—Pop life: Please don’t forget that I have another column: Pop-Eds, in which I air my thoughts on various hot-button issues. Lately, I’ve talked about Tim Walz, Olympics highlights/lowlights, Mariah vs. J.Lo, child-free restaurants, hypocritical companies and much more. Please check it out at Andrew449.substack.com.
—Time flies: This summer has been so hectic. It seems like events such as the Pride Parade and the James Beard Awards took place a lifetime ago.
And now on to culinary items…
—Feel the heat: Stella Artois partnered with First We Feast’s Hot Ones to bring the largest Hot Ones live event EVER to Chicago, featuring host/Evanston native Sean Evans and 300 guests on Aug. 28—and this event was a doozy in more ways than one.
Before the event, Al’s #1 Italian Beef and Do-Rite Donuts & Chicken served special menu items. Al’s Beef served Hot Ones Italian Beef and Combo Sandwiches with the hot sauce incorporated into the giardiniera; and Do-Rite Donuts offered a fried chicken sandwich served on its original donut as the bun, topped with Honey Nugget Hot Sauce, pickles and pimento cheese. Do-Rite also offered free donuts after the event. Also, DJ Tess spun some crazy good dance music.
The main event featured a take on the “Wings of Death” alongside more than 300+ people, with each person presented with10 flavors to try while viewing a Hot Ones episode featuring Evans and David Beckham. (Yours truly stopped after number seven, just before the notorious Da Bomb, although some people—sweating and crying—devoured the entire gauntlet.) However, the audience was treated to two BIG surprises, as Beckham appeared in person (as Evans briefly talked with him on subjects such as the possibility of infusing his own honey—as Beckham has his own bees—with hot sauce); AND there was a post-event concert featuring the one and only Ludacris. Overall, the Hot Ones live event was pretty unforgettable.
BTW, fans in The Big Apple can enter to win a spot at the NYC event at www.stellaartois.com/letsdodinner.
—Spice, spice, baby: I guess pumpkin spice season has officially started.
—Re-Perth: In case you didn’t know, the Scottish pub Duke of Perth has reopened at a new address: 2827 N Broadway.
In May, the spot closed its original spot, at 2913 N. Clark St., after 35 years there. And, from what I understand, all the essentials are still there—including those magical fish ’n chips.
—It’s not me—it’s the other me: According to NBC Chicago, Emily in Paris actress Lily Collins cleared up a beef involving Chicago’s Lou Malnati’s pizza.
On the series, Collins’ titular character compared deep-dish pizza from the casual Chicago spot to “a quiche made of cement.” Talking with Forbes entertainment writer Jeff Conway, Collins said, “I have communicated with Lou Malnati’s and I was just like, ‘I’m sorry. It’s not Lily—it’s Emily.’ I know I never mean to offend, and they’re brilliant…” And Lou Malnati’s even responded on X, saying, “We knew it was just the script [laughing emoji].”
—Humming along: Hummingbird Cafe has just opened at Chef Art Smith’s Reunion restaurant on Navy Pier.
The entrance of the restaurant has been transformed into Hummingbird Cafe, which now offers Chef Art’s signature Hummingbird cake in cupcake form, with four different cream cheese icing color options (pink, yellow, green or traditional white). Cupcakes are $5/each, six for $25 or a dozen for $50. Chef Art’s Hummingbird cake is a Southern classic featuring a blend of pineapple, banana and spices, sprinkled with pecans. I’ve had the cake, and it’s wonderful.
The new cafe is grab-and-go, but large orders can be delivered for special occasions or events by visiting the website to place an order.
—Coda of honor: Southern Italian restaurant Coda di Volpe, 3335 N. Southport Ave., announced the launch of its new philanthropic initiative, “Pizza & Pasta with Purpose.”
For September, Coda di Volpe is partnering with next-door neighbor, celebrity chef and Windy City culinary icon Stephanie Izard to create the This Little Piggy Pizza. The pie features a Szechuan sausage, pickled peppers, fior di latte, cheddar cheese and a secret mix of spices. As with all of Coda di Volpe’s pizzas, the This Little Piggy Pizza is served with traditional pizza shears (scissors) to be cut at the table.
In honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month (September,) a portion of proceeds from every This Little Piggy Pizza sold will benefit Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago.
—The bite goes on: The Gwen Hotel, 521 N. Rush St.. will showcase its Bites & Vines series with dinners on Sept. 4, Oct. 4 and Nov. 1, all at 6 p.m.
The Sept. 4 dinner will showcase Gloria Ferrer wines, live music and more. Tapas will include duck-confit croquettes; pan con tomate; fried eggplant with saba; prawns with olive oil; and beef tenderloin with foie gras, brioche, and mushroom jus, among other items. The Oct. 4 meal will highlight The Prisoner Wine Company, with unconventional pairings (such as seared foie gras with buttered brioche, berry preserve, roasted grapes and peanut brittle); while the Nov. 1 event will showcase Felino by Paul Hobbs Winery, with an asada menu (e.g., dry-aged beef tomahawk ribeye and short ribs, Argentinian antipasto and traditional flan).
Tickets are $75 each; visit this link.
—Mix ’n mingle: Also on Sept. 5, the Chef BBQ 2024 returns for its 22nd year in Lincoln Park itself, at 1817 N. Clark St., at 6:30-9 p.m.
More than 100 of Chicago’s top restaurants, brewers, winemakers and mixologists provide tasting portions of locally-inspired dishes and craft beverages highlighting ingredients from Green City Market’s local, sustainable farmers. (The market currently takes place there on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.)
By the way, Chef BBQ’s not just about barbecue; there will be fresh, peak season flavors and vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free options. Just a few of the businesses participating are Duck Sel, Antique Taco, Carnivale, KOVAL Distillery, Sunda New Asian, Prairie Grass Cafe, eden, Honey Butter Fried Chicken, Tubers Donuts, Off Color Brewing, Big Jones, Galit, The Dearborn, Luella’s Southern Kitchen and Mon Ami Gabi.
General-admission tickets start at $159 each; visit this link.
—Taste-ful: Mayor Brandon Johnson and the City of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) announced the full food vendor and music lineup for this year’s downtown edition of Taste of Chicago, taking place Sept. 6-8.
Music headliners include Grammy-winning singer, songwriter and rapper CeeLo Green; regional Mexican music trio Yahritza y Su Esencia; ‘90s R&B star Jon B.; DJ Iggy; and Australian alternative rock group Atlas Genius.
However, since this is a food column, just a few of the vendors will include 90 Miles Cuban Cafe, Arun’s (where I had one of my best culinary experiences—ever), Billy Goat Tavern, Seoul Taco, Harold’s Chicken, Cumin Club Indian Kitchen, The Original Rainbow Cone and Donut Dudes. Also, Eli’s Cheesecake will host the annual Eli’s Cheesecake Birthday Celebration on Sept. 7 at 12:30 p.m., carrying on the tradition of cutting a ceremonial 1,000-pound Eli’s Cheesecake; attendees will receive a free slice following the ceremony, while supplies last.
—New kids on the block: Stop by Time Out Market, 916 W. Fulton Market, on Sunday, Sept. 8, 12-3 p.m., for a showcase of the market’s newest vendors: QXY, 2D Restaurant and Libanais.
Each new vendor will be offering complimentary tastings of their signature dishes and the first Chicago Bears home game will be on the giant video wall as well as airing on the patio from The DJ Firm’s Mobile Van, along with drink specials.
Drop me a line (hot news, tips, etc.) at future3733@yahoo.com.
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