Today, we accomplished three things: 1) Mourned some of the Chicago restaurants we lost last year, 2) Rejoiced in some of the delicious new spots we’ve recently gained, and 3) Talked about the local food trends to watch for in 2024.

To do that we were joined by Michael Nagrant, the food critic and writer behind The Hunger, a Substack site with local, anonymously-procured food reviews, and Brenda Storch, a food writer, Chicago Eater contributor and the creator of the food and culture site LaVitaminaTt.com.

“We’re so lucky in Chicago to have so many cultures converging. And have the availability of ingredients and experiences.” Storch said. “People who cannot go back to their countries will find that memory in a dish that they will find nearby.