Iliana Regan facts for kids
 |
|
| Born | 1979 Merrillville, Indiana |
|---|---|
| Education | Indiana University Bloomington Columbia College Chicago |
|
Current restaurant(s)
Elizabeth, The Milkweed Inn
|
|
|
Previous restaurant(s)
Trio, Schwa, Alinea
|
|
|
Award(s) won
2014 Michelin Star
 , Elizabeth2016 Food & Wine Best New Chef |
|
Iliana Regan is an American chef and restaurant owner. She ran a restaurant called Elizabeth in Chicago from 2012 to 2020. This restaurant earned special awards called Michelin stars every year it was open. Since 2019, she has owned The Milkweed Inn in Wetmore, Michigan.
Early Life and Education
Iliana Regan was born in 1979 in Merrillville, Indiana. She grew up on a 10-acre farm with her three older sisters. Her mother cooked everything from scratch, and her father, who worked in a steel factory, was a gardener.
Iliana first studied chemistry at Indiana University Bloomington. Later, she earned a degree in Creative writing from Columbia College Chicago.
Amazing Culinary Journey
Before opening her own places, Iliana Regan worked as a waitress and cook. She gained experience in several well-known restaurants in Chicago. These included Trio, Schwa, and Alinea.
In 2008, she started selling tiny plants called microgreens and fresh vegetables at local farmer's markets. Soon after, she also began selling pierogi, which are delicious dumplings.
-
-
- Starting a Supper Club ==
-
In 2010, Iliana started a weekly supper club in her own apartment. She would host 10 to 12 guests for dinner. Through this supper club, she met people who wanted to help her open her very own restaurant.
-
-
- Elizabeth Restaurant ==
-
Iliana named her first restaurant Elizabeth after her sister who had passed away. It opened in Chicago's Lincoln Square in 2012.
Elizabeth was known for using ingredients grown at home or found in nature. At first, it offered special multi-course meals at three shared tables. Later, the menu became shorter, and the shared tables were removed. The restaurant quickly became popular. It earned a Michelin star in its second year. In July 2020, Iliana gave ownership of Elizabeth to her employees.
-
-
- The Milkweed Inn ==
-
In 2017, Iliana opened another restaurant called Kitsune, which had Japanese influences. It closed in 2019.
In 2019, Iliana and her wife, Anna, opened The Milkweed Inn. This special place is located in Nahma Township in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The Milkweed Inn welcomes 10 guests each weekend from April to October. Guests can stay in rooms at the inn, a platform tent, or a small Airstream trailer. It offers a unique cooking experience focused on ingredients found in nature.
-
-
- Published Books ==
-
Iliana Regan has also written books. In 2019, she published a memoir titled Burn the Place. A memoir is a book where someone tells stories from their own life. This book was recognized by the New York Times and The New Yorker for its unique storytelling.
In January 2023, her second memoir, Fieldwork, was released. This book shares her experiences spending years finding food in the woods and living close to nature.
Awards and Recognition
Iliana Regan has received many awards for her cooking. In 2008, Chicago Magazine said her pierogi were the best in the city. In 2016, Food & Wine magazine named her one of the best new chefs. She was also included in Crain's Chicago Business 40 Under 40 list, which highlights successful young professionals. Famous chef David Chang has called her one of the best chefs he knows.
Her book Burn the Place was considered for the National Book Award in 2019. This was a big achievement, as it was the first time a food-related book had been recognized in this way since 1979. Smithsonian magazine also listed Burn the Place as one of the top ten books about food in 2019. The book also won prizes from the Midland Author's prize and Story Studio Chicago.
Personal Life
Iliana Regan is married to Anna Hamlin. They live together at The Milkweed Inn with their four dogs.
