NORMAN FENTON

Cariño

Chef/Partner Norman Fenton is the chef behind Cariño, a 22-seat fine dining experience that pays homage to the people, flavors, and culinary traditions across Latin America. Since opening in Chicago, Cariño has quickly earned national acclaim, receiving a MICHELIN star within its first year in 2024, and again in 2025, appearing in the hit Apple TV+ series Knife Edge: Chasing Michelin Stars. Chef Norman was also named a semifinalist for the James Beard Foundation, one of the New York Times’ 50 Best Restaurants in the U.S., and Best New Restaurant in Chicago at the Jean Banchet Awards.  

A Detroit native, Fenton began his culinary journey in Michigan before moving to Chicago to work with The Alinea Group and later rising to chef de cuisine at MICHELIN-starred Schwa. In 2019, he embarked on a formative nine-month road trip through Mexico, immersing himself in the region’s rich culinary traditions. While living and working in Tulum, he met his wife, started a family, and deepened the connections that now shape Cariño.  

Fenton’s work is rooted in respect and reciprocity. In response to his own family's immigration journey, he founded Tacos With Friends, a charitable series benefiting Latinos Progresando, a nonprofit providing affordable immigration legal services in Chicago’s Little Village. Cariño is not only a critically acclaimed restaurant but also a deeply personal reflection of culture and family.