Rick Bayless, once the Obamas' chef, has all the trappings of a celebrity chef: four star restaurants, best-selling cookbooks, a line of salsas in stores, and a chain of casual eateries at airports across America. Now that he's reached the top of his field, the James Beard Award winner is finding ways to help aspiring future restaurateurs in his adopted home of Chicago.
Bayless has several award-winning restaurants in the Windy City, so it’s only fitting that he’s starting a culinary training program for Chicago’s low-income students. The program will not only teach high school and college students necessary kitchen skills, like knife work, cooking techniques, and how to identify and work with ingredients, but it will also place them into internships at some of the finest food establishments in the city. According to Bayless, the program — which will cost students a “nominal fee” — will benefit both students and restaurant owners alike.
“I believe this program can help surmount two big challenges in the city — lack of cooks to fill our restaurants’ kitchens and a lack of both solid preparation and career opportunities for the youth of Chicago’s toughest neighborhoods,” Bayless said in a press release announcing the program. “There’s a reason I think this program can make a difference: I can say that some of the most valuable people in our kitchens are ones that we’ve brought up from the most entry-level jobs, taught basic skills and self-respect, and seen flourish.”
The culinary classes will take place at The Hatchery, a groundbreaking new food co-op located in Chicago, and are expected to begin in fall 2018. Bayless has already gotten buy-in for the program from many of the city’s top chefs, including Paul Kahan, Grant Achatz, Stephanie Izard, Matthias Merges, Cosmo Goss, Erick Williams, Josh Kulp and Christine Cikowski, Genie Kwon, and more.
While it’s only in the incubation phase, Bayless’ new culinary training program may put a small dent in the youth unemployment crisis in Chicago, where up to 70% of young people do not have a job. Though many invoke the Windy City’s challenges to score political points, Bayless believes Chicago is full of promise.
“I believe our city is rich with untapped resources,” he said. “If we can develop a way to cultivate them, both our restaurants and our community will be the better for it.”
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Grieving couple comforting each other
This response to someone grieving a friend might be the best internet comment ever
When someone is hit with the sudden loss of a friend or loved one, words rarely feel like enough. Yet, more than a decade ago, a wise Redditor named GSnow shared thoughts so profound they still bring comfort to grieving hearts today.
Originally posted around 2011, the now-famous reply was rediscovered when Upvoted, an official Reddit publication, featured it again to remind everyone of its enduring truth. It began as a simple plea for help: “My friend just died. I don't know what to do.”
What followed was a piece of writing that many consider one of the internet’s best comments of all time. It remains shared across social media, grief forums, and personal messages to this day because its honesty and metaphor speak to the raw reality of loss and the slow, irregular path toward healing.
Below is GSnow’s full reply, unchanged, in all its gentle, wave-crashing beauty:
Why this advice still matters
Mental health professionals and grief counselors often describe bereavement in stages or phases, but GSnow’s “wave theory” gives an image more relatable for many. Rather than a linear process, grief surges and retreats—sometimes triggered by a song, a place, or a simple morning cup of coffee.
In recent years, this metaphor has found renewed relevance. Communities on Reddit, TikTok, and grief support groups frequently reshare it to help explain the unpredictable nature of mourning.
Many readers say this analogy helps them feel less alone, giving them permission to ride each wave of grief rather than fight it.
Finding comfort in shared wisdom
Since this comment first surfaced, countless people have posted their own stories underneath it, thanking GSnow and passing the words to others facing fresh heartbreak. It’s proof that sometimes, the internet can feel like a global support group—strangers linked by shared loss and hope.
For those searching for more support today, organizations like The Dougy Center, GriefShare, and local bereavement groups offer compassionate resources. If you or someone you know is struggling with intense grief, please reach out to mental health professionals who can help navigate these deep waters.
When grief comes crashing like the ocean, remember these words—and hang on. There is life between the waves.
This article originally appeared four years ago.