Joiners

This week, we speak to another member of the growing Highland Park mafia — Adam Pollack, a cook turned farmer, responsible for supplying some of the best restaurants in the city. Adam grows his produce right here in the heart of Chicago at Closed Loop Farms. He tells us about his journey, from discovering his passion for food and fresh ingredients, and ultimately expanding his culinary horizons by...

Do tropical drinks actually make for gnarly hangovers? What have been the major advancements in distilling in the last century? What happens when a college kid has drink-slinging know-how and unfettered access to booze? In this week’s episode of Joiners, we explore big questions with none other than Kevin Beary, the sagacious beverage director behind River North tiki treasure Three Dots and a Dash...

For our latest episode, we sit down with the inimitable Cecily Federighi to explore her fascinating path from the fashion world to the culinary scene. Cecily takes us through her early days being scouted at Six Flags as a teen, globe-trotting adventures in the modeling world, and learning the ins and outs of the restaurant industry from the ground up with Eat Free Pizza. She shares behind-the-scen...

For episode 101, we are sitting down for a master class on hospitality with one of its most innovative and fastidious practitioners. Chris Gerber is a front-of-house guru whose attention to detail and commitment to guests at places like Trio, Alinea, and currently Smyth + The Loyalist have helped earn those establishments scores of well-deserved accolades, including a third Michelin star for Smyth...

This week, we’re ringing in our 100th episode the only way we know how: exploring the world of hospitality by chatting with its most colorful characters. This week, our tagline is especially appropriate — we sit down with the multitalented, accomplished, and vibrant Stephanie Izard, whose list of accolades is as impressive as it is long. She opened her first restaurant when she was only 27, bested...

This week, we’ve brought in an owner who just might handle more covers per night of service than anyone else in town. In this episode, Danny Wirtz, the fourth-generation owner of the Chicago Blackhawks , joins the crew to discuss everything from growing up in the northern suburbs to the evolving landscape of sports and entertainment in the city. Danny shares his passion for music, his experiences...

Chef Christian Hunter may be new to Chicago, but he's already making waves in the city's culinary scene as the inventive talent behind Atelier, where he and his dynamic team recently earned their first Michelin star. In this episode, Christian shares his journey from his early days experimenting in the kitchen to his time at culinary school and his rise through the ranks of the restaurant industry...

This week, Tim and Danny are joined by Adam Meyer, the Chef de Cuisine at Brasero and John Manion's trusted right-hand man. Adam shares his inspiring journey of thrusting himself into the world of food at a young age. He discusses his time at The Bristol before the pandemic hit, and how he's now working alongside Manion to develop inventive South American cuisine at Brasero. Also: a New Year's Eve...

In a very special episode of Joiners, we start things out by sitting in studio with Donnie Madia. He’s a man who needs no introduction, but in case you’ve been predisposed for a few decades: he’s the James Beard Award-winning powerhouse behind acclaimed institutions like Blackbird, avec, The Publican, The Violet Hour, Big Star, and so much more — and maybe you recognize him from The Bear, where he...

This week on Joiners, we sit down with Jake Schneider, the owner of Schneider Deli, a new Jewish deli that's bringing classic flavors to the heart of River North. Jake takes us on a journey through his culinary career, from taking a cooking class as an adolescent, to staging at high-end restaurants, to working at a summer camp and even a kitchen technology company. He shares his passion for preser...

This week, we’re joined by Leigh Omilinksy. She is partner and executive pastry chef at Daisies, the Michelin Star adorned Chicagoland darling that was recently named the best restaurant in the city by Eater. And after chatting with her, it makes sense why — after having a borderline magical Crème Brûlée at San Francisco’s Top of the Mark, this would-be jazz pianist was set upon a fated path of pâ...

In this episode of Joiners, we sit down with the accomplished Chef Sahil Sethi. He’s the culinary mastermind behind Indienne and Sifr, two of the most exciting spots in the city today. From his early days studying hospitality management in India to stints at renowned restaurants like Noma in Copenhagen, Sethi has built an impressive resume and unique perspective on cuisine. He takes us on a journe...

This week, we’re joined by the talented Monica Casillas-Rios, the acclaimed bartender at Chicago's Elske, whose exceptional cocktail program recently earned her the prestigious 2023 Michelin Guide Exceptional Cocktail Award. Monica shares her fascinating journey in the world of hospitality, from her early days discovering the art of cocktails in Detroit to her current role as the creative force be...

This week, Tim and Danny sit down with Alfredo Nogueira, the talented New Orleans-born chef currently heading up the kitchens at NOLA's Cane & Table, Cure, and VALS. Alfredo shares his journey, from getting his start cooking in his hometown, to pursuing his passion for music in Chicago post-Katrina where he ended up falling in love with the kitchen life. Alfredo takes us behind the scenes of h...

Monica Eng knows a thing or two about how to talk and write about food in Chicago and beyond. She got her start at the Chicago Sun-Times as a copy clerk in high school and spent sixteen years as a reporter on the food scene for the Chicago Tribune. She went on to write for every major Chicago outlet and currently writes for Axios Chicago, where she covers a wide range of issues, from food policy,...

This week we’re joined by beverage entrepreneur Jess Feller. She founded Aged & Infused with her husband, John — it’s a company devoted to providing innovative, palate-pleasing spirit infusion kits that take the fuss out of mixology at home. She tells us about what led her to leave behind the world of advertising to delve into the beverage industry. We talk about ingredients that infuse well (...

What does the future of the hospitality industry look like? What are the best ways to find work/life balance as a chef and parent? And does Danny have a solid gold car? We're sorting it all out with Chef Jason Vincent in one of our longest episodes yet. With decades of experience leading acclaimed restaurants like Nightwood and Giant, as well as spearheading industry healthcare initiatives, Jason...

This week on Joiners, we are thrilled to welcome Chicago culinary legend Todd Stein. With over 30 years of experience working in acclaimed kitchens around the country and overseas, Todd shares incredible stories and insights from his extensive career. We cover his early days working under renowned chefs like Keith Korn and Michael Kornick, being on the opening team at MK, winning major accolades a...

Our guest this week is Adam Witt, AKA Omnivorous Adam, a chef and videographer bringing major energy and enthusiasm to the online food space. He sits down with us and tells us all about his unconventional journey, from washing dishes as a teen to jetsetting for celebrity clients later on. We get into everything that fuels his relentless curiosity, from epic food crawls around Chicago to nerding ou...

This week, we’re garnering critical consensus with Adrian Kane, Editorial Director of restaurant recommendation authority The Infatuation. We trace Adrian's unexpected path from recommending eateries while dying hair at the salon to leading one of Chicago's most influential food sites. Adrian tells us about getting her start with the company in its early startup days, how she approaches editing th...

What happens when a hockey-loving finance major turned firefighter hopeful decides to trade in his gear for a shaker tin? This week we're exploring that trajectory with Joe Briglio, co-owner and beverage director of Chicago's Blade Runner-inspired cocktail den Nine Bar. We journey along Joe's unexpected career path that led him from college summers slinging drinks at concerts to designing some of...

This week, we’re flouring a clean surface with acclaimed pastry chef Sandra Holl, owner of the beloved Floriole Cafe & Bakery in Lincoln Park. Sandra shares her journey from growing up in Rockford, Illinois to unexpectedly falling in love with French pastries during a year studying abroad in France. She tells us about the process of opening Floriole, starting small with just a tent and a few p...

In this episode of Joiners, we interview Pineapple Audio founder and CEO Matt Edgar, an expert in hospitality audio with an ear for how sound can enhance spaces and experiences. Matt shares his journey from touring musician to becoming one of the top names behind sound systems in hotels, restaurants, bars, and other venues across the globe. In a wide-ranging conversation, Matt provides an inside l...

This week, journalist Ari Bendersky joins us to discuss his career covering food, wine, spirits, and travel in Chicago. Ari reflects on his time as founding editor of Eater Chicago during the golden age of food media in the city, when he competed with outlets like Time Out Chicago while cultivating an underground network of insiders feeding him scoops. Ari digs deep into his newsletter Something G...

Jeff Donahue, Vice President of Operations at Heisler Hospitality, joins us to discuss his long career in Chicago's hospitality scene. Jeff reflects on formative experiences at renowned restaurants like Fogo de Chão, Nacionale 27, and The Aviary, as well as lessons learned from mentors like Adam Seger and Grant Achatz. He explains the inspiration behind concepts like Sportsman's Club, Big Kids, an...