Team StarChefs 11/5/21 Team StarChefs 11/5/21

Spring Fever

Forced to make due with root vegetables and shipped-in produce much of the year, Chicago chefs love spring. Twelve chefs write their love letters to the season.

Amelia Schwartz 11/1/21 Amelia Schwartz 11/1/21

From Bean to Babka

In partnership with vnlla Extract Co., the StarChefs team dives into the story behind Masa Madre babka's namesake ingredient.

Misha Garza López 10/28/21 Misha Garza López 10/28/21

Mole on the Rise

After much trial and error, Pastry Chef Valeria Taylor’s mole croissant at Loba Pastry + Coffee is a nostalgic treat packed with mole in every layer.

Audarshia Townsend 10/24/21 Audarshia Townsend 10/24/21

A Piece of the Pie

Chef Erick Williams of Virtue Restaurant reclaims the term "farm-to-table" in a discussion of African American foodways.

Carrie Schedler 10/21/21 Carrie Schedler 10/21/21

Red Gold

When Mohammad Salehi left Afghanistan, he found a new passion as a saffron importer. Salehi’s start-up, Heray Spice, is now bringing top-quality saffron to the United States.

Team StarChefs 10/20/21 Team StarChefs 10/20/21

Chicago Kitchen Notebook

An in-depth look at some of our favorite dishes and cocktails from our time on the ground in Chicago.

Amelia Levin 10/17/21 Amelia Levin 10/17/21

Interchangeable Parts

Chefs and pastry chefs across Chicago expand their definition of "cross-utilization" in their kitchens.

Kendyl Kearly 10/13/21 Kendyl Kearly 10/13/21

Growing Together

Owner Joe Fontana talks through how Fry the Coop's business model prioritizes efficiency and care for the staff.

Amelia Schwartz 10/9/21 Amelia Schwartz 10/9/21

The Pastrami Playbook

Thomas Carlin’s signature dish is all about salt, fat, acid, and pastrami at Galit.

Eric Barton 10/6/21 Eric Barton 10/6/21

Le Bouchon's Second Act

Beloved by a generation, a French bistro stays true to its family heritage.

Amelia Schwartz 10/2/21 Amelia Schwartz 10/2/21

Inside the Shell

Chef Otto Phan of Kyōten's hot and cold scallop dish proves that everything on the inside counts.

Gabby Romero 9/28/21 Gabby Romero 9/28/21

Summer's Unsung Hero

At BOKA, Chef Jonathan Dockter's favorite off-the-clock cucumber side dish gets all dressed up.

Kendyl Kearly 9/24/21 Kendyl Kearly 9/24/21

Lake Effect

Lake fish haven't always had the best reputation, but Chicago chefs are using them to their full advantage.

Lizzie Takimoto 9/21/21 Lizzie Takimoto 9/21/21

The Cat-Su Club

Chefs Will Schlaeger and Shawn Clendening of Cat-Su’s club sandwich is a nod to the classic Chicago hot dog.

Jason Hammel 9/17/21 Jason Hammel 9/17/21

Jason Hammel’s Dear Chicago

A hard talk about love from chef/owner Jason Hammel of Lula Cafe.

Team StarChefs 9/13/21 Team StarChefs 9/13/21

2022 StarChefs Chicago Rising Stars Awards

StarChefs returns to Chicago to celebrate the city’s most talented up-and-coming food and beverage professionals.

Team StarChefs 8/9/18 Team StarChefs 8/9/18

Let's Talk About Wine

Publican Anker Somm Sommelier Bret Heiar says oldschool wine verbiage has had a long enough run.

Team StarChefs 8/4/18 Team StarChefs 8/4/18

Somms Act Like They Don't Know

If you don’t know Baja wines, here’s your primer from Sommelier Ryan Arnold.

Sean Kenniff 7/30/18 Sean Kenniff 7/30/18

The Spirit Free Beverage and Inclusive Hospitality

At Oriole and now Kumiko, Bartender Julia Momose is creating a canon of drinks that everyone can understand and enjoy.

Team StarChefs 7/25/18 Team StarChefs 7/25/18

Monday Morning Espresso Martini

With leftover wine on her mind, Bartender Liz Pearce builds an espresso martini.

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