White pizza w/ clams & bacon
$$, Brewery, Happy Hour, Pizza, Full Bar, Wicker Park
"This is my favorite pizza in the city, and I’ve got New York standards. This combo may sound strange, but try it. It’s briny, salty, cheesy, and totally delicious."
ChefNicole Pederson
Chicago
About Nicole Pederson
Chef Nicole Pederson Director of Culinary Arts at Center on Halsted, is head teaching chef of Silver Fork, a 9-week intensive training and job readiness program for LGBTQ community members and allies interested in pursuing employment in the culinary arts (Click here to learn more about Silver Fork). Nicole co-leads the program as the Director of Culinary Arts at Center on Halsted alongside Cindy Mojica, Culinary Arts Instructor. Nicole spent years in the culinary industry as a chef for many well-acclaimed kitchens.
Accolades
- Best of the CityCS magazine
- "Ten great restaurants helmed by women"Time Out Chicago
- Haute Hotel DiningMidwest Living
Where I Go Out
Lemongrass chicken bánh mì
$$, Vietnamese, Uptown
"I am a pork bánh mì girl all the way, except when I come to Nhu Lan. Their pork is great, but the chicken is what I always crave. It’s the perfect combination of sweet and spicy."
Catfish simmered in a clay pot
$$, Outdoor Seating, Reservations, Vietnamese, Noodles, Asian, Uptown
"A big bowl of Tank’s phở is delicious, but the catfish really gets my taste buds going. If I’m feeling really gluttonous, I’ll get the catfish and pork simmered in a clay pot."
Farm dinner
$$, Outdoor Seating, Café, Reservations, Modern, Full Bar, American, Breakfast, Logan Square
"Every Monday night, Lula offers a three-course farm dinner for just $34. It is always amazing. Sometimes it’s vegetarian, sometimes you’ll get seafood, but you can’t go wrong."
Tenderloin steak tartare
$$$, Outdoor Seating, French, Full Bar, Cocktail, West Loop
"I love steak tartare, but have been disappointed by it time and again. Never at Maude’s. They make it exactly the way I like it and serve it with grilled bread, mustard sauce, capers, and slow-cooked egg yolk."
Pepito torta
$$, Outdoor Seating, Mexican, Near North Side
"I’m addicted to Rick Bayless’ tiny Mexican joint. My favorite sandwich includes braised short ribs and pickled jalapeños. It’s absolutely delicious. The soups are amazing, too, and you can’t leave without a churro. Now you can eat this at O’Hare International Airport—it’s just as good!"