Press/Bio’s

Kitsch'n's successful pairing of delicious comfort food with memory invoking campy-retro chic has helped to gain it numerous awards, accolades and articles including:

$40 a Day with Rachael Ray, Chicago - The Food Network (Our Favorite!)

The Food Network - Top 5, Delicious Duos - The Food Network

Best Of, Top Ten Fun Food Factories - The Travel Channel

Editorial Winner – Best Brunch, Best of Citysearch – Citysearch.com (2004)

Best of Chicago, 1st Place: Comfort Food - Citysearch.com (2004)

Neighborhood Dining in Chicago – Bon Appetit Magazine (Apr 2004)

"The Ultimate Comfort Food Destination", Check, Please! - PBS WTTW11 TV (Nov 2001)

Winner Best Brunch, Chicago's Choice Awards Poll - Chicago Tribune / Metromix.com (1999/2000)

Roscoe Village's "Dining Hotspot" - Chicago Social Magazine (Sep 2000)

"Chicago's Best Waitstaff", Best of Chicago Reader's Poll – New City Magazine (Sep 2000)

"Chicago's Best Hangover Breakfast" – New City Magazine (Sep 2000)

"Best Place To Eat With Family" – New City Magazine (Sep 2004)

Winner, Jack Daniel's Chicago Chili Cook-Off (2001, 2004, 2007)

Bio’s:

Jon Young & wife Helene Albert opened the original Kitsch'n (2005 West Roscoe Street, Chicago) in 1998 when a longtime diner in Roscoe Village, just blocks from their home, became available. Working quickly, they converted it into a fun & funky 1970's retro diner, serving up comfort food with gourmet flair.

Kitsch'n has since become a Chicago cult icon, and has been featured in Bon Appetit, on The Food Channel and The Travel Channel for their delicious food and unique atmosphere, winning numerous awards and accolades.

A larger second location, the colorful and sleek Kitsch'n River North (600 West Chicago Avenue - located on Larabbee Street in the old Montgomery Ward Warehouse building), opened in February of 2005. Comfort food and 1970's fashion, design and culture have been getting more popular ever since. Jon & Helene live with their two children in Chicago's Roscoe Village neighborhood.

Chef/Owner Jon Young

Over the last decade, Jon has successfully managed restaurants for Rich Melman's Lettuce Entertain You, Inc. (Maggiano's Little Italy, P.J. Clarke's, Cafe Ba Ba Reeba), and restaurateur Alex Dana's Rosebud Restaurants (Centro, La Rosetta). Volo Restaurant Wine Bar, opened in the spring of 2005 with Chef/Partner Stephen Dunne has recently been awarded “Best Wine Bar”, and “Best Wine List” by Best of Citysearch 2006 for Chicago Nightlife and Restaurants, as well as being voted Top 10 for Best Date Place, and Best Outdoor Dining by AOL Cityguide. Most recently, Jon and Stephen have teamed up to create Paramount Room, a dual-level gastropub inspired, chef-driven modern tavern and lounge in Chicago's River West neighborhood. Jon is currently serving on the DMI Chef Advisory Panel which represents the American Dairy Association, American Dairy Council, and the U.S. Dairy Export Council and does private consulting.

Owner/Toaster Afficionado Helene Albert

Helene has worked various positions in the service industry for the past 15 years. In addition to managing Kitsch’n On Roscoe, serving as Vice President and Treasurer of Dine & Drink, Inc., and managing the bookkeeping for the restaurants, Helene is an international flight attendant for American Airlines, a River Docent for the Chicago Architecture Foundation, a realtor, and mother of two.


Dine & Drink, Inc. Restaurants & Events

In September of 2007 Jon and Helene formed Dine & Drink, Inc., a restaurant development group with the primary goal of efficiently managing their four existing restaurants, developing a brand identity their loyal customers can recognize, offering a full range of dedicated private event, catering and banquet options, and developing future restaurants projects utilizing the talent pool from within their growing company - both for Dine & Drink and as consultants.