Rachel Gillman

Writer, interviewer & on-air contributor

Chicago

I'm a freelance writer with a focus on dining, spirits, personality profiles and relationships. I'm perpetually hungry and often in search of a good drink. I have local and national TV experience and a passion for entertainment.

Rachel Gillman

Writer, interviewer & on-air contributor

Chicago

Mouthing Off
It’s fitting that the idea for Between Bites, a live literary event dedicated to food-inspired storytelling, came about when Molly Each, Rachel Gillman Rischall and Liz Grossman were dining together. After all, with careers in the food industry, the three friends break bread often. But their concept for a quarterly event, with an overarching theme like “Inside/Outside” or “Hot/Cold,” where food writers, chefs and restaurateurs read original stories in front of an audience (and help raise money for charity in the process) was unique.
CS Magazine
Personality Profiles Food
Stand-up Success
A lawyer and a comedian walk into a bar. What sounds like the set-up for a classic joke is really the foundation of a thriving partnership. Chris Bader and Carmen Rossi met as students at the University of Illinois while working at a campus bar. Fast forward 11 years and they now own six properties across Chicago, ranging from River North hotspot Hubbard Inn to barbecue hub Barn & Company, with three new additional properties primed for 2015.
Dining Out Chicago
Food Personality Profiles
Cheeky Interviews “Top Chef” Contestants
An 18-wheeler semi-truck pulled onto Michigan Avenue boasting a full kitchen and valuable cargo – the talented chef’testants Kevin Gillespie and Mike Isabella from Season Six of the popular cooking show Top Chef . As part of a cross-country, 21-city trek organized by XA PR, Top Chef: The Tour 3 features a rotation of fan-favorite chefs feeding the masses, sharing cooking tips and divulging a few behind-the-scenes secrets.
Cheeky Chicago
Personality Profiles Food
Jewell Events Catering
As Chicago’s holiday soirée scene heats up, one man will be behind some of the city’s most festive celebrations: George Jewell, the founder of Jewell Events Catering , which has added panache to Windy City parties for nearly five decades. She thanked everyone before it started. One doesn’t always need great gratuities if you can get a charming thank-you.”.
Michigan Avenue
Personality Profiles
Luxury Garage Sale
Luxury Garage Sale founders Lindsay Segal and Brielle Buchberg’s friendship began before kindergarten, but their business partnership didn’t form until 2010 after a fortuitous conversation. The fashion-savvy duo.
NBC Chicago
Personality Profiles
How the Sandoval Brothers Challenged Chicago's Reigning King of Mexican Cuisine
In a city where Mexican food is synonymous with one word -- Bayless -- how do you launch a competitive restaurant concept? For the Sandoval brothers, the key was finding a market void, tweaking their...
NBC Chicago
Personality Profiles
Pop Beauty's Ashley Condron on Crafting an Ironclad Business Model
Making your clients look good is critical for every entrepreneur. Pop Beauty Co-Founder Ashley Condron knows this. As a professional hair stylist in Chicago, she provides beauty lessons, training seminars...
NBC Chicago
Personality Profiles
How to Run a Successful Chicago Spa
Luxury MedSpa Owner Dara Levy wanted to create a business that would meet her exacting standards as a customer. So, tapping into her personal preferences, Dara developed a medical spa focusing on effective...
NBC Chicago
Personality Profiles
Kendra Peterson on Running a Gluten-Free Business
As a personal chef in Chicago, Kendra Peterson serves her clients gluten-free fare with a focus on fresh produce and clean ingredients. As an entrepreneur, she manages dozens of clients, three chefs and...
NBC Chicago
Food Personality Profiles
How Julie Bashkin Shed Her Consultant Skin to Become an Entrepreneur
As a Fulbright Scholar and engagement manager at McKinsey & Company's Chicago office, Julie Bashkin was well versed in creating business plans and working with consumer packaged goods.
NBC Chicago
Personality Profiles
Allium Chef Kevin Hickey on Reinventing Four Season's Hotel Dining
After spending years at the helm of Seasons, the luxury restaurant in the Four Seasons Hotel in the Gold Coast, Executive Chef Kevin Hickey took on his greatest culinary.
NBC Chicago
Food Personality Profiles
Chuy Valencia Talks About Measuring Up to Achatz and Bayless
Chicago is becoming a repository for food talent. But how's that affect up-and-comers?
NBC Chicago
Personality Profiles Food
How Hannah’s Bretzel's Founder Went From Ad Man to Restaurateur
When Florian Pfahler launched the first Hannah’s Bretzel in 2005, he had never worked in a restaurant. Although it was unfamiliar territory, he leveraged his marketing background and entrepreneurial spirit...
NBC Chicago
Personality Profiles Food
How the Bros. Melman Capitalized on the Power of Partnership: Guest
Guest writer Rachel Gillman kicks off a series of Q&As on the nature of biz partnerships and why they work or flop.
NBC Chicago
Food Personality Profiles
How the Duo Behind Boka Flourishes Under the Microscope
In 10 years, partners Kevin Boehm and Rob Katz have opened five restaurants (with another two under construction), launched a catering company, hired 550 employees, developed a sterling reputation as one...
NBC Chicago
Food Personality Profiles
Featured
Chicago's Tech Master: John Tolva
As the Chief Technology Officer for Chicago, it’s John Tolva’s job to be wired. After a global tour with IBM to help cities aggregate municipal data, he’s embracing a new role at the helm of Chicago’s tech initiatives. “It’s an immense privilege, but you need to be on your toes. I love it, and I love the city.
Michigan Avenue
Personality Profiles

About

Rachel Gillman

Lifestyle/food TV segments

Gluten-free dining reviews

Interviewing

I'm passionate about people, dining and entertainment, which means my stories run the gamut from interviewing entrepreneurs to rating Chicago's best steakhouses to movie reviews.

I've covered the restaurant industry, business owners, food and spirits, gluten-free dining, entertainment, dating and relationships for outlets including Glamour.com, Parents.com, Chicago Sun-Times Splash, Michigan Avenue Magazine, NBCChicago.com, Serious Eats Chicago, Metromix, Tasting Table Chicago and DiningOut Chicago.

I've appeared as a guest on The Steve Harvey Show, Windy City Live, the NBC program 1st Look and Check, Please!, and hosted dining segments on CBS, Fox and WGN in Chicago.