Sarah Thomas is a veteran sommelier, author, and hospitality professional. She was a founding partner of Kalamata’s Kitchen, a children’s company that taught children to experience the world through food, where she also acted as the Chief Brand Officer from 2018-2026. 

The daughter of two South Indian immigrants, Sarah grew up in rural Pennsylvania, and was surrounded by food from a young age. Her parents very much kept their Indian culture alive through the food they cooked, so Sarah grew up with two very distinct identities in a place that was not always welcoming to new ideas. She earned a Masters in Renaissance Literature from the University of Cambridge, but it was her formative food memories that eventually led her from academia to her real passion in the hospitality industry. After launching the nationally-recognized Wine Room at Bar Marco, she spent nearly six years as a sommelier at 3-star Michelin Le Bernardin, where she obtained the prestigious Advanced Sommelier certification. She serves as a mentor to many in the restaurant industry. 

Through her writing, Sarah hopes to create confident characters that other children of color can see themselves in, while also encouraging everyone to look at different foods and cultures with a sense of curiosity and compassion. Sarah continues to write for both kids and grownups, and draws on her diverse life experiences to create outstanding hospitality experiences for all.