Virginia and served as the general manager of Johnny's Half Shell for two years. He founded Buck's Fishing & Camping in October 2003 along with Carole Greenwood. Originally, the restaurant was called "Greenwood." She was the restaurant's chef and he was its owner. Alefantis has said that he and Greenwood collaborated on creating every item on the menu at Buck's.[4] In 2006, he and Greenwood co-founded Comet Ping Pong. In 2009 Greenwood stepped away from the businesses, and Alefantis hired Vickie Reh to be chef at Bucks and Laura Bonino to be head chef at Comet Pizza.[5][6][7][8] Alefantis is also a partner in Muchas Gracias, aMexican restaurant in Washington, DC.[9]
Alefantis is openly gay. He formerly datedDavid Brock, the CEO ofMedia Matters for America.[10]