—Pop life: Please don’t forget that I have another column: Pop-Eds, in which I air my thoughts on various hot-button issues. The latest column covers a true-crime podcast, sleeping for 30 minutes a night, a review of the Netflix horror film The Deliverance and much more. Please check it out at Andrew449.substack.com.
And now on to culinary items…
—Dining in the park: I was absolutely grateful to be invited to Green City Market’s Chef BBQ 2024 in Lincoln Park on Sept. 5—the 24th iteration of the event, according to market co-founder Chef Sarah Stegner.
Hundreds of attendees dined on offerings from more than 100 vendors, including Prairie Grass Cafe, The Evolved Network, TriBecca’s Sandwich Shop, Antique Taco, Nonnina, Judson & Moore Distillery, Kindling, Verzenay, Roister, Cruz Blanca Brewery, Nude Dude Food, Gaijin and many others.
Incredibly, more than 1,500 people showed up, raising more than $275,000 in tickets to support Green City Market’s nonprofit mission. BTW, you can still help the market’s mission by contributing to its One-Day Giving Challenge to ensure our GCM For All SNAP-benefits matching program continues all season long; you can contribute through this link.
And mark down the event for next year, as Chef BBQ 2025 is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025.
—Rapper’s delight: The latest person to divulge restaurant recommendations to SAVOR with Andrew is queer Chicago native/rapper Chi Waller.
“One of my favorite foods is an Italian beef juicy w/ hot peppers,” said Waller, who prefers mom-and-pop-style spots. “If I had to choose one place—although I love a cheddar beef croissant from Portillo’s when it’s done right—[it] will always be Johnnie’s Beef in Elmwood Park. Oh, and you must top it off with an Italian ice.”
Waller is currently celebrating 20 years in music. She recently returned to social media covering some of her favorite throwback songs for her series “Throwback Thursdays with Chi Waller.” Her latest release is the EP “The 6×6 Run,” which is the follow up to her release from 2023. To find out more about Waller, click this link.
—What does the Fox(trot) say?: Less than six months after all area stores suddenly closed, the Foxtrot in the Gold Coast reopened Sept. 5 in a revamped Gold Coast location at 23 W. Maple St.
The new Foxtrot Cafe & Market comes with “an expanded coffee experience and reimagined food offering” that will carry over into several more locations slated to open later this year and throughout 2025 in Chicago and Dallas.
—Opening: Logan Square’s restaurant scene now has a new arrival: La Licor Panamericana, 2521 N. California Ave., a spot celebrating the diversity and heritage of Latin America.
Co-owners Javier Arroyo and Abraham Ramirez bring a wealth of expertise and passion to this new venture. Hailing from Iguala, Guerrero and Guadalajara, Jalisco, respectively, the restaurateurs have spent almost a decade in Chicago’s restaurant industry honing their skills. The kitchen is led by Executive Chef Juan Jimenez (Roister, S.K.Y. and The Chicago Club).
Regarding the menu, some of the dishes include jalea (a Peruvian dish with fried whitefish, shrimp, calamari, salsa criolla and tartar); pollo chuco (a Honduran item featuring fried chicken, pickled cabbage, pickled red onion and pink sauce); Argentinian empanadas; fried yuca; and The 4AM Burger, inspired by street burgers across Latin America. Drinks include the Cacao Fashioned (coconut fat-washed Jefferson Reserve, 2012 Vintage Barrel Aged Hot Chocolate Pu-Erh, cayenne pepper and bitters); and the Cumbia 75 (gin, Elevation hibiscus tea, jackfruit, lemon juice, lychee and cava), among others.
—Also opening: Ballyhoo Hospitality has opened Petit Pomeroy in Chicago’s River North neighborhood.
Building on the success of its sister restaurant, Pomeroy, in Winnetka, Petit Pomeroy aims to bring a taste of Paris to downtown Chicago, offering a menu that highlights classic French cuisine. Located at 748 N State St, the French restaurant is upstairs from Gemini Grill.
Menu offerings include classics like onion soup gratinée, escargot, chicken liver mousse and a warm tomato tarte, along with frisée aux lardons, bouillabaisse and trout amandine. Guests can also look forward to daily plats du jour specials featuring coq au vin, Tournedos Rossini (French steak topped with foie gras) and boeuf bourguignon.The beverage program will offer pairings to the menu, featuring an extensive selection of French wines, sparkling wines, cocktails and Champagne.
—Prime deal: Suburban restaurant Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille (in Oak Brook, Schaumburg and Vernon Hills) is offering quite a prime deal.
On every Thursday, guests may enjoy a dinner featuring a 16-ounce caramelized prime rib for $49 (not including tax and gratuity). The prime rib is topped with Perry’s Steak Butter and served with truffle merlot demiglace and homemade horseradish cream. The dinner (available 4 p.m.-closing) is available for dine-in and to-go.
—Black power: Midwest Black Restaurant Week is taking place Sept. 8-22.
The campaign is focused on re-stimulating local economies within the Black community by promoting Black-owned culinary businesses and professionals who cannot afford costly marketing campaigns. In almost a decade, the organization has supported more than 3,000 restaurateurs, bartenders, chefs, caterers and food trucks.
Local participating restaurants include Haire’s Gulf Shrimp, Love & Light Café, Windy City Ribs & Whiskey, Luella’s Southern Kitchen, Peace of Mine, Live and Believe Wellness, Phlavz Bar & Grille, The Soul Food Lounge, Taste 222, Flippin Flavors, Koto Hibachi, Frontier and Ina Mae Tavern.
—Show business: Taylor’s Tacos (LGBTQ+-owned) and The Gift Chi will present a talent show (in the vein of Showtime at the Apollo) showcasing the best of Chicago competing for a $1,000 cash prize.
The event will take place Friday, Sept. 13, at TAYLORED, 2451 S. Oakley Ave., 6-10 p.m., with local celebrity judges. For tickets, visit this link.
—Sweet spot: Levain Bakery is bringing its limited-edition Black & White Cookie to the Chicago bakeries for one weekend only on Sept. 14-15 in honor of National Black & White Cookie Day. Originally available only at Levain’s newest location in NYC’s Flatiron District, this cookie is made with extra dark cocoa, semi-sweet chocolate chips and white chocolate chunks.
In addition, Levain is celebrating the River North location’s first anniversary on Sept. 15. Snag a free Levain tote bag when you purchase two or more cookies (any flavor) at the 408 N. Clark St. location.
Don’t forget to subscribe to SAVOR with Andrew (future3733.substack.com) to get all the local culinary news. There are free and $5/month options (the latter offering even more items).
Drop me a line (hot news, tips, etc.) at future3733@yahoo.com.
Note: No reproduction of this column is permitted under any circumstances without the express prior written permission from this columnist.