Even for Chicago neighborhoods that have been abandoned by other businesses, the opening of restaurant hot-spot can have a tremendous impact on rebuilding community and lead to a vibrant network of new growth. When Paul Kahan took a chance on the West Loop back in 1997, opening Blackbird, they had no idea that little island would eventually become home to some of the city’s most talked-about restaurants, including chef Grant Achatz’s innovatively “ticketed” second restaurant Next on Fulton Market.

Join this panel of chefs for a look at the evolution for restaurants in new neighborhoods and how outposts can turn into hotspots, including: Jason Hammel of Lula Cafe, Matthias Merges of Yusho and John Manion of La Sirena.