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Stephanie Izard

Ingredient: Corn

About Stephanie

Stephanie Izard, James Beard “Best Chef: Great Lakes” recipient 2013, and 2011 Food & Wine “Best New Chef,” is the Executive Chef/Partner of three of Chicago’s most-celebrated restaurants: Girl & the Goat, Little Goat Diner, and Duck Duck Goat.

Born in Chicago and raised in Stamford, Connecticut, Stephanie attended the University of Michigan followed by Scottsdale Culinary Institute in Arizona, before returning to Chicago in 2000 to pursue her culinary career. After cooking at various Chicago restaurants for some of the city’s best chefs (Jean-Georges Vongerichten at Vong; Sean McClain at Spring; Dale Levitski at La Tache) she opened her first restaurant, Scylla, in Bucktown in 2004. A few years later, she had the opportunity to compete on Bravo’s Top Chef. Izard was the first female winner, and is the only winner in the show’s history to take home the title “Fan Favorite.” It was shortly after Top Chef that the idea for Izard’s Goat brand was born and she met her business partners Rob Katz and Kevin Boehm of Boka Restaurant Group.

In addition to her restaurants, Izard launched a product line called This Little Goat, consisting of cooking sauces and spice mixes available for purchase for the home cook. Izard’s first book, “Girl in the Kitchen,” was released in the fall of 2011 (Chronicle). More information on Stephanie can be found at www.stephanieizard.com or follow her @StephAndTheGoat .

Why I Love Corn

One of my favorite things about summer in Chicago is heading to the farmers market, grabbing an ear of just-picked, fresh sweet corn, and eating it raw as I wander through the rest of the market. The kernels are so sweet it's pretty much like eating candy.

Sweet Corn Elotes

Serves 4 - 6 side servings
Delicacies Chef's Table

Delicacies Chef’s Table

July 1 - September 30, 2017

Chef Stephanie chose to support non-profit No Kid Hungry with a monetary donation (resulting from sales) from Delicacies in 2017.

Mythology

Corn comes from the Americas, where it was deified and revered as the basis for life. Without one reliable grain to sustain a people there could be no civilization, no time for anything other than subsistence. Early Mesoamericans personified corn a gracious, glorious woman; she is the giver and the gift. And in fact the ancient Mayans believed that human beings were created from corn. When we wear the corn charm we are reminded to be filled with gratitude for our daily food, for the fertile earth, for this good life. Corn can be ground into tortillas, popped as a communal matinee snack, and distilled into potent liquor. For these delicious things we are eternally grateful.
Shop the Corn collection
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