Crying Tiger
Eric Horng interviewed the head chef of Crying Tiger, Thai Dang.
Dang was born in Vietnam and moved to the U.S. when he was 7. He's one of nine children. His relationship with food began at home. His mother, Tin Thi Do, played a central role, both as a cook and as an early influence.
Dang moved to Chicago to work at the acclaimed L2O under chef Laurent Gras. This experience exposed him to Michelin-level fine dining. He gained wider recognition as the chef behind Embeya, which was named one of Esquire's Best New Restaurants.
Dang rebounded with HaiSous Vietnamese Kitchen, which opened in 2017 and became one of Chicago's most respected Vietnamese restaurants. Dang opened Crying Tiger in 2025 in partnership with Lettuce Entertain You.
Sherrie Tan
Cate Cauguiran interviewed food influencer Sherrie Tan.
Tan is a Chicago-based lifestyle and food influencer best known for her Instagram platform, @sherriesavorsthecity, where she highlights the city's diverse dining scene and hidden gems.
She grew up in the Philippines, and at 19 years old, moved to New York City to go to culinary school. She was succeeding as a pastry chef and decided to start an Instagram account 12 years ago, just posting pictures of her pastries. Her Instagram really took off with reels and posting new restaurants. She especially likes featuring Filipino spots and introducing Chicago to new kinds of foods.
Dr. Tsai
Judy Hsu interviewed Stephanie Tsai. Dr. Tsai is an oncologist and associate professor at Loyola University Medical Center. She serves as the unit medical director of the Division of Hematology/Oncology and specializes in bone marrow transplants, hematology disorders and cellular therapies. Dr. Tsai focuses on advancing cancer treatment, improving patient outcomes and addressing disparities in cancer care, particularly among underserved populations such as Asian American communities. Both of her parents were born and raised in Taiwan and are physicians.
Justice Tailor
Ravi Baichwal interviewed Justice Sanjay Tailor. Born in Maryland to immigrant parents and raised in New Jersey and Delaware, he originally worked in scientific research before pursuing law. After earning his law degree from Loyola University Chicago, he worked as a private attorney, corporate counsel and assistant state's attorney.
He became a judge in 2003 and served for over two decades in the Cook County courts and Illinois Appellate Court. In 2026, he was appointed to the Illinois Supreme Court, becoming the first Asian American justice in the court's history. He is also known for his work in legal education and his commitment to improving access to justice.
Linda Yu
Once a young girl from China, Linda Yu, became one of Chicago's first Asian American journalists, breaking ground in an industry where few looked like her. She became one of the city's most trusted voices.
Hsu sat down with Yu at ABC7 Chicago's station on State Street to reflect on the legacy she built and the barriers she refused to accept.
"Our Chicago: Breaking Barriers" airs at 6 p.m. Saturday and 11 p.m. Sunday.