Since 2014, Beverly Kim and Johnny Clark have run one of Chicago's most beloved restaurants, Parachute, which pays homage to Kim's Korean heritage. In the depths of the pandemic, Kim launched another endeavor, The Abundance Setting, to support working mothers in the industry, providing mentorship, meal delivery, and advocacy. The work has brought her closer to many chefs in the city sharing similar struggles. "As we come out of the pandemic," says Kim, "let’s celebrate all these strong women."

"I have a special place in my heart for Prairie Grass Cafe. I reached out to the chef Sarah Stegner when I was in high school, and she has mentored me ever since. She has always been a leader in the movement for sustainable agriculture and supporting local farmers. When I was just a young cook, seeing her get married and have a family—it normalized that for me and inspired me. She's a founding board member of The Abudance Setting. It's a beautiful relationship I've had since 1996!"

"Amy Morton is the owner of The Barn Steakhouse, and Debbie Gold, the chef, was one of our first mentors in our program. Her story is very inspiring: She has this very lived experience of raising two daugthers as a single mom, working back-of-house without a lot of flexibility. She was so passionate about her career, and she wants this to be a better industry for all of us. She's an amazing chef."

"Hewn Bakery is run by two moms who both have children: Julie Matthei and Ellen King. Their product is phenomenal: They use a lot of heirloom seeds and heritage grains, and they have an amazing sourdough program. We've partnered with them on a few things; they're very involved in the community, speaking out about gender inequities and just living out such a beautiful business. I'm a huge fan of them; they're amazing women who really give back in a lot of ways."

"Demera's chef and owner, Tigist Reda, is an immigrant from Ethiopia, and she's been very active in the fight for justice for the victims of war crimes toward women. At Demera, her injera bread is so delicious, and everything has really deep flavors and balance. It's from her heart. I'm amazed by her and how she got her business up and running, meanwhile being a mom and helping others. She's a huge player in our community, she's a wonderful woman, and her food is amazing."

"Becca Grothe and her husband, Cam Woren, are the sweetest people, and the sandwiches at TriBecca's are really delicious. Becca is a really strong chef who worked with Honey Butter Fried Chicken for a long time, and now she has her own business, and her goal is to really give back to the community as well. They're in my Avondale neighborhood. Becca has a very young son, and it really meant a lot for her to be in connection with other chefs who were raising children during the pandemic."

"Eden recently opened in Avondale. They have a really cool breakfast and lunch menu right now, and it's great for the community to have something like that. I got to know the owner, Jodie Fyfe, through her catering company called Paramount. We've done a few events together, and she joined our board at The Abundance Setting. All the things that she lived through as a woman coming up in the industry are a reminder of why we need this organization—to tell these stories."

"Soul & Smoke has a location in Avondale, as well as one in Evanston and in Time Out Market in the West Loop. Their barbecue is really delicious; it's the real deal when it comes to brisket and ribs. The husband-and-wife behind it, Heather Bublick and D'Andre Carter, are parents, and they've been excited about having a space to talk about parenting in the industry. They have helped us fundraise for events for The Abundance Setting. I highly recommend giving one of their locations a visit."

"What Diana Davila has brought to the community is amazing. She is a powerful presence. Her food is delicious—it's elegant, it's fun. Her staff is amazing. Her space is really cool; it's small and special. And she's doing it with young kids, just like me. She's dynamite. Her food is insane. I love her as a person. She has given back in so many ways. She has been a leading advocate for undocumented restaurant workers. She's a strong force, and everyone should go try her food!"

"Dana Cree, an amazing, intelligent, smart, witty, talented woman, now has two locations of Pretty Cool Ice Cream, the second in Lincoln Park. I'm happy to see her growing. She's always the first to say yes to supporting events with popsicles or ice cream. She's so supportive and hands-on. She has a young daughter, and we got to know each other more more in the pandemic, because of our shared struggles and shared hopes. I'm so glad she's in Chicago and we get to have her amazing frozen treats!"