Chain restaurant executives take note: Better rethink your strategy if you're counting on social media to bring in more customers. A new survey from online market research firm Crowd Science finds that only a lowly eight percent of its survey respondents regularly follow their favorite brands on social media. However, three related pieces of data provide more promising food for thought.

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If you're visiting Chicago soon, whether it's for the upcoming National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel–Motel Show (May 21–24) or not, you'll want to sample the latest crop of restaurants joining an already stellar field. Noteworthy newcomers range from stylish spots featuring leading avant–garde chefs to those focusing on more familiar favorite cuisines. Carolyn Walkup tells you the names you need to know.

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Let's hope full-service restaurants don't get caught in the crossfire of the federal crackdown on for–profit colleges that includes private culinary schools. These institutions are an irreplaceable source of well–trained, motivated and, dare we say it, low–cost employees. New federal rules are on the way, but let's hope the pending settlement of a class–action lawsuit against California Culinary Academy is the end of it.

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