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 behi…

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 …

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 ac…

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…

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. Dan…

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…

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 A…

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 — a…

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 te…

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 wou…

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 uniq…

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 De…

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…

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…

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…

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 sp…

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…

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, …

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…

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…

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 Floriol…

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 wi…

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 sco…

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 b…

This week, Chef Erling Wu-Bower discusses his storied career in Chicago dining and the highly-anticipated opening of his new restaurant, Maxwells Trading, in the Kinzie Industrial Corridor. Erling reflects on formative experiences at renowned restaurants Publican, avec, Nico Osteria, and Pacific Standard Time, as well as lessons learned from mentor…

This week we are thrilled to be joined by restaurant legend Kevin Boehm, co-founder of the acclaimed BOKA Restaurant Group. With over 30 years in the business and 40 concepts launched, Boehm has countless insights and stories to share from his winding journey to becoming an award-winning hospitality icon. He takes us through the exhilarating early …

This week, join us for a spirited conversation with Christine Cikowski. Along with her business partner Josh Kulp, she's the chef and co-owner behind the legendary Honey Butter Fried Chicken in Chicago. She tells us about how the Sunday Dinner Club, a multi-course dining experience, was a perfect canvas for their playful, seasonal approach to cooki…

Joiners listeners probably know Anna Posey as the pastry chef and visionary behind the dessert menu at Elske, the contemporary American restaurant she co-owns with her husband David Posey in the West Loop. Elske opened in 2016 and channels Anna and her husband’s philosophy of simplicity coupling seasonal ingredients with energetic hospitality. Anna…

This week, we hear from Zach Engel, Executive Chef and co-owner of Galit, a Middle Eastern restaurant in Lincoln Park that just retained its much-deserved Michelin Star. Zach discusses opening Galit in 2019 to showcase his experience with Middle Eastern cuisine. He talks about his focus on Middle Eastern wines, building relationships with winemaker…

This week, we get an inside look at the origin story and evolution of The Whistler bar in Chicago from co-owner Billy Helmkamp. He takes us through his early days in New York City, moving to Chicago and starting an arts collective, eventually leading to opening The Whistler in Logan Square in 2008. Billy shares anecdotes about pivoting to a major f…

This week, we’re graced with insight into one of Chicago’s most dynamic restaurant groups from a woman who’s been with them from the start: Kristianna Smith was Land And Sea Dept’s first employee, and after helping them grow for over ten years, she’s got stories to tell and wisdom to share. With a clear zeal for bringing unconventional ideas to lif…

This week's guest, Joe Frillman, cultivated his passion for seasonal, farm-to-table cuisine from an early age. As the executive chef and owner of Daisies in Chicago's Logan Square, Frillman emphasizes fresh, locally-sourced ingredients on the restaurant's vegetable-focused and pasta-driven menu. In our conversation, Frillman gives us the origin sto…

This week's guest, Derrick Tung, dreamed of a life as a muscle-bound sanitation worker in his youth. But we're delighted his trajectory led him to his current role as pizza potentate instead. As the award-winning owner of Paulie Gee's in both Wicker Park and Logan Square, Derrick is responsible for some of the city’s most inventive and mouthwaterin…

This week, we are so excited to have Chef Oliver Poilevey, chef/owner at Le Bouchon, Taqueria Chingón, and Obélix, join the podcast. Oliver started washing dishes at his father's restaurant at age 13. After briefly attending culinary school and working abroad, he returned to work at Le Bouchon in his 20s, eventually taking over as head chef. A low-…

Maggie Hennessy, a writer known for whimsical and observational stories about food, joins the pod to discuss her career and experiences on the literary side of the Chicago culinary scene. Maggie details her journey from business writing to becoming a freelance food journalist, and the importance of relentlessly practicing writing every day. She sha…

This week, we're joined by acclaimed chef Doug Psaltis, who has worked in some of the world's most prestigious kitchens alongside legendary chefs. As a partner at Lettuce Entertain You, Doug opened some of Chicago's hottest restaurants, including RPM Italian, Bub City Chicago, Three Dots & A Dash tiki lounge, and more. Now at Eat Well Hospitality, …

This week, we're treated to an effervescent conversation with Instagram's Urban Bourbonist, Chris Blatner. Chris, who started his journey into the world of bourbon in 2019, regales us with his boundless passion for all things whiskey, inviting everyone along on his voyage of discovery. He tells us all about his initiation into the world of whiskey,…

This week, we sit down with one of Chicago's preeminent beer insiders. Samantha Lee of Hopewell Brewing Co. takes us through the origin story of how she, her husband Stephen Bossu, and their friend Jonathan Fritz turned their college dream of launching their own brewery into a reality. We get a behind-the-scenes peek into scouting locations, securi…

If you need anything grocery-related, just give this week’s guest a call. Whether it’s fielding over 400 text messages at the dawn of Covid, surveying the neighborhood for interest in new products, or doing some personal shopping for Tim’s mom, Kosta Drosos is a model of hospitality in the grocery lane, and Fresh Market Place, the independent store…

This one has been a long time coming. We are immensely delighted to share some quality time with none other than Chef Jason Hammel, the executive chef and owner of Logan Square’s acclaimed Lula Cafe. With humility and an eye trained on constant improvement, he’s a tour de force in Chicago’s culinary landscape, a man whose restaurants engender fierc…

It’s all things chocolate on Joiners this week as we sit down with the one and only Katherine Duncan. You know her from her Irving Park based company, Katherine Anne Confections, where she has been delighting patrons since 2006 with inventive treats and a community focus. In an episode that will certainly pique your sweet tooth, Katherine joins us …

This week, we’ve got Brad Bolt on the show. Brad stands as a trailblazer of Chicago's cocktail movement, and his resume is rich with time spent at the helm of some of the city's most iconic bars. We talk about the opening of Bar Deville, whether or not bartending is a young person's game, what happened to that beautiful Chartreuse sign, and as alwa…

This week, we're treated to a delightful series of framings and meanderings by sommelier Derrick Westbrook. Derrick, who served as the Cellar Manager of Alinea Group's NEXT and Beverage Director for Elizabeth, harbors a profound passion for wine that is crystal clear and infectious. With spirited storytelling and an inclusive attitude, he is genero…

David Manilow understands the magic of bringing people together with an unforgettable meal. In fact, he made a whole television show about it, one of this very podcast’s spiritual progenitors: Check, Please! Hundreds of episodes later, his passion for people, places, and food is undoubtable, and he has stories galore to back it up. He stops by the …

This week, we're joined by the founder of Heisler Hospitality (and half of its portmanteau namesake), Matt Eisler. With the uncanny ability to impliment a signature vision, Eisler is one of the most respected names in the industry -- and along with his partner Kevin Heisner, he's responsible for some of the city's most enduring and innovative estab…

Don’t let her down-to-earth approach and genial humility fool you: Bridget Albert is an absolute legend of the craft cocktail scene, a powerhouse of creativity and raw performance whose keen sensibility and passion for education helped make the scene what it is today. With a raucous story that spans 19th century small-town taverns, airplane rescues…

This week, we’re joined by Chicago’s preeminent bread head, the wheat wizard of West Town, Greg Wade. Greg runs Publican Quality Bread and cut his bread-making teeth all over the city — his knowledge of the rising staple is vast, and he conveys it all in a low-key and relatable way, made evident on this episode and in his new book, Bread Head: Baki…

This week, we have the multi-talented Elise Bergman on the pod. A musician and apparel designer, she is also one of the creative powerhouses behind Judson & Moore, an award-winning whiskey distillery based in Chicago that she founded alongside her husband, Collin Moore. We go deep into the spirit distilling process, with an insightful conversation …

For our longest episode yet, we are talking with prolific food writer and critic Michael Nagrant. A long-time champion and observer of Chicago’s food scene, he takes us through his storied career, from his pioneering podcasting days to covering the scene in an independent fashion on his Substack, The Hunger. In a sprawling and delightful interview,…

Our guest this week is more than just a bartender (though there's no questioning his bonafides in that arena) -- he's a glorified YouTube sensation who's managed to successfully marry his love of making craft drinks with his panache for storytelling and performance. Anders Erickson stops by the Joiners studio to tell us all about getting his start …