—Gumbo shrimp: James Beard Award-winning Chef Erick Williams has announced the 2nd annual Daisy’s Po-Boy and Tavern’s “Gumbo For Good” program, which features four of Chicago’s all-star chefs and their take on the warm Southern favorite. The promotion features a different chef’s gumbo available each Wednesday from Jan. 8 through Jan. 29.
Proceeds will be donated to Williams’ Virtue Leadership Development Program, a not-for-profit incubator created to serve as a vehicle to equip local young adults of color with the necessary skills to learn value-driven entrepreneurship through training at Virtue restaurant.
Collaborations will be with Dominique Leach of Lexington Betty’s Smokehouse (Jan. 8); Lee Wolen of Boka, Alla Vita and GG’s Chicken Shop (Jan. 15); Rob Levitt of Publican Quality Meats (Jan. 22); and Beverly Kim of Parachute HiFi and Anyela (Jan. 29).
—Let them eat cake: Also regarding Daisy’s, January kicks off Mardi Gras season—and this spot is marking the occasion.
In honor of National King Cake Day (Jan. 6), the restaurant will begin featuring the traditional New Orleans colorful pastry ($7) by Virtue’s pastry chef, Becky Pendola, through Ash Wednesday, March 5. King cake is first served on King’s Day (Jan. 6) and lasts through the eve of Mardi Gras to celebrate the three kings’ coming and honor them; hidden in the cake’s interior, or under a slice, is a small plastic baby, often said to represent the Christ Child.
—Doctor Hue: Extending its offer, Kindling—the Willis Tower’s live-fire restaurant from James Beard Award-winning Chef Jonathon Sawyer—is teaming with the national interactive art experience Color Factory for a package deal through Jan. 31
With the Hues and Hearth Package for Two, guests receive two anytime tickets to Color Factory, 233 S. Wacker Dr., alongside a $50 gift card to Kindling, 202 S. Franklin St., for lunch or dinner following the museum tour. Tickets are available here.
—Figure date: The closing day of The Goddess & Grocer’s current Gold Coast location is harder to pin down than fog.
Originally slated for Dec. 27, it was then changed to Dec. 24. Now it’s scheduled to close Jan. 12, with the new site (where Cafe Sophie used to be, at 843 N. State St.) opening in late January. Should dates change, I’ll let you know.
—Hooray for Hollywood: Before launching high teas on Feb. 2 and 9 as well as taking part in Chicago Restaurant Week (Jan. 24-Feb. 9), the Indian restaurant Mango Pickle will head to LA to take part in “From Bollywood to Hollywood” on Jan. 16-18 at Beverly Hills’ Croft Alley.
The five-course flight of bites in LA will include Bollywood masala cashews; SoCal bhel “salad”; LA open samosas; crispy rice pancake with shredded salmon or smoked pork belly with naan or Gymkhana egg toast; and pain perdu.
—Dry expectations: In celebration of Dry January, Buffalo Creek Brewery is embracing the dirty soda craze with a fun, non-alcoholic twist.
Each week, it will release a new flavor made in-house, featuring a combination of hand-crafted BCB soda, creamer and flavored syrups. (However, on Jan. 24, guests can indulge in a new alcoholic connection: Toffee Nut Crunch. It’s a creamy, medium-bodied brown ale that’s a swirl of caramel, almond and toffee.)
And here are more options:
- The Viceroy Hotel’s two signature restaurants—Somerset and Pandan—will have mocktail menus for “Sip, Savor, Support: A Dry January Celebration.” Crafted with the flavors of Seedlip’s non-alcoholic spirits, each spot features three new creations. Moreover, $1 from each cocktail will be donated to the Highgate Foundation supporting Save the Children and The Aga Khan Foundation, which aims to tackle the root causes of poverty.
- Don’t forget In Good Spirits, which sells only non-alcoholic beverages all year round. The store has partnered with everyone from Netflix to Chicago’s Soho House on spirit-free pop-up bars, mocktail workshops and more.
- 2048 Non-Alcoholic Wine Shop will host “Dry January: CBD Drink Shop” on Sunday, Jan. 19, 3-7 p.m. Sample a unique selection of relaxing, CBD-infused non-alcoholic wines and enjoy premium CBD mocktails crafted by neighboring Kizmah CBD Shop. Admission is free but reservations are recommended.
- Sushi-san’s N.W.A. (Nothin’ With Alcohol) menu features The Glitter Bomb—a shot of strawberry cordial and fresh coconut water (dusted with edible glitter) dropped into house-made banana soda.
- LondonHouse Chicago (known for its impressive downtown views) is offering Aperitif & Soda, with Bitter-Sweet Aperitif Cordial, soda and orange; and One in a Melon, with Seedlip Garden, Rtc Mallorca Melon Shrub, pineapple and lemon.
- Miru at The St. Regis Chicago’s non-alcoholic spritz, NA Shiso Spicy, is a zero-proof version of the restaurant’s gin-based cocktail, prepared with Serrano Shiso Cordial, Lyre’s Classico and lime.
- Regarding The Omakase Room at Sushi-san, there is a spirit-free beverage pairing menu is available for $65, plus tax, including the Broken Promise, with Gingerbread Roobios, sesame, five spice, and almond orgeat; and the Banana Brain, with Genmaicha green tea, banana and sesame. Two zero-proof cocktails are also available by the glass, including the Strawberry Lapsang Old Fashioned.
- Sweetwater Tavern has several mocktails for $9.49 each, including Mellow Mule, with cucumber, honey syrup, mango syrup, lime juice and ginger beer; Strawberry Soothe, with strawberries, lime juice, lemon juice, simple syrup and a splash of lemon lime soda; Mindful Mocha, with Owen’s Nitro-Infused Espresso, chocolate syrup and cream; and Nifty Nojito, with lime juice, mint leaves, soda, simple syrup and ginger beer.
- Ema’s Glenview location has a selection of zero-proof drinks, including Yuzu Mint Lemonade; Say Less, with Ritual tequila substitute, passionfruit and lime; Mockingbird, with Ritual bitter aperitif, pineapple, hibiscus and pomegranate; and the Cucumber Jalapeño Refresher with ginger, mint, cilantro, lime and pineapple compote.
- Wildfire (all locations) offers a variety of zero-proof cocktails, including the Blackberry Kentucky Mule, with Lyre’s Highland Malt Spirit, Q Ginger Beer, lime juice and Monin blackberry syrup; Lyre’s Rum Punch, with Lyre’s Dark Cane Spirit, pineapple, orange and lime juices, and grenadine; and the Amalfi Spritz, with Lyre’s Amalfi Spritz, cranberry juice, orange and angostura bitters.
- I|O Godfrey at The Godfrey Hotel Chicago is offering Mint To Be, with a choice of peach, strawberry, raspberry açaí, lavender or cucumber, muddled mint, fresh lime, lemon and Topo Chico; or Peach Out, which features blueberry, yucca peach tea, muddled agave, rosemary, club soda and chia seeds (each for $9).
- JoJo’s ShakeBAR Chicago will host “Mocktails & Mingle” on Jan. 9, 6-8 p.m. Admission is $25 each, and includes you crafting two signature non-alcoholic concoctions: Trix Are 4 Kids and Princess Peach Mule. This event is in partnership with Chicago Sober Society.
That’s the news for this week. Be sure to come back next week for more tasty treats!
Pop life: Please don’t forget that I have another column called Pop-Eds. My latest article covers Justin Baldoni, Biden’s controversial moves and much more. Check it all out at Andrew449.substack.com.