Know Your Chicago Chefs
Last night, Top Chef Chicago debuted with 16 culinary wannabes vying to become as reality-famous as The Real World's "The Miz" -- begging the question, how well do you know the Chicago chefs who actually have made it? To sharpen your knowledge, we've designed a matching game filled with vital details on the lives, loves, and rat-ignoring shenanigans of six of Chicago's finest.
Michael Carlson, Schwa: One of Food and Wine's Best New Chefs 2006, Michael gained notoriety for making Pad Thai noodles from jellyfish, and stuffing roasted beets with bacon chocolate ganache.
Gene Kato, Japonais: Formerly at Ohba, Gene's latest won Chicago Mag's "Best Restaurant" in 2005 on the strength of contemporary, possibly Little Caesars-influenced dishes like the Tuna Tuna Salmon roll.
Shawn McClain, Spring, Green Zebra and Custom House: Shawn's won scads of awards, from the James Beard Foundation's "Best New Restaurant" (for Spring) and "Best Chef Midwest" to "Chef of the Year".
Mindy Segal, Hot Chocolate: Previously employed by the prestigious trifecta of mk, Charlie Trotter's, and Ambria, Mindy was a 2007 finalist for James Beard's Outstanding Pastry Chef award.
Doug Sohn, Hot Doug's: The Kendall College Culinary School grad is famous both for dishes like Bacon-Jalapeño Duck Sausage, and defying the City's foie gras ban.
J. Spillane, Coalfire Pizza: The former Matchbox mixologist earned his culinary bones with coal-and-wood-fired, East Coast-style pies.
The Rules:
You'll need to attribute each of 18 funfacts to the appropriate chef. Three and only three funfacts belong to each chef. Submit your answers fast enough -- and score high enough -- and you'll win a fabulous prize ranging from dinner for two at Schwa to a ten-inch "Cake Of Your Dreams" from Hot Chocolate.
