Four Seasons Hotel Chicago and Adorn Bar & Restaurant Appoint Brent Balika as Executive Chef

Four Seasons Hotel Chicago announces the appointment of Brent Balika as its new Executive Chef, including leading the hotel’s contemporary American concept, Adorn Bar & Restaurant. A Chicago-area native with nearly three decades of culinary experience, Balika joins the iconic Gold Coast hotel from RPM Steak, where he served as executive chef, bringing his signature focus on seasonality, simplicity and refined technique to the acclaimed dining destination.

Balika discovered his passion for food early through family dinners and gardening with his grandmother. By the age of 15, he was already working in kitchens, and at 19, he secured a formative externship at the legendary Charlie Trotter’s. Throughout his career, Balika has worked in Michelin-starred kitchens, facilitated restaurant openings and executed consulting projects throughout the US and abroad. His highlights include contributing to a James Beard Award-winning team at Bradley Ogden’s and returning as an honoured alumnus for Charlie Trotter’s legacy dinners. In addition to his culinary expertise, Balika has pursued an extensive beverage education, earning certifications as a Sommelier, First-Level Cicerone, and Sake Advisor.

At Adorn, Balika is focused on reestablishing the restaurant as a vibrant community hub, offering seasonal, globally inspired cuisine rooted in simplicity and refined technique. Guests can expect a menu that highlights his passion for partnering with local farms, ranches and purveyors, along with sourcing sustainable aquaculture and seafood. In addition, Balika will lead the hotel-wide culinary program, offering a fresh take on the luxury food and beverage service for which Four Seasons Hotel Chicago is renowned.

“Chef Balika’s passion for seasonality and relationships with farmers perfectly align with our vision for Adorn,” says Stephen Wancha, General Manager of Four Seasons Hotel Chicago. “We’re excited to have his leadership and vision as we continue to evolve the restaurant for both our guests and the Chicago community.”

Outside of the kitchen, Balika is an avid traveller who explores food cultures around the world, a collector of more than 700 cookbooks, and a supporter of organizations including No Kid Hungry, the Trotter Foundation and the National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association.

For more information, click here or follow on Instagram @FSChicago and @AdornRestaurant.