Fatima Zabiha Foods was started by a Pakistani immigrant who realized that "halal" meat in the U.S. was ill-defined. He wanted meat that conformed to his expectations. Now Chicago is a leading provider of halal meat, and Fatima continues to grow.
Playlist People Who Feed You
People Who Feed You
A Chef Who Grows His Own Ingredients for His Restaurant
Daniel HautzingerDevon Quinn operates not just the Avondale restaurant Eden and the various catering businesses of The Paramount Group, but also grows a wide variety of plants for their use in a greenhouse. "It’s just about that connection from earth to plate,” he says.
Abra Berens Reveals the Hidden Work of Farming in Her Acclaimed Cookbooks and “Non-Restaurant”
Daniel Hautzinger“Fewer and fewer people just don’t know farmers, and so they don’t understand what goes into it,” says Abra Berens, who has received national attention for both her produce-focused cookbooks and her literal farm-to-table cooking at a farm in southwest Michigan.
"It's a Man's World," But the Lawless Sisters Have Found Success in the Restaurant Industry
Daniel HautzingerSisters Amy and Clodagh Lawless own and operate The Dearborn in the Loop, but previously chafed at the lack of recognition they received as women in the restaurant industry—and scions of an Irish restaurant family. “We’re always Billy Lawless’s daughter or Billy Lawless’s sister,” Clodagh says. “I’m like, ‘Excuse me.’”
Esmé’s Beverage Director Pairs Drinks with a High-End Cheeto and Champions Social Impact Producers
Daniel HautzingerThe exuberantly creative Esmé presents plenty of culinary conundrums for beverage pairings, which are handled by Tia Barrett. But she also champions beverage producers who are people of color or have a charitable component.
A Rising Chef Comes to Chicago to Lead a New Restaurant in an Acclaimed Space
Daniel HautzingerChristian Hunter is the executive chef at Atelier, the new restaurant replacing Elizabeth in Lincoln Square, a tiny spot that Iliana Regan made famous for her local, foraged food. Hunter's approach to food is similar in its adherence to local products.
The Naperville Baker Making Stunning Cakes That Offer Indonesians Across the Country a Taste of Home
Daniel HautzingerThe Indonesian cake kue lapis legit is difficult to find in America because of its laborious process of baking twenty individual layers, but Ollyvia Putri bakes and sends them and other Indonesian treats across the country, especially at the Lunar New Year.
An Online Marketplace That Brings Together Some of Chicago's Most Exciting Chefs and Food Entrepreneurs
Daniel HautzingerPasta from Monteverde, sauces from Stephanie Izard, popcorn from Luella's, spice mixes from Galit: Here Here Market brings together specialty food products from Chicago chefs and entrepreneurs in one online marketplace perfect for gifts.
A Refugee Mother's Recipes Give Her Life and Inspire One of Chicago's Only Cambodian Restaurants
Daniel HautzingerMona Sang opened Khmai Fine Dining, one of two Cambodian restaurants in Chicago, to share the recipes and culture of her mother, who fled the Khmer Rouge genocide and ended up in Chicago, where she supported herself and four children as a caterer.
Illinois's Only Tahini Manufacturer Loves His Product So Much He Drinks It
Daniel HautzingerAyub Julany, the founder of Albaik Tahini in Arlington Heights, absolutely loves tahini, especially when it's fresh. “You know how some people love everything about peanut butter and they put peanut butter on everything?” he says. “That’s me with tahini."
Want to Try the World’s Oldest Alcoholic Beverage? A South Side Meadery Offers a Hyperlocal, Environmentally-Friendly Taste
Meredith FrancisMead is one of the world's oldest alcoholic beverages. The owner of a meadery in Beverly shares insight on mead flavors, offers tips for those who are hesitant to try the beverage, and talks about what makes mead so environmentally friendly.
Meet the Two Brothers Behind A Vodka Brand Celebrating Lake Michigan’s “Playpen”
Meredith FrancisLake Michigan's "playpen" inspired Chicago brothers Joseph Moton and Ted Robinson to launch their own vodka company. They talk about how they got started, their love for the versatility of vodka, and what it's like to work as brothers.
A Day in the Life of a Fine Dining Restaurant
Daniel HautzingerWhat does it take to make a fine dining restaurant run smoothly—especially one like Avondale's Wherewithall, where the menu changes every week? A creative and organized chef de cuisine and multitasking general manager, for one.
What is Community-Supported Agriculture? We’ve Got an Explanation – And A List of Chicago Farm Shares.
Meredith FrancisCommunity-supported agriculture is a “mutually beneficial relationship” between the farmer and the consumer that allows a person to buy a share of a local farmer's product. We've got an explanation of how it works, along with a list of some of the CSAs that serve the Chicago area.
With New Gnarly Knots Location Set to Open in Lombard This Summer, The Stuffed Pretzel is Still the ‘Star’
Meredith FrancisChicagoland pretzel enthusiasts, take note. Gnarly Knots Pretzel Company is moving to a larger space in Lombard this summer, and their stuffed pretzels are still the main event.
