Stock, the cafe inside Local Foods—the grocery store tucked away near the city of Chicago truck parking lot near Lincoln Park—focuses on comfort foods and light bites. Chef Abra Berens adds to the menu seemingly every day. Berens, a Michigander, has worked at Floriole and Vie.

Her storefront opened in spring 2016, but Anna Abbey's Rock 'n Roll noodles has served Thai food at various farmer's markets around Chicago for years. Abbey's parents The Thai Room, one of Chicago's first Thai restaurants, and she's continued the family tradition.

Beverly Kim also made a splash by appearing onTop Chef, but her Avondale restaurant continues to pack guests in, as she works with her husband, John Clark. Parachute earned a Beard nomination after it first opened and holds a Michelin star.

Carrie Nahabedian is Beard Award winner, taking home the honor for Best Chef: Great Lakes back in 2008. She and her cousin, Michael Nahabedian, also have a French restaurant, Brindille. She's one of Chicago's most heavily-decorated chefs.

After the success of Sunday Dinner Club, Christine Cikowski and her business partner, Josh Kulp, opened the sinfully-good Honey Butter Fried Chicken in Avondale. The suburban native shares executive chef duties with Kulp.

Her underground dinners were creative and inventive, and Regan has taken the same spirit with her by opening Michelin-starred Elizabeth, a crown jewel of fine dining in the North Side. Her themed dinners, inspired by fantasy novels like "Lord of The Rings" are also popular. She'll soon try her hand at Japanese food when Kitsune opens in Lincoln Square.

Mana Food Bar shocked Wicker Park when it opened in 2008, shattering expectations to what a vegetarian restaurant could accomplish. Executive chef/partner Jill Barron crafted a menu the fused flavors from all across the world, with a focus on Korea.

Laura Martinez's story is an inspiring one. Martinez, who worked at Charlie Trotter's, has been blind since an infant. That hasn't stopped her from creating delicious Mexican comfort food — the chef opened La Diosa in Lincoln Park in 2015.

廚師在柳樹Rm。,一個新的林肯公園英航r/restaurant, is Marissa Janz's first chef job. She came over from Nico Osteria.

Mindy Segal has seized the reins once more over her Bucktown restaurant, famous for their decadent hot chocolates with house-made marshmallow and her eclectic assortment of cookies. She won the Beard Award for "outstanding pastry chef" in 2015. She's expanded operations to Revival Food Hall, using the experiences accrued at restaurants including mk, Spago and Charlie Trotter's.

For decades, Noy Sengsourichanh has been working in the kitchens of some of Chicago's best Thai spots. Her daughter Anna Makmok, was the namesake behind Anna's Asian Bistro in the West Loop. Sengsourichanh has followed her family to Logan Square where they're trying a new concept. Her fried, stuffed avocado rolls are still just as good as you remember.

Sandra Holl's baked good first were notice while at the Green City Market. The acclaim continued over at Floriole, a charming full-service cafe in Lincoln Park.

Sarah Grueneberg learned much while cooking at Spiaggia and she's let loose at Monteverde, the West Loop pasta haven where diners can see Grueneberg in the center of the restaurant, rolling out and shaping those taste noodles. She also appeared onTop Chef.

Tigist Reda grew up in northern Ethiopia and arrived in America in 2007. Over at Demera in Uptown, Reda has not only given many Chicagoans their first taste of her native cuisine, but also one of the best restaurants in the city.

Over in Chicago Lawn, on Chicago's Southwest side, Yolanda Castillo and her family are cooking up traditional food from Belize. Chicago doesn't have an abundance of Belizean food, but back in 2014, Garifuna drew the attention of the Food Network's Guy Fieri who made a visit.