Restaurants

The finalists for the James Beard Awards, one of the food industry's biggest recognitions in America, have been announced. Chicago has five nominees, plus an honorable mention who recently moved to the city. 

Sisters 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.’”

The 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.

Now in its eighth year, Chicago BLACK Restaurant Week celebrates the "Jordan Year," 2023, after the legendary athlete's number, by offering deals and events to support Black-owned restaurants. 

Christian 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 semifinalists for the James Beard Awards, one of the food industry's biggest recognitions in America, have been announced. Chicago has eleven nominees amongst them, four fewer than last year. 

At the holidays, Klein's Bakery & Cafe offers two Venezuelan must-haves for Christmas: the tamale-like hallacas, and pan de jamón. Hallacas are typically made as part of a big family in Venezuela, but Klein's helps immigrants have a taste of their traditional holiday experience even in Chicago.

Morocco won a group containing the second- and third-place finishers in the last World Cup and then defeated the heavyweight Spain in the first knockout round of the 2022 World Cup. Khalid Kamal, the owner of the Moroccan restaurant Shokran, is rooting from them from afar, along with his family back in Morocco.

The work hasn't always been easy for pitmaster Dominique Leach, co-owner of Pullman barbecue restaurant Lexington Betty Smoke House. But she says her community has been receptive to her work as a Black woman chef, and lines at her restaurant are longer than ever.

The pickup-and-delivery-only restaurant Laos to Your House is the only restaurant in Chicago where you can try the cuisine of the Southeast Asian country. “We're really putting in a lot of time and a lot of effort into this, but it doesn't feel like work when you're passionate about it," says one of the owners.

Alisha Elenz, chef de cuisine at the new West Loop restaurant Bambola, was an executive chef at age 23 and was nominated for a James Beard Award before she was 25. She talks about her perspective as a young woman in the culinary world and balancing life outside the kitchen. 

"The average American cannot name an African restaurant," says Dozzy Ibekwe. But the Nigerian immigrant wants to popularize West African food by presenting it in a modernized and accessible way at his pop-up Dozzy's Grill. 

Chicago is an outstanding food city—but you don’t have to eat at Michelin-star restaurants to enjoy the exceptional dining culture. The city’s (and suburbs’) diners are where Chicagoans of all types congregate for some quick, hearty food and hot coffee.

Oak Park's The Daly Bagel is the brainchild of resident Amanda Daly, who began as an amateur baker making bagels for her son.

We asked our audience to tell us about closed restaurants that they sorely missed, and were delighted by the fond memories people shared of establishments throughout the city and suburbs, in a variety of cuisines. Is your favorite on the list?