Chefs & Restaurants
Donnie Madia: The Art of Collaboration
“No one person is bigger than the whole.” Those were the wise words once whispered into Donnie Madia’s ears by one of his business partners, and this saying has become a key element to his long-standing success in Chicago’s culinary scene. He typifies the art of collaboration. With twelve restaurants in the One Off Hospitality family,…
Read MoreMyron Mixon: The Winningest Man in Barbecue
Myron Mixon is the “Winningest” Man in Barbecue. He has won the World Championship four times and even has a Barbecue “Super Bowl” ring! His cookbook Barbecue Rules will help the home pit masters perfect their skills. Recently, Mixon had a KITCHEN CHAT in the Viking and La Cornue Showroom with Margaret McSweeney and Chef…
Read MoreIron Chef Stephanie Izard: A Culinary Trailblazer
Chef Stephanie Izard is a culinary trailblazer. She is the first female Iron Chef and the first female Top Chef and is a highly acclaimed restaurateur with her partners from Boka Restaurant Group. Her Chicago restaurants include: Girl and the Goat, Little Goat Diner, and Duck, Duck Goat And she will be opening up another Girl and the…
Read MoreThe 2018 James Beard Awards
What an honor for Kitchen Chat to once again be on the Red Carpet at the James Beard Awards to capture the excitement and stories of the nominees and participants. Thank you Chef Jaime Laurita, brand ambassador for Viking, for being my co-host. Highlights of the evening included meeting two icons: Chef Jose Andres, recipient…
Read MoreKevin Boehm and The Boka Restaurant Group
“Chicago is a choice for me. When I had a six table restaurant in the Florida Pan Handle in 1993, my dream always was that maybe some day I’ll be able to have a restaurant in Chicago and sit down with the smartest restaurant people around.” Kevin Boehm, co-founder of Boka Restaurant Group At age…
Read MoreChristopher Kimball: The Maestro of Big Flavor
“An amalgam of styles around the world – that’s what’s going to happen in the home kitchen. It has already started. If you begin with big flavor then you end with big flavor… It’s transformative.” Christopher Kimball, founder of America’s Test Kitchen and Milk Street Christopher Kimball’s culinary journey began in childhood when he made…
Read MoreKorean BBQ with Chef Bill Kim
“There are differences but there’s more commonality in ethnic groups. I try to find the common denominator of ingredients in different cultures and apply it to what I do.” Chef Bill Kim, UrbanBelly Recently, Chef Jaime Laurita and I had a kitchen chat in the Viking and La Cornue Showroom in Chicago with Chef Bill…
Read MoreEmpowering Women: Ina Pinkney and Denise Vivaldo
Ina Pinkney and Denise Vivaldo share their wit and wisdom while helping to empower women in the culinary industry. These two are indeed a Dynamic Duo. Ina Pinkney aka the “Breakfast Queen” is an iconic culinary leader, a former restaurateur, cookbook author, and a recipient of SBA Woman in Business Champion, and Denise Vivaldo is…
Read MoreThe Art of the Pie with Kate McDermott
Ready to make the holidays easy as pie? Kate McDermott, author of The Art of the Pie shares the secrets of making a successful and delicious pie. Recently, I interviewed this pie expert at Les Dames d’Escoffier Conference. McDermott’s first advice is to keep everything chill – including yourself. Butter actually starts melting at 59 degrees,…
Read MoreThe Royal Chef Darren McGrady
Are you ready to cook, eat and entertain royalty? The Royal Chef Darren McGrady shares recipes from Buckingham Palace and his home in Dallas. As personal chef to Queen Elizabeth and the royal family for eleven years and to Princess Diana for four years, Chef McGrady has prepared feasts and comfort food for all…
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