How would you describe the Chicago culinary scene in one word ? Ximena : Varied . There ’ s something for everyone here . Janet : Dynamic . Noreen : Unparalleled .
What do you think makes the Chicago culinary scene stand apart from other major cities ? Victoria : Chicago has always put an emphasis on service and hospitality more than any other city that I ’ ve visited . Everyone wants to make sure diners feel at home and are comfortable . I think it ’ s that Midwest mentality of wanting to put someone at ease and make everyone feel really welcome . Ryan : The sheer number of restaurants means that the competition is quite cut-throat . The drive to stay on your toes as a restaurant owner has to be constant , in order to remain relevant and keep the doors open . Often , restaurant ownership it is not an industry with longevity ( and you better like long hours , low pay and be a problem-solving wizard genius ). I respect the hell out of those who do
it every day and I love sharing their unique stories . Noreen : The affordability . We also represent a lot of Chicagoland theaters and it is the same on the theater front . You can enjoy a world class meal prepared by a Michelin starred chef very reasonably compared to what you would pay in cities like New York , Los Angeles , Paris , London , etc . We have some of the most creative talents working on our culinary and arts scenes ; people that have worked in pedigreed kitchens and on the theater side Broadway and the West End . Many Chicagoans don ’ t realize that the most unique and top notch culinary and artistic experiences are located in their backyard for a song .
Where do you go to indulge outside of work ? Ximena : One of my favorite restaurants in the city is the Athenian Room . That ’ s where I take all my favorite people . My more ‘ guilty-choice ’ place is Aguascalientes . They have the best Mexican food that tastes like it ’ s straight from the other side of the border . They have two locations and the one in Little Village is my favorite . The bean and cheese gordita with horchata is my go-to order .