Pastry Chef/Baker

Mindy Segal

"I love the burger from Hot Chocolate. The cheese, the egg, the bun—it's all so great."

"This place is always a great getaway, and the burger is always perfectly executed. The pâté is great, too, and Luke LeFiles makes an excellent Manhattan."

"If you want a caffeine and sugar rush in one glass, go see Mindy at Hot Chocolate. Half espresso, half chocolate. It really is decadence in a glass."

"Mindy takes bacon to a whole new level in these cookies; they're truly 'da bomb.' They're made with bacon grease, so the bacon flavor is literally everywhere. Bacon and chocolate together is an amazing combination."

"It's got a crispy golden crust on the outside, and it's fluffy and moist on the inside with a round buttermilk flavor. These are the pancakes that you wish you could make—or even better, what you dreamed your parents would make for you before they forced you to rake the leaves outside. They're what those packaged mixes promise you on their outside glamour shots (but always fail to deliver). A great reminder why pancakes are a standard in the daily breakfast repertoire."

"Wait until Chicago's winter chill really hits, then warm your soul with Mindy Segal’s rich cocoa and perfectly crisp cookies to match."