Bruce Sherman Speaking Fee: $10,000 and Below

Bruce Sherman is a James Beard Award-winning chef and former partner of North Pond, a Michelin-starred restaurant in Chicago’s Lincoln Park. Over two decades, he transformed the once-casual café into a celebrated destination known for its seasonal, French-influenced American cuisine. Born and raised in Chicago, Sherman initially pursued economics at the University of Pennsylvania and the London School of Economics. However, his culinary journey began after working in Boston’s restaurant scene and running a catering business in Washington, D.C. In 1993, he moved to New Delhi with his wife, immersing himself in local markets and cooking with fresh, seasonal ingredients—a practice that profoundly influenced his cooking philosophy. Sherman further honed his skills at the École Supérieure de Cuisine Française in Paris before returning to Chicago to work at the Ritz-Carlton and later at North Pond in 1999. At North Pond, Sherman emphasized sustainability and local sourcing, collaborating with nearby farms and markets. He was a founding board member of the Green City Market and served as the National Board Chair of Chefs Collaborative. His dedication to seasonal cuisine earned him recognition, including being named one of Food & Wine’s “Best New Chefs” in 2003 and winning the James Beard Award for “Best Chef: Great Lakes” in 2012. In 2019, after 20 years at North Pond, Sherman stepped back from daily operations, leaving the kitchen in the hands of longtime chef de cuisine Tim Vidrio. He remains a partner in the restaurant and continues to advocate for sustainable dining practices. Sherman resides in Evanston with his wife and two daughters, reflecting on a career that has significantly shaped Chicago’s culinary landscape.