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Erica | Chicago Food Expert

@tastebuddiaries

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Chicago food & dining expert
Restaurants • experiences • stories
Co-owner, @thechefthebaker
As seen on WGN 🍽️

POSTS STORIES REELS

From live TV to a record-breaking market — y’all SHOWED UP! 🙌🏾

We had such a great time on @DaytimeChicagoTV sharing our Mac & Cheese, desserts, and Farmers Market vibes! @prufarmersmarket @avillefarmersmarket @southloopfarmersmarket

At one point during the segment, @tonyafranciscotv (one of the amazing hosts) exclaimed, “What did you do to this chicken?!” — and it was the reaction every chef dreams of! 💕 The reactions in this segment were GOLD!

Later that day, the @SouthLoopFarmersMarket was popping and it turned out to be our biggest day ever!
So many familiar faces came through, and we felt the love! 💗

Thank you to everyone who stopped by, supported, followed, and cheered us on.

This journey is powered by community, and we’re so grateful. 💕

🎥 Full segment is in our bio and now live on our website too! (www.thechefandbaker.com)

**@SouthLoopFarmersMarket might just be the new #summertimechi activity — have you been yet? Let us know below or tag who you’re bringing next time!**👇🏽
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#ChicagoEats #ChicagoFoodie #SouthLoopFarmersMarket #AndersonvilleChicago #LoopChicago #PrudentialPlaza #ChicagoEvents #SupportLocalEats #FarmToTableChicago #BlackOwnedChicago #ComfortFoodWithATwist #MacAndCheeseLovers #EatLocalChicago #SummertimeChi #PoweredByCommunity #WomenInFood #GoodVibesOnlyChi #ChicagoSmallBusiness #FoodieLifeChicago #TasteChicago by @tastebuddiaries

Chicago, who’s ready for Thanksgiving?

The food, the family, the time around the table… Thanksgiving is one of our favorite times of the year! 🧡 But all that cooking? We can help with that!

Let @thechefthebaker bring some extra flavor to your holiday with our Thanksgiving meals, prepared with love.

🍽️ THANKSGIVING ORDERS ARE OPEN, AND ORDERS ARE ALREADY COMING IN!

Whether you need a full Thanksgiving meal, individual dinners, or just a few sides, we’ve got you covered!

Browse the menu and place your order at thechefandbaker.com/order or click the link in our bio.
Available for pickup @thehatcherychi or delivery!

👇🏾 Tell us: What’s the ONE Thanksgiving dish you can’t go without?
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#chicagosmallbusiness #ChicagoFoodies #chicagocaterer #chicagogram #chicagoeats by @tastebuddiaries

Let us cook for you this Thanksgiving!

Full dinners, NEW Friendsgiving, and Thanksgiving in a Box for smaller households. Pickup or delivery from @thehatcherychi

Order at thechefandbaker.com/order or click the link in bio and send this to whoever’s hosting this year!
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#chicagofoodie #chicagoeats #chicagocatering #chicagocaterer #chicagogram by @tastebuddiaries

Thanksgiving pre-orders are officially OPEN — and NEW THIS YEAR, we’re offering Friendsgiving meals, too! 💕

Hosting your friends? Bringing everyone together for a holiday dinner? Or want to order Thanksgiving in a box for just you or a small household? We’ve got you covered.

Let us handle the cooking while you enjoy the good food, great company, and memories around the table. Like Olivia Pope says…”It’s handled!” ☺️

Pickup from @thehatcherychi and delivery is also available.

🛒 Order now at https://www.thechefandbaker.com/order
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#ChicagoCatering #chicagogram #foodiechicago #chicagofoodie #chicagofoodscene by @tastebuddiaries

More people need to know about these Chicago gems!

We’ve met some pretty incredible people / places while catering around the city — so we put a few of our favorites in one place!

- Good drinks
- Unique experiences
- Event spaces
- Delicious finds

Our Chicago Hidden Gems Guide is FREE for our email subscribers.

👉🏾Join our list at the link in bio and we’ll send the guide straight to your inbox. (Sometimes it goes to spam, so check there if you don’t see it)

And if you’re featured in the guide — you already know we think you’re a gem. 💕

Be sure to follow and support the incredible local businesses featured in the guide — they’re doing some amazing things around Chicago!

Like & follow for more!
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#chicagoeats #chicagocaterer #thingstodoinchicago #chicagogram chicagofoodie by @tastebuddiaries

Such a highlight of my week! I had the best time at Carla Hall’s @carlaphall book signing at Bookends & Beginnings @bookends_and_beginnings in Evanston with @lesdameschicago 💕

As a caterer and baker, I loved hearing her talk about creativity and experimenting with ingredients. Her encouragement to explore different types of flour reminded me how much there is to play with in baking.

I’ve always loved how Carla is completely herself—quirky, fun, creative and multi-passionate. I even even talked to her a little about natural hair ☺️. I really connect with her authenticity.

I came home with the book and can’t wait to try some of the unique recipes inside!

Definitely add this one to your cookbook collection! 💕💕💕
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#chicagosmallbusiness #chicagofoodscene #chicagofoodanddrink #chicagogram by @tastebuddiaries

Such a great afternoon with @lesdameschicago Les Dames d’Escoffier at the Academy for Global Citizenship! @globalchicago 🌱💚 We went on a tour of the garden and chef Stacey provided us with bags full of fresh produce, followed by a potluck with the Dames.

I really love being part of this group. Food is truly my passion, and I can nerd out about everything from ingredients and cooking to hospitality and the business of food 💕

If you’re a woman working in food or beverage and curious about Les Dames, DM me! I’d love to tell you more about membership. 💚
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#LesDamesDEscoffier #ChicagoFoodScene #WomenInFood #ChicagoFoodies by @tastebuddiaries

When we booked our tickets to the French Open, we had no idea who would be playing on what day. So it didn’t feel like a coincidence that the match we attended was Coco Gauff vs. Taylor Townsend — two Black women competing at the highest level of Tennis. I felt so grateful to witness this moment.

THEN they announced that May 26th marked the 70th anniversary of Althea Gibson’s historic French Open win, where she became the first Black athlete and first woman of color to win a Grand Slam singles title.

At that point, I got emotional.

To be sitting there on that particular day, watching Coco & Taylor walk through the doors that Althea Gibson opened, felt OVERWHELMINGLY meaningful. The sisterhood, the excellence, the history, the joy — it was all incredibly moving.

I truly feel like I was MEANT to be there.

I left inspired and reminded to keep walking in my purpose, to keep pursuing excellence, and to stay open to the beautiful moments God places in our lives.

Thank you, God. 🙏🏾 by @tastebuddiaries

We’re back, Printers Row! 🧡💚
Starting May 30th, catch us EVERY Saturday this summer at the Printers Row Farmers Market @southloopfarmersmarket— and we’re bringing something NEW 👀

Introducing our brunch bowl:
✨ Fried Chicken
✨ French Toast
✨ Chef Jason’s soft scrambled eggs

Think chicken & waffles with a Chef & The Baker twist 🙌🏾

We’ll also have our mac & cheese, bougie rice krispy treats, and chocolate chip & pecan cookies

📍632 S. Dearborn St, Chicago
🗓 We will be there Saturdays starting May 30th | 9AM–1PM

SAVE this post for your brunch plans and tag who you’re bringing to the market 👇🏾
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#ChicagoFoodie #FoodieChicago #ChicagoThingsToDo #ChicagoFarmersMarket #BrunchChicago by @tastebuddiaries

Time is flying! Easter is next weekend (Sunday April 5th)!

If you don’t feel like cooking all day, we’ve got Easter dinners for 4-6 people, individual dinners, sides, and desserts available for curbside pickup or delivery next Saturday 4/4. Just heat, serve, and enjoy!

Orders close Sunday 3/29. Don’t miss out!

Order at www.thechefandbaker.com/order - we are looking forward to being a part of your Easter!
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#chicagofood #ChicagoCatering
#easterdinner #ChicagoFoodie
#ChicagoEats by @tastebuddiaries

Time is flying! Easter is next weekend (Sunday April 5th)!

If you don’t feel like cooking all day, we’ve got Easter dinners for 4-6 people, individual dinners, sides, and desserts available for curbside pickup or delivery next Saturday 4/4. Just heat, serve, and enjoy!

Orders close Sunday 3/29. Don’t miss out!

Order at www.thechefandbaker.com/order - we are looking forward to being a part of your Easter!
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#chicagofood #ChicagoCatering
#easterdinner #ChicagoFoodie
#ChicagoEats by @tastebuddiaries

Our Easter menu is now live! We’re offering Heat & Serve Easter Dinner, individual dinner boxes, and a la carte sides and desserts. Perfect if you’re hosting, bringing a dish somewhere, or just don’t feel like cooking.

Menu includes turkey or ham, mac & cheese, greens, cornbread dressing, plus desserts like mini 7-Up bundt cakes, chocolate chip & pecan cookies, and salted brown butter rice krispy treats.

Order by March 29. Pickup is the day before Easter from The Hatchery or South Loop. Delivery available.

Order through the link in our bio.

#ChicagoFood #EasterDinner #TheChefAndTheBaker #ChicagoCatering #HeatAndServe by @tastebuddiaries