Back in March, when the weather was still cold and dreary, we praised chef C.J. Jacobson for bringing some west-coast sunshine to Intro, the Lettuce Entertain You concept that hosts a new chef—who presents a new menu—every three months or so. Another LA chef is on his way to the restaurant’s kitchen, by way of New York City. Stephen Gillanders, who started cooking at the tender age of 15, has spent the past four years in New York working as an executive chef for the legendary Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s food empire, overseeing all the NYC properties and helping to open nine more all over the world, including Pump Room in Chicago. As the chill sets in, Gillanders will spend his time here warming up for bigger things: he plans on opening his own restaurant, S.K.Y., in LA in 2016. Consider his stint at Intro a preview.
10/22-1/16, Intro, 2300 N. Lincoln Park West, 773-868-0002, introchicago.com.