13-time James Beard Award-winning journalist Steve Dolinsky is working with Baum Realty Group (Baum Realty) as a director and will focus on the hospitality, culinary/food and beverage arena, supporting brands with geographical expansion and assisting restaurateurs with site selection for new and existing concepts. He will serve as a matchmaker, pairing world-class restaurateurs to landlords and/or landlords to world class restaurateurs.
“We are excited to welcome Steve to the world of commercial real estate,” said Baum Realty’s President Mike Demetriou. “Steve brings deeply authentic restaurant experience to our team and is known worldwide as a trusted and objective observer of the restaurant business. His insight into this market will be invaluable to current and future Baum clients.”
Dolinsky, a tastemaker in his own right, is best known for his work at ABC 7 (2003-21), Chicago’s number one news station, where he produced and reported two original segments per week under “The Hungry Hound” moniker. He has also written for Chicago Tribune and Canada’s Globe and Mail’s travel sections and has reported for Public Radio International’s “The World.” He currently serves as an Academy Chair for The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, overseeing the North America (Central) Region, a position he has held since 2005.
A pizza expert, Dolinsky will continue to operate Pizza City USA tours and host the Pizza City podcast in addition to producing food related content for a variety of outlets. His widely anticipated new book, “The Ultimate Chicago Pizza Guide,” is set for release this fall.
“I look forward to partnering with the Baum Realty team and leveraging my 25 years of global dining experience to bring incredible food and beverage concepts to more markets across the U.S.,” said Dolinsky. “Baum Realty is a powerful brand in the restaurant and hospitality world, and I’m excited to combine their real estate prowess with my passion for the business of dining.”
