Rick Bayless’s ode to the Mexican state of Baja California Norte celebrates the region’s seafood and live-fire cooking—and now, its wine. Over the past year, Wine Director Jill Gubesch has amassed one of the largest selections of Baja pours in the U.S., including five by the glass.
From The Sommelier: “I love what all the women wine directors in Chicago are doing with their wine programs” Jennifer Wagoner at Sepia and Proxi, Cassie Sakai at Girl & the Goat and Rebekah Graham at Twain. I also really love the fact that for wine lists, size no longer matters. Wine directors are putting together tight lists that you don’t need a table of contents to access.” —Jill Gubesch, Leña Brava
Dish We Loved: Fire-seared Hudson Canyon sea scallops, Oaxacan yellow mole, roasted hen of the woods mushroom, shaved fennel