Chef Eric Baines

Chef Eric Baines cooks with his soul. Growing up in a African American family, the San Francisco Bay Area native oversees the creation of boldly flavored, deeply satisfying dishes at eight restaurants in Chicago’s O’Hare international Airport. He also shares his exuberant, approachable cooking style and infectious laugh with all of his staff and anyone who is within earshot of one of his kitchens.

Receiving awards from his company Areas USA for excellence in training, Chef Eric focuses on the development of his young line cooks and the chefs under him.
Working with Celebrity chefs and industry veterans alike Chef Eric has been a major contributor to the redevelopment of O’Hare’s International Terminal 5, where one of his restaurants Tocco has been nominated for an ARN news award for Best New Airport Concept.
When he’s not working, Chef Eric is cooking at home, bowling, brewing beer and spending time with his wife, Adrienne, and their 2 year old daughter Avree.