Let’s Go, Girls: Women in Chicago’s Food World

via Kristen Mendiola for Goddess & Grocer

Though the hospitality industry is still a mostly male-dominated field, the amount of women in kitchens, wine cellars and restaurants is growing. And they are certainly making their impact felt. In Chicago, their number continues to increase, with female led bakeries, cafes and award-winning restaurants popping up across the city and suburbs. They’re making Chicago more delicious every day! They also work together to support and promote each other at every turn, continually patronizing each other's establishments, promoting new work and achievements, and generally lifting each other up industry-wide. Let’s get to know some of the amazing women in our Chicago food family, and find out just what to order from each of them…

Debbie Sharpe from The Goddess and Grocer {multiple locations}: The Rainbow Cakes from Goddess are famous (and Instagram-level gorgeous), but that’s just where Sharpe and her team begin. They have women in almost every leadership roll across the company, and have expanded to new locations in the last year, adding a Fulton Market store in March of 2022. Though they’re known for their baked goods, they also have a seasonal menu of fresh-made food for pick-up and delivery, plus a VAST catering menu for holidays and day-to-day events.

Danielle Dang from HaiSous Vietnamese Kitchen {1800 South Carpenter Street, Chicago; 312.702.1303}: Danielle is one half of a culinary dynamic duo as the Co-Owner and Director of Operations for at HaiSous in Pilsen, working alongside her husband Chef Thai Dang. Under their leadership, the restaurant has racked up awards and rave reviews, but community involvement is where they really shine. From providing free meals to the neighborhood during Covid, to partnerships with other Chicago chefs, Danielle and Haisous are household names citywide.

Chef Kaleena Bliss, Executive Chef at the Chicago Athletic Association {12 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago; 312.940.3552}: Chef Bliss just joined the Chicago Athletic Association, but is already focusing her menu on local wild produce, spring vegetables and fresh seafood. Before coming to Chicago, she lived on the West Coast, and saw career success with a win on Food Network’s “Chopped: Casino Royale” tournament. The hotel also has a female-led culinary leadership team across the board, including Sasha Suboc (Chef de Cuisine), Yami Mercado (Pastry Chef) and Juan Hernandez (Banquet Chef).

Katrina Bravo, Partner of Esmé {2200 North Clark Street, Chicago}: Esmé means “beloved” in French, and you can see both the culinary and emotional love in every dish they present. Bravo opened this fine-dining restaurant in Lincoln Park with her husband Chef Jenner Tomaska, and together they have reimagined the traditional tasting- menu experience, with philanthropy and art integrated into their business model.

Chef Sarah Grueneberg, Chef + Owner at Monteverde Restaurant & Pastificio {1020 West Madison Street, Chicago; 312.888.3041}: Chef Grueneberg began her career in Chicago at at the award-winning Spiaggia under the leadership of Tony Mantuano, and after she was promoted to Executive Chef there, Spiaggia was awarded one Michelin Star for three consecutive years. Crazy enough, that was only the beginning of her success! Since then, in addition to opening Monteverde in the West Loop, she has won the James Beard Foundation Award for “Best Chef: Great Lakes” and been a competitor and finalist on Bravo’s “Top Chef: Texas” and Food Network’s “Iron Chef Gauntlet.” When you dine at Monteverde, you’ll be eating food made by one of the city’s, if not the country’s, best chefs.

via Virtue Restaurant

Chef Becky Pendola, Pastry Chef at Virtue {1462 East 53rd Street, Chicago; 773.947.8831}: You’ve likely heard of Chefs Erick Williams and Damarr Brown from the Virtue team, but Chef Becky Pendola certainly deserves her own moment in the spotlight. As the Hyde Park hot spot’s Pastry Chef, Pendola makes sure every meal ends on a sweet note with decadent dishes like Caramel Apple Cheesecake and her famous Millie's Puddin'. Her desserts have been featured at James Beard Foundation events and are worth a visit to Virtue all on their own!

Chef Stephanie Izard of This Little Goat, Goat Group Catering + More: Restaurants. Bakeries. A catering company. Meal kits. Retail products. Multiple books. Chef Izard does it ALL! Since she became the first woman to win Bravo's Top Chef in 2008, Izard has taken the food world by storm. She won the James Beard “Best Chef: Great Lakes” award 2013, was named Food & Wine “Best New Chef” in 2011 and won the coveted title of “Iron Chef” in 2017. All while opening restaurants in Chicago and LA, plus launching multiple brands. We can’t keep up!

Chef Margarita Kallas-Lee from Scratch Restaurants Group: Kallas-Lee is part of the power duo, alongside her husband and co-owner and sushi chef, Chef Phillip Frankland Lee. The two recently opened the city’s newest omakase restaurant in the River West neighborhood, Sushi by Scratch Restaurants: Chicago, which is already becoming a neighborhood favorite. Kallas-Lee has been recognized by Zagat's "30 Under 30" as well as Eater's "Young Guns" for her exceptional desserts, which are served as the restaurant's seventeenth and final course. She’s just getting started in Chicago!

Amy Morton + Debbie Gold from LeTour Evanston {625 Davis Street, Evanston; 224.999.7085}: These two Chicago natives and culinary industry vets have come together to create magic at this beautiful brasserie with its own special flair. Chef Gold, a James Beard chef, has worked with Morton on a few of her concepts over the years, all leading to this full-circle moment - and a beautiful 360 degree dining room. We love seeing talented women come together!

As a women-led company, we are especially proud to highlight these women and restaurants now and always. You can meet more female restaurateurs in one of our past posts here!
To learn more about our team, you can read up, follow us on Instagram or email us if you’re also a female-led business in the Chicago hospitality world. We’re always looking to work with more amazing small businesses!

By Kaleigh Glaza | Market Editor