Food & Wine magazine has named Iliana Regan, the owner/chef of both Elizabeth and Bunny, the Micro Bakery, as one of the Best New Chefs in America in 2016. There were a total of 11 winners this year, making this the seventh year in a row a Chicago chef has been included in the awards. Regan joins the ranks of Jake Bickelhaupt (42 Grams), Dave Beran (Next), Jason Vincent (then of Nightwood and now upcoming Giant), Danny Grant (Ria), Stephanie Izard (Girl and the Goat) and Mike Sheerin (Blackbird).
Regan has quickly become one of the city's rising culinary star since opening her communal fine-dining restaurant Elizabeth in 2012. She opened the quaint Bunny, the Micro Bakery (which we love) in January and plans to open Kitsune, a casual Japanese dining concept in Lincoln Square, later this year.