In the heart of Chicago’s historic Bronzeville neighborhood, at 325 E. Pershing Road, a new restaurant is quietly rewriting the rules of Southern cuisine. Chef Chloe Gould is opening DixiePura Kitchen this October, bringing a bold blend of American Southern comfort food and Southeast Asian flair to the South Side.
From Roots to Recipes
Gould grew up immersed in the flavors of the South—collard greens, smothered chicken, cornbread—but her culinary journey didn’t stop there. After stints as a culinary instructor and time spent abroad in Singapore, she began to imagine the possibilities of merging those Southern staples with the vibrant spices and techniques of Southeast Asia. She describes the cuisine at DixiePura Kitchen as “I’m creating my own cuisine … I’m not saying this is a Singapore dish … I’m putting those two together.”
For example:
- A dish might be fried chicken smothered in a green-curry coconut milk sauce instead of traditional gravy.
- Cornbread and collard greens are re-imagined as bites wrapped in egg-roll wrappers, paired with an Asian-style remoulade.
- On weekends, the brunch menu will include twists like Korean-style chicken and waffles or shrimp and grits that lean into chili-prawn territory.
Why Bronzeville?
For Gould, the decision to open in Bronzeville wasn’t just about real estate—it was personal. “It was always Bronzeville, because this is my neighborhood, this is my community,” she says.
Bronzeville, long a hub of Chicago’s Black cultural and entrepreneurial history, is poised for fresh energy. By choosing to establish DixiePura Kitchen here, Gould is placing roots deep in the community she knows—and offering a place where neighbors, students, and newcomers alike can sit down and enjoy something familiar and something entirely new.
What to Expect
- Opening Date: Scheduled for October 18, 2025.
- Location: 325 E. Pershing Road, Chicago, IL 60653.
- Style & Ambience: A modern yet warm space, designed to feel like both elevated dining and neighborhood comfort.
- Culinary Vision: Elevated Southern fare meets Southeast Asian nuance—think bold spice, creative structure, and familiar comfort.
- Community Impact: Gould has expressed a dedication to hiring from her community and mentoring young cooks, reinforcing her role not just as a chef but as a neighborhood advocate.
