'Top Chef' Contestant Sieger Bayer Shares His Favorite Places in Chicago

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Every month, people from Chicago's hospitality industry share recommendations for food, drink, ingredients, and more as part of our Chef Picks series.

Sieger Bayer is a native and well-travelled Chicagoan who attended Kendall College for culinary school then staged his way around the kitchens of Europe before landing back in Chicago. He cooked around town at important restaurants like The Bristol, The Publican, The Heritage (his own concept in Forest Park), and Tortello before heading to Los Angeles for a change of scene. In 2024, he returned to launch bar Berria, an ever-changing pop-up in Logan Square, where Bayer celebrates seasonal produce – including vegetables from the team’s own gardens – through elegant tasting menus, wine dinners, monthly family-style roast chicken meals, and collaborations with local bars and producers. 

Bayer also has a taste for competition, and after logging wins on Chopped and Beat Bobby Flay, he appears on this season of Bravo’s Top Chef, competing as the only Chicago representative in Season 23: the Carolinas. “I am so honored to be on the list of amazing chefs from Chicago that have competed,” says Bayer. “Such a cool group to be a part of.”

We asked Bayer for his favorite spots to visit in Chicago.

Favorite restaurant

Dang, I have to pick one? If it has to be one then it has to be Lula Cafe.

Favorite dish

A Lula farm dinner capon dish: roasted breast, pickled cranberries, confit leg, and sprouted rye back in 2012. But I've also had the baked feta, beets, burrito, slaw, and the royale at Lula about a million times. Let's start a Wednesday morning Lula brunch club. We'll meet after the Green City Market. Hit me up on Instagram.

Favorite place to drink

Hexe for coffee, Life on Marz for beers, anywhere I can find Emme wine for wines, Gus' Sip and Dip for dirty martinis. Monday Martini club also needs to be a thing. 

Favorite place to shop or buy ingredients

Green City Market, Joong Boo Market, Agora Market.

Favorite local brand

El Milagro tortillas and tostadas. 

Favorite place in the city to bring an out-of-town guest

The Architecture Boat Tour, of course. 

A person in the industry you admire

Ed Marszewski of Lumpen, Marz, and a million other things. A very generous person doing so much to make Chicago a better place.