About Us
About Sherra
Sherra is the co-owner Operational Architect and Maintenance Department of Your Only Friend.
Growing up outside Detroit, Michigan, the daughter of an automotive engineer and a stay-at-home mom, Sherra’s introduction to the hospitality industry was through her fascination with the commercial dishwashing machine at The Huron River Hunting and Fishing Club, the private dinner and social club where her mom worked on Saturday nights.
Moving to Chicago to pursue her dream of working in the advertising field, she landed at the industry giant DDB Chicago, before becoming Human Resources Manager for the former Food and Beverage supplier at The United Center sports arena, Bismarck Enterprises. She began her bartending career at Chris Chelios’ annual charity event at the Chicago institution Stanley’s Kitchen and Tap, where she worked as a part-time cocktail server on weekends. It was at both Stanley’s and Melvin B’s Truck Stop where she discovered that her one true passion of creating neighborhood cornerstones where people come together, more than for the cocktails and food that initially drew them, but as a chosen family.
Sherra moved to Washington, DC, in 2015, to be closer to her immediate family and was offered the opportunity to work for the James Beard nominated and 2017 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award-winning “Best American Cocktail Bar”, Columbia Room in 2018. She soon became the Assistant General Manager in 2019. At Columbia Room, she was able to share her love of history and storytelling with guests, as well as explore scientific and precision approaches to cocktail creation collaborating with Paul Taylor. She has participated in nationally recognized bartending competitions including the Heaven Hill Bartender of the Year competition in 2020. Sherra brings her passion and joy for creating one-of-a-kind guest experiences, as well as curating an inclusive, skilled, and knowledgeable team to Your Only Friend.
Sherra loves baseball and her perfect afternoon is sitting in the sun at Wrigley Field with a cold beer, friends, and family cheering on her beloved Cubs.
About Paul
Paul Taylor is the chef and co-owner of cocktail and sandwich concept Your Only Friend.
Paul has refined his palate through his experiences working in nearly every position in the restaurant and bar industry throughout his fifteen-year career. During his time as Bar Manager of Southern Efficiency in Washington, D.C., Paul was voted Washington, D.C.’s “Best Male Bartender” by One Love Massive. Paul is a 2018 graduate of the Bar 5 Day Program, the acclaimed “World’s Most Comprehensive Distilled Spirits & Mixology Program.” He is also a 2018 graduate of the Gonzalez Byass Sherry Master Program, an intensive program where he was able to spend 2 days with winemaker and Master blender Antonio Flores, absorbing in-depth knowledge of the region and wines.
The COVID-19 Pandemic, as it did for all of us, changed everything. Turning lemons into lemonade, or sandwiches, in this case, Paul stepped into the kitchen to fulfill his destiny as a sandwich maker.
This role suits Paul well, as he loves to cook and has studied techniques from many famous chefs, but the food he has become most immersed in is sandwiches. He even goes so far as to call himself an expert on the subject.
Paul lives in Virginia with his wife, Kaitlynn, baby Kasey, and dog, Franklin, where they love to cook and entertain in their super green backyard garden. And if he isn’t making sandwiches, he is probably working on a recipe or perusing a cookbook from his extensive collection, possibly with a glass of natty wine, all while Action Bronson serenades the gang in the background.