Chicago Chef Picks

The founders of Guillotine Bakery, which has been drawing lines down the street in West Town, may be French, but judging by their favorite dishes, they're settling into Chicago just fine. 

The seasonally obsessed Feld has received a number of accolades in the past year or so. Its chef Jake Potashnick shares where he unwinds after or before service. 

Raised in Humboldt Park, Dominique Leach now serves barbecue at her Lexington Betty Smokehouse in Pullman amidst frequent appearances on TV.

Not only do Bonyeon's executive pastry chef Alana Wang and executive chef Alex Ching share a kitchen for the 12-seat chef's counter; they also have similar favorite restaurants and bars in Chicago, as they tell us.

Chicago native Sieger Bayer of seasonal pop-up bar Berria is the latest Chicagoan to compete on Top Chef. He shares some of his favorite places in the city. 

At West Town’s Dell’ Rooster, Chef Miguel Tenesaca cooks up a pan-Latin menu of colorful dishes for brunch and dinner daily. He shares some favorite Chicago places.

Rich Wang spotlights Taiwanese ingredients, dishes, and stories at Minyoli in Andersonville. He recommends some lesser-known places in Chicago for specific dishes.

Jennifer Kim's experiences dining, cooking, and shopping in Chicago’s diverse neighborhoods add layers of interest to the menu at Proxi, as is evident from Kim's generous and multifarious Chicago recommendations.

Bo Durham, the executive pastry chef at Mindy’s Bakery in Wicker Park, has been working with owner Mindy Segal for almost 12 years. He shares some Chicago gems.

César Murillo was a semifinalist on Top Chef season 22 and is the executive chef at Chicago's North Pond Restaurant. He shares his favorite places to eat, drink, and shop in the city. 

Namhee Kim not only provides Korean barbecue at locations of Daebak in Wicker Park and Chinatown; she also owns a K-pop gift shop. She shared Chicago recommendations with us.

South Side native Lamar Moore leans into the food of the American South at his new restaurant, etc., the first place where he is an owner. He shares some favorite places in Chicago.

Eleftheria Sioulas was born in Chicago, raised in Athens, and now shares the cuisine of Greece in Chicago at Avli. She recommends restaurants and more in Chicago.

Jennivee's Bakery offers cakes and cupcakes in a rainbow of colors, including specials for Pride Month. Owner Jen Vailoces shares some of her favorite Chicago food places.

The owner and executive chef of the newly opened cozy neighborhood spot Carpenter Street in the West Loop share places to shop, eat, and drink in and around Chicago.