08-05-2025
"Family Meal" digs into Chicago restaurant stories
Longtime Chicago food journalist Ari Bendersky has launched "Family Meal," a YouTube-based show that escorts viewers behind the scenes at local restaurants.
The first episode at Brasero with chef John Manion and several staffers kicked off the series last month.
What they're saying:"We want to hear everyone's stories: the crazy nights, how they got into the business, what advice they have for someone who wants to work in the industry or open a restaurant, all the stories," Bendersky tells Axios.
The intention: To show "what restaurant life is really like. It's not all glitz and glam or the insanity shown on 'The Bear,'" he says.
"We want people to understand that oftentimes restaurants are more than just a place you work; restaurants become your family."
💭 Monica's thought bubble: I loved the show's refreshing candor, handsome production values and the quart containers used as cups on the table. Way to keep it real!
