:Vocalo.org

Our roving reporter Jack Calhoun hit up one of the 8 million Starbucks coffee shops in Lincoln Park. He asked some women there (mysteriously all named Katie) what they were planning on doing for International Women's Day. No one had heard of it. So, we made plans for next year and they definitely involve a day off.

I spoke with Kristin, a manager at Ipsento Coffee in Bucktown, about a pet peeve of coffee house patrons everywhere: the cell phone conversation.

Chef Pat Sheerin of the Signature Room at the 95th, in the Hancock Building

Cleetus Friedman runs City Provisions in Chicago

Caroline Fidanza, described as a super hipster chef, runs Saltie in NYC.

Tom Philpott and Tom Herman talk about local food and food writing.

Melissa Kogut is the Executive Director of Chefs Collaborative.

Ashley edits Sante Magazine, a publication for restaurant and hospitality pros.

A goat cheese maker, Judith has 500 goats.

Todd and Adam are coffee professionals, educators and baristas, respectively.  Today, they're brewing coffee for the conference.

Sher is the assistant to the dean of the Culinary Arts Department of Kendall College.

Damien brings people who like food together, an important part of events like this!

Sher Blair is the assistant to the Dean in the Culinary Arts at Chicago's Kendall College, and is helping run the show today for the Chefs Collaborative National Summit.  She talked to Tom about what folks learn at culinary school.

Todd Burbo and Adam Hubble, of the Intelligentsia Coffee Company, are coffee experts and tell us a ton of stuff we never knew about the brew we drink everyday.