Chef
John Shields
Executive Chef & Co-Owner, Smyth and The Loyalist
- Discipline
- Chef
- Based in
- Chicago, Illinois, United States
- Venue
- Smyth · Restaurant
Known for
- Three Michelin-starred restaurant Smyth in Chicago (earned November 2023)
- Farm-to-table culinary philosophy emphasizing seasonal and locally-sourced ingredients
- Co-ownership and operation of Smyth and The Loyalist, a dual-concept fine dining and casual dining establishment
- Transforming Town House in rural Virginia into a nationally acclaimed destination restaurant
i. Biography
John B. Shields is the Executive Chef and co-owner of Smyth and The Loyalist in Chicago's West Loop, a two-restaurant concept that earned three Michelin stars in November 2023. He began his culinary training in St. Louis before serving as sous chef at Charlie Trotter's in Chicago and then at Grant Achatz's Alinea from 2005-2008. In 2008, Shields and his wife Karen Urie relocated to Chilhowie, Virginia, where they reimagined the Town House restaurant into a nationally acclaimed destination that earned him Food & Wine's 'Best New Chef' award in 2010 and a James Beard Award nomination in 2011. His culinary philosophy emphasizes seasonal, locally-sourced ingredients and a 'farm on a plate' concept, drawing inspiration from his personal garden, The Farm, located in Bourbonnais, Illinois.
Profile updated April 2026
