Mission Statement:

Our goal is to help those who are new to Chicago, whether that be tourists, new students, or new residents, to become better acquainted with all of the wonderful neighborhoods that make up the great city of Chicago, and what better way to explore a city than to systematically eat your way through it!

Biographies:

Grace Burton – I am a junior at Loyola University Chicago studying public relations and political science with the hopes of becoming a lawyer. As an out of state student and a transfer student, I have been to many cities, but none quite like that of Chicago. The first moment I stepped off the plane on my first trip, I knew this was somewhere very special. While my love for Chicago runs deep, it doesn’t even compare to my love of food. I feel food is something that is not something that should just be considered a necessity, but something that is a joyous celebration of the culture and community that goes into its creation. Chicago is a wildly diverse city with each of its neighborhoods boasting a culture and community of its own, and there is no greater way to get to know a place than by experiencing the unique cuisine and atmosphere it creates through its food scene.

Rachel Haselow – I am a senior at Loyola University Chicago studying public relations and advertising. One day I hope to be able to positively impact and influence people into moving forward in what they want to accomplish in their life. Whether that be going after a dream job or trying the most talked about restaurants in Chicago. $2 taco and happy hour deals are a few things that make me happy. Living in Chicago has widen my opportunity for finding this happiness. I hope to be able to share this happiness with you as I go to different neighborhoods and eat some of the tastiest foods in Chicago!

Peyton Allen – I am a Junior attending Loyola Chicago, studying as a Film and Human Relations double major. Food has always been an appetizing thing for me to capture in a visual medium, and as a very picky eater, how a food looks is a big part of whether or not I like it, which is my personal angle going forward when talking about the various restaurants. As a Chicago native, I’ll be doing my part to show you the most appealing restaurants in the area!

Alex Penn – I am a junior at Loyola studying advertising and public relations with a minor in marketing. I grew up in Minnesota and knew that I wanted to go out of state and start a new life for myself after high school. I ended up in Chicago because I fell in love with this city at an early age when I was on vacation. Traveling and spending time with family is something that has always been a huge part of my growing up.

The majority of my travel experiences have landed me in Central and South America making Latin American cuisine a favorite of mine. I love the culture and art that surrounds various types of food and that is the main reason I became passionate about trying new restaurants and indulging in different cuisines. I will be taking you guys through various neighborhoods of Chicago and showing you the best restaurants for any type of meal you may want. Your job is easy, just keep on reading and you’ll find the best of the best near you!

Octavian Wells – I am a junior at Loyola majoring in Communications Studies with a minor in English. I’ve always been passionate about food. My dad was a chef at one point in his life. When I was younger, I used to sit in the kitchen for hours and watch my father cook and make interesting things. I love making dishes from scratch, I think that’s where I got my love for food.  Also, being a college athlete, studying different kinds of foods and their benefits have become very important to me. Food is nourishment. Food brings people together. That’s why it will always have a special place in my heart!

Samira Touirto-Zaharian- I’m a junior at Loyola University Chicago majoring in film and digital media production with a psychology minor.  I grew up in a multicultural household where my dad is Moroccan and my mom is Armenian so I was surrounded by different kinds of foods constantly.  Because of my background, I’ve always had a love for food and trying different kinds of food from different cultures which helped shape me as a person and exposed me to different cultures.  In my experience, food brings people together and helps bond people.  Sharing something with others that’s so personal and close to home has taught me to appreciate what I have and to appreciate others sharing with me.  Food has taught me about sharing, different cultures, and also how to appreciate everything I have which is why it’s impact is so relevant in my life.

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