Umamicue

I am deeply honored to be recognized as a Rising Star by @starchefs . Success is truly forged through the wisdom gained from overcoming challenges, and I am immensely grateful for the opportunities provided by @spiltmilktavern and @little_victories_chicago . Their partnership has allowed us to showcase our food and share our unique story. I extend my heartfelt thanks to my mentors and partners, @andrewjlim and @tomoh44 , for their invaluable guidance and support. Despite their busy schedules, they have continually reminded me of what it takes to achieve success. I am also grateful to my parents, who made the ultimate sacrifices so that my sister and I could pursue the American dream. Although they were initially apprehensive about my decision to leave a full-time finance career to focus on Umamicue, their tireless work ethic—juggling full-time jobs while managing an ice cream shop—has deeply influenced me. I am also thankful for their ongoing involvement, especially in crafting our delicious egg rolls and rangoons. Thank you to my partner and confidant, @meg_jonesy . Your unwavering support and belief in our vision have been instrumental in helping us continue to reach for our dreams. A huge thank you to our extraordinary team at Umamicue. Your dedication, exceptional hospitality, and commitment to representing our brand have been crucial to our success. Without your support, we would not be where we are today. Finally, to everyone who has supported us—this recognition still feels like a dream, and we deeply appreciate your encouragement and belief in us. Thank you for being a part of this incredible journey. #starchefsrisingstars #umamicue #chicago #logansquare #wickerparkchicago #texasstyle

I spoke to @charlee.cue the chef and owner of Chicago-based @umamicue , who has been trying for some time to open a brick-and-mortar location. We discuss how the setbacks he has faced have helped make him and his business stronger … or at least led to certain opportunities. One of those opportunities was the @theutilityshow restaurant pitch competition, which he won last year.

Smoking and Learning from @umamicue @eatmartanthonys

@umamicue and @advancingjusticechicago collab Smoked Duck and Grits! #luellassouthernkitchen #umamique #brunch #asianamericanandpacificislanderheritagemonth #special

I passed the mic over to @umamicue to host a BBQ roundtable with @therealhefferbbq and @ktexbbq They reflect on their individual journeys, notes on different techniques, and how to scale through pop ups and residencies. Lucky to have these guys in Chicago ❤️ #texasbbq #chicagobbq

A secret alley pizza drop in Ravenswood that rotates charities every month? 😭🍕 Yeah Chicago different. Finally got my hands on Crust Fund Pizza and now I understand why people wait on these shock drops. This pie had giardiniera, smoked chicken thighs by @umamicue , cilantro, and BBQ sauce. Smoky. Sweet. Tangy. Crispy crust. Everything balanced crazy well. But honestly the coolest part might be the concept itself: limited shock drops + rotating monthly charity support. This felt bigger than just pizza. Follow me everywhere: TikTok/IG/FB/Threads/X: @Envvy27 YouTube: @envvyme27 #ChicagoFoodie #ChicagoPizza #Ravenswood #PizzaReview #ChicagoEats

“IT'S THAT TIME! One of my favorite events of the year is back - Chicago’s Taste of the Nation for No Kid Hungry! We're joining over 55 amazing chefs and mixologists in support of No Kid Hungry. Come see [us/me], support this important work, and help us ensure our kids have access to the food they need. 1 in 5 kids lives with hunger in America today, and No Kid Hungry is working on ensuring all kids have access to the meals they need. Visit the link nokidhungry.org/chicago to get your tickets and to see the full list of participants. Eat. Drink. Enjoy. Support NO KID HUNGRY!”

@charlee.cue of @umamicue came on to reflect on his nonlinear journey into BBQ. He’s experienced a multitude of iterations. From pop ups, collaborations, and residencies at @spiltmilktavern & @little_victories_chicago We briefly touched on the potential opening at a food hall but his eyes are set on an actual brick and mortar at this point. 🤞🏼 The city’s rooting for you Charles 🫰🏼

We raised the woof at The Rebel Ball from @mcprescuepack . This incredible nonprofit is an animal rescue & community outreach organization. They specialize in rescuing high-risk dogs, as well as supporting serious medical issues through care & finding forever homes. The gala @revelspace was Barktacular! The event was full of entertainment, great bites & premium sips. There was even a Best in Show Competition featuring 5 of the most adorable pups. Adam was eventually crowned “Top Dog” but they were all winners to me. @nikkichum & @chrispetlak from @1019mixchicago did an excellent job hosting! Thanks to all the restaurants who supported this great cause with perfect bites. Chef Rickie @loganoystersocials delivered the best aji amarillo passion oyster with cucumber, culantro, serrano & passionfruit. I’m always amazed by his flavors, plus his octopus salad & chilled mussels were fabulous too. Chef @charlee.cue @umamicue has quickly become one of my favorites. His @nimanranch char siu lamb rib was flavorful plus, the @fourstarmushrooms lion’s mane slider with smoked mushroom aioli was tasty. The pork belly & sweet plantain from @carnivalechi @carloschefgarza was incredible. I loved the pineapple chutney. Thanks to @tempestasalumi @tempestamarket for the ultimate charcuterie board. I discovered their new innovative sliced meat. It’s NDUJADELLA & it’s excellent. @rpmitalian served up yummy mini prime beef meatballs with roasted garlic & pomodoro. I fell in love with the savory pastry puff filled with caramelized onion & fromage blanc from @monamigabibistro @koehndavid . @therealsushisan killed it with their made to order hand roll bar. I loved the crunchy fatty tuna with pickled onion. @perillafare also served a la galbi handroll with marinated beef short rib. The team @limelightcatering shared many great bites. A big shout out to @gooseisland & @titosvodka for always supporting the amazing dogs! Check out MCP! It’s a great organization to support through fostering, volunteering & donating!

And THAT is a wrap on the pizza and barbecue crossover of Flintstones/Jetsons proportions. Thanks to everyone who came out to the secret pizza alley, ate too much with us, and donated to @nimanranchfoundation to support the future of sustainable farms. You contributed $1,135 for the next generation of farmers and we much appreciate that. We’ll both be back in your feeds before long, and you know we’re gonna have to run this one back sometime soon. Stay tuned.

Look, nobody is immune to the creature comforts of dopamine-engineered chain restaurant food. Not your local alley pizza guy and certainly not Rising Star Chef @charlee.cue . That’s right - we’ve got @umamicue meats this month. Charles and I go pretty far back! I say this grandly because I don’t remember exactly when we met, but I do remember that he’s the kind of guy who instantly feels like you’ve always been friends. We’re both barbecue guys at heart* but he’s got that certain juice that separates a “sighhhhhhh ok Becca’s husband insists on making his ‘famous brisket’ for our party” from “my guy, exactly HOW did you do this to pork ribs?” I tell this to people often: Charles makes food so good that you get mad at it. There’s frankly no higher honor. Friendly and wonderful? Check. Wildly competent? Triple check. Pizza lover? You better believe it, friend. We’ve been wanting to do this for at least a year and a half. Now it’s happening, and I don’t think anyone’s more excited than me and Charles. That doesn’t mean we fancied it up. In fact, we have reverted to comfort flavors and flavor memories. These pizzas hit like a horse on a YouTuber who is like “watch me run up behind this horse.” For this drop, we’ve chosen the @nimanranchfoundation . It’s a scholarship fund focused on the next generation of sustainable farmers. We’ve become so divorced from the producers of our food that it’s incredibly important to remember that hardworking farmers are what makes America such an amazing agricultural country. But people gotta, you know, DO that work. In the face of homogenization, corporate takeover, and the hollowing of the middle class, we feel like that’s a pretty important cause to support. My Dad grew up in Southern Illinois and let me tell you, they weren’t solutions architecting to keep food on the table. Something cool here: Niman entirely underwrites this foundation, so 100% of your contribution will go to support young farmers to set up the next generation of farmers who think about quality and sustainability. This one’s a late drop, so get ya a Celsius and meet us in the alley.

24 hours of work. One bite. Most people don’t see the process - just the moment it lands. #dayinthelife #pitmaster #bbq