For February, Carol Wallack reminisces about how a bad beach day changed her life from surfer girl to carrot peeler to restaurant doyenne of Sola. 3868 N. Lincoln Ave. 773-327-3868

For January, Sean Eastwood (Isabella's Estiatorio) who plans to open the ambitious mediterranean Olo this Winter. 1152 W. Randolf St., 312-733-0573

THIS MONTH Bob DjahanguiriThe energetic PERSIAN native who thrilled Chicagoans a generation ago with Toulouse and Yvette is back, this time with Old Town Brasserie Market and four-star chef Roland Liccioni in the kitchen. 1209 N. Wells St. 312-943-0352

This Month Emmanuel Nony and Kendal Duque unveil an instant classic in Sepia, 123 N. Jefferson st. 312-441-1920

This Month Richard Sandoval. This innovator of modern mexican cuisine masterminded the menu for the Mexx Kitchten at the Whiskey Sutton Place Hotel, 1015 N. Rush St. 312-475-0300

For October, Chicago magazine food journalist Michael chats with Rick Tramonto of quotTruquot and several upcoming spots in the northwest suburbs

For November, Nagrant chats with Maneet Chauhan, a chef trained at the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) whose unlikely Latino-Indian fare continues to defy the odds at Vermilion (10 W. Hubbard St. 312-527-4060)

For December, Nagrant chats with Steve Chiappetti, who made his bones at Mango, Grapes, Rhapsody, and Caf Le Coq. Now he's breathing new life into Viand (Courtyard by Marriott, 155 E. Ontario St. 312-255-8505), an American bistro that he's patterning after Mango

For January, Michael Nagrant chats with Debra Sharpe, who has revamped and expanded her space at Cru Caf Wine Bar to include an outpost of her upscale Bucktown to-go hit, The Goddess and Grocer.

This month, Nagrant chats with two of the citys most knowledgeable fishmongers first, Dirk Fucik, then Bill Dugan, who have a combined 60 years of experience in all things aquatic.