Supper with Sylvia Perez - Chicago's Foodie Podcast
Pull up a chair and join Emmy Award-winning journalist Sylvia Perez for Supper With Sylvia Perez. In this podcast, Chicago’s most fascinating chefs, celebrities, and changemakers share unforgettable stories over a delicious meal. From Food Network stars to cultural icons, each episode blends mouthwatering conversation with the flavors that make Chicago a world-class food destination. 🌟 Featured Guests Who Inspire and Entertain Past episodes have welcomed an extraordinary lineup, including: Al Roker, Today Show legend and culinary enthusiast Jeff Mauro, Food Network star and Sandwich King himself Chef Art Smith, celebrity chef and Oprah’s former personal chef Rick Bayless, award-winning chef and restaurateur …and many more newsmakers, chefs, and personalities shaping Chicago’s culture and cuisine. 🎙️ What You’ll Discover Each week, Supper With Sylvia Perez serves up: ✅ Authentic, unscripted interviews that go beyond the headlines ✅ Behind-the-scenes stories from kitchens, newsrooms, and stages ✅ Recipes and culinary inspiration to try at home ✅ A celebration of Chicago’s diverse food scene and the people who fuel it Whether you’re a food lover, a storytelling fan, or simply curious about the voices behind your favorite restaurants and headlines, this podcast will feed your curiosity and your appetite. 📲 Listen & Subscribe Follow Supper With Sylvia Perez wherever you get your podcasts and never miss an episode of Chicago’s most flavorful conversations. Produced by Jennie Waters Music, Audio and Technical Support by Donnie Cutting Marketing and Media Promotions by Julie Lokun Director of Digital Operations and Social Media Magali Blasdell
Episodes
More than 50 years and 130 restaurants later, the Melman family is still at the table - and the next generation is pulling up a chair.
In this special live episode ofSupper with Sylvia, we’re sitting down with the Melman kids to talk about what it was really like growing up in a restaurant family. We get into working alongside a legendary dad, sibling dynamics, the pressures and privileges of carrying on a family legacy, and h...
For Monti Carlo, being “between worlds” was never just a figure of speech. Growing up as a Puerto Rican girl in Houston, she learned to navigate two cultures, and questions about where, and how, she belonged.
In her cookbook, Spanglish, Monti traces that journey through food, family, and the experiences that shaped her. She shares her story of becoming a single mom to finding her way onto the MasterChef stage, buil...
What does it take to lose almost everything, and build it all back? In this episode of Supper with Sylvia, we sit down with Chicago chef Thai Dang for a deeply personal conversation about the journey that brought him here. After immigrating from Vietnam as a child, and inspired by his mother’s love of food, Thai worked his way through some of the country’s best kitchens and built a reputation as one of Chicago’s m...
His life looked like a dream to outsiders: award-winning restaurants, a healthy family, national recognition, and a career at the top of the culinary world. But behind the scenes, pressure was mounting for Chef Jonathon Sawyer. The renowned chef was quietly struggling with addiction, at a time many believed he had everything. In this episode of Supper with Sylvia, the acclaimed chef of Kindling in Chicago shares his incredible stor...
He's the man behind one of the most iconic Italian restaurants in Chicago. Tony Priolo brings his passion for simple, delicious ingredients to every dish at Piccolo Sogno; many of them coming direct from Italy. The River West spot is beloved for its secret-garden patio, curated wine list, and seasonal cuisine. But Tony is much more than a chef and restaurateur. In this episode of Supper with Sylvia, he opens up about his humanitari...
2026 is here, and for about one in five of us, that means slowing down after the holiday indulgence. “Dry January” offers a chance to reset your relationship with alcohol - both physically and mentally - by taking a break from drinking, for the entire month. In this episode of Supper with Sylvia, we chat with the owners of a West Town non-alcoholic bottle shop about their top NA picks, from spirits to beer and wine alte...
When you hear the name “José Andrés,” it’s hard to say what comes to mind first: award-winning chef, selfless humanitarian, best-selling author, television personality? All accurate accolades - and Andrés embraces each one of them with humility and humor. We cover all the bases, and then some, in this episode of Supper with Sylvia, including a visit inside José's own kitchen, that's sure to make your mouth water. ...
There's no shortage of incredible restaurants in Chicago, so how do you choose where to go? Whether you're looking for a cozy spot to indulge before Christmas, a top-tier tasting menu, or the best tavern style pizza you can find - The Infatuation has you covered. The website's honest, no-nonsense reviews take the guesswork out of where to grab your next meal. In today's Supper with Sylvia, we speak with The Infatuation's own Adrian...
It's the most wonderful time of the year, unless you torpedo the turkey! We're getting your holiday season started off right, with tips from the place that knows more about the centerpiece of your Thanksgiving meal, than anyone. Longtime Butterball Turkey Talk Line expert Andrea Balitewicz joins Sylvia to share her best advice for a flawless feast. From the one must-have kitchen item for every chef, to foolproof gravy moves, to jaw...
With his signature overalls and bow tie, he's a classic farmer, on a modern mission. In this wide-ranging interview, Farmer Lee Jones shares the incredible journey of transforming his family farm into a model of regenerative agriculture. Farmer Lee discusses the importance of eating with the seasons, how to utilize the entire plant to cut down on your food waste, and his farm's collaboration with some of the world's best chefs. Thi...
In this exclusive live episode recorded at The Metropolitan inside Chicago’s Willis Tower, host Sylvia Perez welcomes Brooke Webster, celebrated sommelier and Wine Ambassador for Olé & Obrigado. Brooke brings her passion for wine, hospitality, and community to the conversation, sharing how her deep knowledge of wines has made her a leading figure in both the culinary and LGBTQ+ hospitality scenes.
Brooke Webster discusses ...
In this inspiring episode of Supper with Sylvia, Emmy Award-winning journalist and host Sylvia Perez welcomes Chef Rick Bayless, the celebrated chef, restaurateur, and cultural ambassador for authentic Mexican cuisine. Known for his acclaimed Chicago restaurants Frontera Grill, Topolobampo, and Tortas Frontera, Rick shares how he has elevated Mexican food to global recognition through storytelling, authenticity, and passion.
The con...
Everything is bigger in Texas—including the appetite for Michelin-starred dining. When Michelin finally awarded stars to restaurants in the Lone Star State, food lover Drew Stephenson set himself an ambitious challenge: eat at every single one. In this episode of Supper with Sylvia, Drew joins Sylvia Perez to share what inspired his Michelin quest (even with a newborn at home), how he managed the ultimate foodie road trip acr...
Pumpkin spice isn’t just for fall anymore — in Chicago’s Norwood Park, it’s a way of life. On this episode of Supper with Sylvia, I sit down with Audrey Borden and Michelle Gonzalez, the powerhouse couple behind October Café, the city’s first year-round, fall-themed coffee shop. Known for their warm greeting (“Nice to meet you, pumpkin!”) and their famous pumpkin spice latte, October Café i...
Join me, Sylvia Perez, for a special LIVE edition of the Supper With Sylvia podcast at the Metropolitan on the 67th floor of Willis Tower. We’ll enjoy a multi-course wine-pairing dinner by Chef Iván Valdez of Taquizas Valdez while I sit down with sommelier Brooke Webster to talk all things wine, her impact in Chicago, and the stories behind each pour.
An intimate evening of food, wine, and conversation awaits—high above ...
On Supper with Sylvia, host Sylvia Perez sits down with Chef Robert Garvey, the New York transplant behind Robert’s Pizza & Dough Co. in Chicago’s Streeterville—recently recognized by 50 Top Pizza as #10 in the U.S. and among the Top 100 in the world. Robert shares why the magic isn’t in the sauce—it’s in the fermented crust—and the 25-year origin story that took him from merchant marin...
On this episode of Supper with Sylvia, Emmy-winning journalist Sylvia Perez sits down with Chef Kevin Hickey, the award-winning Chicago chef behind The Duck Inn in Bridgeport. Just steps away from his childhood home, Hickey has transformed a historic neighborhood tavern into one of Chicago’s most celebrated restaurants—famed for its legendary rotisserie duck, creative cocktails, pizza nights, and backyard pig roasts.
Fro...
In this deeply moving live episode of Supper with Sylvia, recorded at Curtis Duffy’s After lounge, Sylvia sits down with the celebrated chef and author of Fireproof: Memoir of a Chef. Together, they explore the raw edges of Curtis’s journey—from traumatic beginnings in rural Ohio to becoming one of the most celebrated culinary figures in the world. This is a conversation about survival, reinvention, and the healin...
JOIN ME LIVE FOR MY PODCAST FEATURING CURTIS DUFFY- AUGUST 4th:
LIVE - Supper with Sylvia Perez feat. Chef Curtis Duffy - After - Chicago, IL | Tock | Tock
In this soulful and inspiring episode of Supper With Sylvia, we sit down with James Beard Award-winning Chef Erick Williams, the culinary visionary behind Chicago's celebrated Virtue Restaurant and newest hotspot Countina Rosa. Sylvia and Erick dive deep into how food can create c...
JOIN ME LIVE AUGUST 4th!⬇️
LIVE - Supper with Sylvia Perez feat. Chef Curtis Duffy - After - Chicago, IL | Tock | Tock
Ever wondered what happens when your love of hiking meets your passion for craft beer? Meet Dan and Jessica, the couple behind the inspiring new book Beer Hiking Chicago and Beyond. From urban trails with skyline views to suburban forest preserves, they’ve mapped out 34 unforgettable hikes paired with nearby br...
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