Chicago chefs, restaurants and bakeries on Twitter

March 21, 12:55 PMChicago Dining ExaminerEmily Szopa

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You can't escape it: Everywhere you look, Twitter is already there. Maybe you already tweet your daily activities and favorite links or maybe you don't quite understand the point of it...yet. Either way, one thing is for sure, and that's the overwhelming presence of Chicago chefs, restaurants and foodies on Twitter.

I tweet @ChicagoDining. That just means my Twitter "handle" is "ChicagoDining" and it's where I post links to interesting food stories, tidbits and random food thoughts throughout the day. I didn't "get it" at first, but it really didn't take long for me to figure out what a great social tool Twitter can be, especially for Chicagoans who love their food (and what Chicagoan doesn't?).

Whether it's Chef Paul Kahan live-tweeting The Publican's first brunch or it's Cafe Ba Ba Reeba sending out a message that their patio will be open certain days already, I've found that "following" these folks is a heckuvalot of fun, not to mention it's a great way to keep current with what's new and exciting. And by current, I mean up-to-the-second current.

It's both entertaining and informative to see what links Chicago Top Chef Stephanie Izard wants to share or what new food ideas Alinea's Grant Achatz is batting around. And it's great to have a casual forum where you can actually interact with these culinary rockstars. Sure, it can be intimidating at first, but once you start "following" people, you'll catch on pretty quickly. The only rule (other than being respectful, which I like to think goes without saying, but just in case...) is that you only have 140 character to express yourself, so choose wisely.

If you're looking to join the Twitterverse, here are some great local chefs and restaurants to follow (in absolutely no particular order), although some might be so new to Twitter themselves that they might not have a ton of updates just yet (be patient!):

Chicago chefs/owners on Twitter

• Paul Kahan (of Avec, Blackbird and The Publican)
• Homaro Cantu (of Moto)
• Chris Pandel (of The Bristol)
  
• Graham Elliot Bowles (of Graham Elliot)
• Grant Achatz (of Alinea)
• Rick Tramonto (of Tru)
• Mark Mendez (of Carnivale)
• Stephanie Izard (of the upcoming Drunken Goat; Top Chef Chicago)
• Koren Grieveson (of Avec)
• Martial Noguier (of Cafe des Architects and the Sofitel)
• Efrain Cuevas (of Clandestino)
• Troy Graves (of Eve)
• Carrie Nahabedian (of Naha)
• Rick Bayless (of Topolobampo, Frontera Grill)
• Curtis Duffy (of Avenues at the Peninsula Hotel)
• Ryan Poli (of Perennial)
• Tim Graham (of Tru)
• Paul Virant (of Vie)
• Mike Sheerin (of Blackbird)
• John Ross (co-owner, The Bristol)
• Debbie Sharpe (owner, Feast, The Goddess & Grocer)
• Rick Gresh (of David Burke's Primehouse)
• Tony Galzin (of mk, formerly of The Libertine)
• Erick Williams (of mk)
• Michael McDonald (of onesixtyblue)
• Jon Young (of Kitsch'n, Paramount Room and Volo)
• Phillip Foss (of Lockwood)
• Giuseppe Tentori (of Boka)
• David Schneider (of Taxim)
• Todd Stein (of Roof at theWit)
• Michael Kornick (owner, mk)
• Dan Tucker (of SushiSamba Rio)
• Chris Curran (of Blue 13)
• Amanda Downing (of Rockit Bar and Grill)

Chicago restaurants on Twitter

• Landmark Grill
• Chaise Lounge
• L20
  
• Le Colonial
• Duchamp
  
• Zed 451
  
• Cafe Ba Ba Reeba
  
• Small Bar
• Hot Doug's
• Wow Bao
• Lido's Caffé (in Oak Park)
• Morton's
• McCormick & Schmick's
  
• Estelle's
  
• Nacional 27
• mk
• Harmony Grill
• Bob Chinn's
• Manny's Deli
• Big Jones
• Tizi Melloul
• Ben Pao
• Mon Ami Gabi
• Pie-Eyed Pizzaria
• Wildfire
• Mercat a la Planxa
• Pompei Pizza
• Tuscany (in Wheeling)
• DMK Burger Bar
• Gino's East
• Kitsch'n
• Volo Wine Bar
• Paramount Room
• mado
• Piccolo Sogno
• Maggiano's
• Flatwater
• Flat Top Grill
• The Fifty/50
• Uncle Fatty's
• Wishbone (Berwyn)
• Urban Belly
• Superdawg
• Ai Sushi
• Eppy's Deli
• ENO Wine Bar
• Holiday Grill
• Pappadeaux Seafood
• Starfruit Cafe (frozen kefir goodness)
• Province
• Scoozi
• Cité Restaurant
• Castaways Bar & Grill
• Amber Cafe (Westmont)
• Terrace at the Trump Hotel
• Mon Ami Gabi (Oakbrook)
• Spring
• Green Zebra
• FDM (Sister restaurant to Fonda del Mar)
• Jake Melnick's
• Blue 13
• Aigre Doux (now closed)
• Hannah's Bretzel
• Fizz Chicago
• Pizza Fusion (Naperville)
• The Drawing Room

Chicago bakeries on Twitter

• More Cupcakes
• Floriole Bakery
• Bleeding Heart Bakery
• Molly's Cupcakes
• Phoebe's Cupcakes
• Foiled Cupcakes
  
• La Petite Sweet (Westmont)
• Eli's Cheesecake
• Swirlz Cupcakes
• Sweet Jenn's Bakery

Chicago beer!

• Goose Island
• 3 Floyds (Indiana)
• Metro Brewing
• Two Brothers Brewing Co.

Other food-related Chicago Tweeps

• Chicago's Downtown Farmstand
  
• Green City Market
• Lynfred Winery
  
• Alpana Singh (of Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises)
• Tamale Guy (tracks where the tamale guy is and reports back)
  
• Green Grocer Chicago
• Gregory Hall (brewmaster at Goose Island)
• Southport Grocer
• Fork and the Road (culinary bike tours of the city)
• Chicago Food Planet (culinary walking tours of the city)
• Pasta Puttana
• Josh Kaplan (bev mgr/sommelier at theWit Hotel)
• Common Threads (non-profit; educating kids about eating/cooking healthy food)
• Marconi Foods
• Kendall College
• Hideout
• Chicago Bar Project
• The Chopping Block (cooking classes)
• Chicago TomatoFest
• BaconFest Chicago
• Entertainment Cruises (dining cruises on Lake Michigan)