Before she built restaurants across the country, Stephanie Izard was a Midwest kid with big dreams. A Chicago native, Izard first captured national attention in 2008 when she became the first woman to win Top Chef. This milestone helped open doors for a new generation of women in the industry. Nearly two decades later, she’s best known for Chicago-founded restaurants like Girl and the Goat, which has since expanded to Los Angeles, along with Chicago staples such as Little Goat Diner, Duck Duck Goat, and Cabra, plus Valley Goat in Silicon Valley, California.
We caught up with Izard last month during her return to the South Beach Wine and Food Festival to talk about Midwest roots, women who’ve inspired her, and how she’s balancing life in—and out—of the kitchen.
You’re fresh from the South Beach Wine and Food Festival—what was your favorite moment from this year’s festival? …