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10 Chicago Chefs to Follow on Instagram Now

Spice up your social feed

Rocoto Relleno at Next
Jenner Tomaska

People eat with their eyes first, so it’s only natural that Instagram serves as the perfect platform for chefs in Chicago to showcase what they’re up to both in and out of the kitchen these days — from recipe development and travels around the globe, to local restaurant visits and weekends with their dogs. Here are 10 of the best chef and restaurant feeds to check out now — each one guaranteed to leave you hungry for more.

1. Scott Green (Travelle)

It’s easy to get totally immersed in the imagery of Scott Green’s ‘gram — after all, the pastry chef and blogger had a career as a fine artist before he landed in the kitchen. Expect dreamy dessert shots that are as balanced in composition as they are bound to be on the palate, each capable of standing alone yet simultaneously a definite part of Green’s epic sugar collection.

2. Iliana Regan (Elizabeth and Kitsune)

@kitsunerestaurant cute ass butter

A post shared by Iliana Regan (@elizabethrestaurant_and_co) on

The same whimsy experienced at Elizabeth and Kitsune infuses the Insta handle of chef Iliana Regan, whose pics prove that she’s as big on real deal, foraged ingredients as she is on the natural light that showcases them. There’s no shortage of animal power in this feed, which features everything from fox molds and bunny chopstick rests, to profiles of her two pups: George the Newfoundland and Bear the Shih Tzu.

3. John Shields (Smyth + The Loyalist)

Asparagus and lilac #billbelichecked

A post shared by John Shields (@chefjohnshields) on

If yet to visit Smyth, get a good preview on the feed of chef John Shields, who posts images of the offbeat and flavor-forward courses he’s putting out in the West Loop (think barbecued shimaaji ribs, pork shoulder with blood pudding, and root vegetable terrine in chilled bouillon).

4. Meg Galus (BOKA Restaurant Group)

Meg Galus has her hands all over the Chicago pastry scene, but that doesn’t stop her from taking Insta on the road with her, too. Follow her around the globe as she captures everything from malted chai tea lattes in New York, to vegetable ash baguettes in Paris.

5. John Manion (El Che Bar and La Sirena Clandestina)

Instagram makes it a lot easier to keep up with chef John Manion these days, who hits the road frequently for R&D trips for his two bustling West Loop spots. Most recently he could be found in Tulum, as evidenced by pics of cocktails at Hartwood and dishes at the Noma pop-up. Five minutes on his feed and you’ll surely meet his rescue mutt Tina, too — aka #tinathewonderdog.

6. Jimmy Papadopoulos (The Bellemore)

Taleggio tortellini, grilled vegetable broth, beans, basil, peppers, tomatoes & kale. #BellemoreChicago

A post shared by Jimmy Papadopoulos (@jimmypapadop) on

Many eaters can’t wait to see what chef Jimmy Papadopoulos will be up to at the forthcoming The Bellemore this summer, but until then, settle for his (pretty fantastic) Instagram offerings — a collection of dishes to come that’s mixed in with restaurant visits about town and snaps of daily life with the fam.

7. Anna Posey (Elske)

if I was a I'd totes live in this garden...

A post shared by Anna Posey (@nna_posey) on

Elske co-owner/pastry chef Anna Posey knows a thing or two about composition — before working in some of the city’s top kitchens she acquired a BFA from the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design in Painting & Drawing. As such, look for well-lit shots that place an emphasis on strong depth of field, repetition, bright pops of color, and, of course, her dog Bazooka.

8. Jenner Tomaska (Next)

Not everyone can produce the technical and awe-inspiring plates Next is best known for while also maintaining an Instagram following of more than 50.4K followers — but Jenner Tomaska seems to be thriving. Credit that on-screen success to clever snaps of everything from an Alba white truffle assembly line to a honey mussel rissole that will likely leave you wanting a res — and a personal Instagram refresh — in no time.

9. Mindy Segal (HotChocolate)

Portuguese egg custard Danish, Klug Farm preserved blueberry and violet sugar #brunch

A post shared by Mindy Segal (@mindysegal) on

Eaters who are carb cravings-inclined, be forewarned — Mindy Segal’s feed is full of all of the baked goods you could dream of, from challah bagels and caramelized cinnamon rolls, to matcha snickerdoodles and oversized, from-the-oven pretzels. Luckily for everyone, you can now find her works across town, too — thank you, Revival Food Hall.

10. Chris Teixeira (Steadfast, Homestead on the Roof, West Town Bakery)

Breakfast is now instantly more fun thanks to everything pastry chef Chris Teixeira is sharing on the ‘gram — especially the likes of the Fruity Pebble-bedecked croissant that hit his album last week, just one of the new cereal bowl croissants he’s working on for West Town Bakery.

Mindy's Hot Chocolate

1747 N Damen Avenue, Chicago, IL 60647 773 489 1747

Next Restaurant

953 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607 312 226 0858 Visit Website

The Loyalist

177 North Ada Street, , IL 60607 (773) 913-3774 Visit Website

Smyth

177 North Ada Street, , IL 60607 (773) 913-3773 Visit Website

Elske

1350 West Randolph Street, , IL 60607 (312) 733-1314 Visit Website

La Sirena Clandestina

954 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607 (312) 226-5300 Visit Website

Revival Food Hall

125 South Clark Street, , IL 60603 (773) 999-9411 Visit Website

Boka

1729 North Halsted Street, , IL 60614 (312) 337-6070 Visit Website

Homestead On The Roof

1924 West Chicago Avenue, , IL 60622 (773) 332-2354 Visit Website

Travelle

330 N Wabash Ave Fl 2, Chicago, IL 60611 312-923-7705 Visit Website

El Che Bar

845 West Washington Boulevard, , IL 60607 (312) 265-1130 Visit Website

Steadfast

120 W Monroe St, Chicago, IL 60603 (773) 489-5050 Visit Website

Elizabeth Restaurant

4835 North Western Avenue, , IL 60625 Visit Website

Kitsune

4229 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago, IL 60618