Today we’d like to introduce you to Paul Virant.
Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, how did you get started?
I grew up in St. Louis in Chesterfield. My formal cooking career started at Malmaison in the late 80s, and then I went to the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY. I worked in NYC for 2 years and then moved to Chicago in 1996 to work for Charlie Trotter. I worked at a handful of restaurants, notably, Ambria, Everest, & Blackbird, before opening Vie in 2004. I currently own Vie, Vistro Prime, and Gaijin in Chicago. I also have a cookbook, “The Preservation Kitchen,” and a product line of preserves called “Jar Sessions.”
It wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Every road has its turns, hills, and potholes! I closed a restaurant in Chicago in 2016, Perennial Virant. I opened Vistro in 2014 with a business partner that unfortunately didn’t work out—the pandemic. I re-conceived my restaurant Vistro to Vistro Prime in 2021, I’m closing Vie end of July due to landlord issues, but I’m buying a building to move the restaurant. Fingers crossed!
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Gaijin?
We specialize in okonomiyaki, which is a super popular Japanese comfort dish that comes from Osaka. It is a savory cabbage pancake that is customizable. We are one of a handful of restaurants in North America that specialize in okonomiyaki. We also specialize in kakigori (shaved ice), yakisoba, and mochi donuts. All are pretty unique to the American palate and market.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
“My wife, Jennifer, and I have been married 25 years and have two sons, Lincoln, 21 & Zane, 19. We also have a dog and two cats, Todd, Salem, and Jimmy.”
Contact Info:
- Website: gaijinchicago.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gaijinchicago/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gaijinchicago/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@gaijinchicago
