Supper with Sylvia Perez - Chicago's Foodie Podcast
Pull up a chair and join Emmy Award-winning journalist Sylvia Perez for Supper With Sylvia Perez. In this podcast, Chicago’s most fascinating chefs, celebrities, and changemakers share unforgettable stories over a delicious meal.
From Food Network stars to cultural icons, each episode blends mouthwatering conversation with the flavors that make Chicago a world-class food destination.
🌟 Featured Guests Who Inspire and Entertain
Past episodes have welcomed an extraordinary lineup, including:
- Al Roker, Today Show legend and culinary enthusiast
- Jeff Mauro, Food Network star and Sandwich King himself
- Chef Art Smith, celebrity chef and Oprah’s former personal chef
- Rick Bayless, award-winning chef and restaurateur
…and many more newsmakers, chefs, and personalities shaping Chicago’s culture and cuisine.
🎙️ What You’ll Discover
Each week, Supper With Sylvia Perez serves up:
✅ Authentic, unscripted interviews that go beyond the headlines
✅ Behind-the-scenes stories from kitchens, newsrooms, and stages
✅ Recipes and culinary inspiration to try at home
✅ A celebration of Chicago’s diverse food scene and the people who fuel it
Whether you’re a food lover, a storytelling fan, or simply curious about the voices behind your favorite restaurants and headlines, this podcast will feed your curiosity and your appetite.
📲 Listen & Subscribe
Follow Supper With Sylvia Perez wherever you get your podcasts and never miss an episode of Chicago’s most flavorful conversations.
Produced by Jennie Waters
Music, Audio and Technical Support by Donnie Cutting
Marketing and Media Promotions by Julie Lokun
Director of Digital Operations and Social Media Magali Blasdell
Supper with Sylvia Perez - Chicago's Foodie Podcast
Two Pennies and a Comeback: Thai Dang’s Remarkable Story
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What does it take to lose almost everything, and build it all back? In this episode of Supper with Sylvia, we sit down with Chicago chef Thai Dang for a deeply personal conversation about the journey that brought him here. After immigrating from Vietnam as a child, and inspired by his mother’s love of food, Thai worked his way through some of the country’s best kitchens and built a reputation as one of Chicago’s most exciting chefs. But as he neared the height of his success, everything changed. Thai found himself dealing with an embezzlement scandal involving a former business partner, and the devastating financial and personal fallout that followed. With his wife, Danielle, by his side, Thai rebuilt. Today, he's the iconic chef behind HaiSous and Crying Tiger, but his story goes far beyond restaurants. In this Season 2 premiere of Supper with Sylvia, we discuss family, ambition, betrayal, resilience, and the lessons Thai has learned from the highs and lows of the restaurant industry. Most of all, it’s a conversation about continuing to grow, and finding a way to lift others up along the way.
📌Check out SupperwithSylvia on Instagram.
📩Email us at SupperwithSylvia@gmail.com
This episode is brought to you by MARIANO'S.
🛒 Proudly Sponsored by Mariano’s
Looking for local flavor you can bring home? Discover chef-crafted sauces, pastas, oils, and more from your favorite Chicago chefs — now available through Mariano’s We Love Local program. Support local artisans, savor authentic taste, and celebrate Chicago’s culinary spirit with every bite.
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Producer: Jennifer Waters
Video and Audio Editor: Donnie Cutting
Strategy and Partnerships: Iliana Blasdell