The Team Behind Guillotine Bakery Share Their Favorites in Their New Hometown of 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.

The founders of Guillotine Bakery in West Town – Vincent Didry, Alizé Bikard, and head baker Vince Le Bec – are from France, but now live in Chicago, where they aim to share their love of French baking with an American audience. When we asked the team to share their Chicago picks, they couldn’t help but show their homesickness by including their own category: Favorite bite or dish (French version). Their answer? A baguette with butter or a classic pain au chocolat, either of which you can score by waiting in line at their bakery, which opened on Chicago Avenue on June 17. They also chose Paris as their favorite place to shop. Judging by their professed love of Portillo’s and Red Hot Ranch, however, it appears they are settling in just fine.

Favorite restaurant

Flour Power, because it's all about the craft and the food. They don't give a s--t about the rest.

Favorite dish

Kasama’s breakfast sandwich, Leavitt Street Inn & Tavern's smash burger, Brasero’s kale salad. 

Favorite place to drink

Bar Bambi, any dive bar like Small Bar, bar-hopping in Logan Square from Cara Cara Club to the Whistler. For coffee: Loba Pastry or Candor.

Favorite local Chicago brand

This answer might be controversial, but we love Portillo's and Red Hot Ranch.

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

A good tavern burger and a dive bar; a pizza to eat by the lake; the Robey Hotel rooftop. We're still looking for the best spots!

A person in the industry you admire

Mindy Segal from Mindy's Bakery, Valeria Socorro Velazquez Lindsten from Loba Pastry.