Paul Kahan

It’s hard to imagine what contemporary Chicago dining would be without Paul Kahan. His first restaurant, Blackbird, sparked a culinary revolution when it opened in 1997, ushering in a golden age of fine dining and molding the city’s West Loop into the food destination it is today. Since then, Kahan’s portfolio — in partnership with Donnie Madia at One Off Hospitality — has grown to include some of the city’s most essential restaurants, including Avec and The Publican, which prioritize warmth, precision, and a devotion to local sourcing as a strong throughline. Kahan’s impact echoes across the city, as the restaurant group’s alums run some of the best restaurants in town.