—Goddess grand opening: The gourmet cafe and catering space The Goddess and Grocer held a media event to celebrate opening at 845 N. State St.—the site of the former Cafe Sophie. (Here’s hoping things go smoother with Goddess than they did with Sophie.)
“We are so excited to bring The Goddess back, very near to its original Gold Coast location. Old customers have been popping in or waving through the windows to welcome us back and cannot wait for us to reopen. This space is so much bigger than our old State Street store, so we have lots of seating and a larger menu,” said owner/“Head Goddess” Debbie Sharpe in a statement. (“Head Goddess” is my term, btw.)
In part, the opening featured some of the items/vendors that Goddess will feature, including the woman-founded carbonation-free spiked water brand Hardly Water as well as bites such as beet-and-carrot salad, risotto cakes and lemon meringue tartlets. The space—much larger than the previous one that was near Division Street on State—also sells everything from Parisian candles to greeting cards to special gifts for foodies. Of course, you can just visit (and stay a little while) for the expansive food menu. Yes, items like breakfast sandwiches, turkey pot pies and salads are still there, but there are also dishes such as wild mushroom and Gruyère tartine as well as roasted cauliflower steak.
—Already Spoko for: After launching two Polish-inspired neighborhood restaurants since the beginning of 2024—Pierogi Kitchen in Wicker Park, and Wurst Behavior in Irving Park—husband-and-wife restaurateurs Chef Art Wnorowski and Gosia Pieniazek have opened Spoko in Lincoln Park. (Wnorowski and Pieniazek are more officially launching their restaurant group, Na Zdrowie Hospitality, which includes the aforementioned restaurants as well as Jefferson Park’s Earl’s BBQ.)
Spoko aims to bring Polish street food to the neighborhood; think zapiekanka, maczanka krakowska (Poland’s answer to a pulled pork sandwich), potato pancakes, Polish-style street kebabs and more, including creamy milkshakes. Spoko will also feature a “greatest-hits” selection from Pierogi Kitchen and Wurst Behavior.
—Brunch hour: The modern French restaurant Gavroche—an Old Town spot that was one of my favorite spots last year—now offers weekend brunch at 11 a.m.-2 p.m. (Brunch is available on a walk-in basis.)
OwnerJason Chan, Executive Chef Mitchell Acuña and Pastry Chef Christine McCabe are bringing some intriguing dishes to the table. They include the Crispy DLT, with crispy duck confit, house-made croissant, Polanco Caviar aioli, butterhead lettuce and heirloom tomato; the Foie French toast, with lavender orange marmalade, foie gras crème patisserie-stuffed brioche, foie gras mousse, vanilla whipped cream, satsuma mandarins and mint; gravlax; Bourgeois Benedict, with poached eggs, crispy potato pave, truffle whipped brie, crispy Iberico ham and lemon espelette hotlandaise; and the fried chicken clafoutis, with whole buttermilk poussin, far Breton with dates, and cinnamon date syrup. They’re definitely a step above your standard bacon and eggs.
—One for the record books: Choose Chicago, the city’s official destination marketing organization, announced a record-breaking year of the ever-popular Chicago Restaurant Week (CRW).
The Jan. 24-Feb. 9 event featured 502 participating restaurants—the most ever, making it the largest Restaurant Week since its 2007 inception. Also,157 participants were women-, minority- and/or Black-owned enterprises, double the 78 represented in 2024. A total of 105 eateries, 18 more than last year, made their CRW debuts.
—Sweet treats: After teaming with Pop-Tarts to release the Krispy Kreme x Pop-Tarts® Crazy Good Doughnuts Collection in January, Krispy Kreme® is partnering with Hulu on a line of four all-new doughnuts inspired by the cinema snack bar.
Available for a limited time, the Krispy Kreme x Hulu: Movie Snacks Doughnuts collection includes the Blue Raspberry Slush Doughnut, the Caramel Popcorn Doughnut, the Cookie Dough Superstar Doughnut and the Candy Double Feature Doughnut. The last one is an Original Glazed® doughnut dipped in white icing, topped with milk chocolate candy pieces and mini-milk chocolate chips, and drizzled with chocolate flavored icing.
Visit krispykreme.com/locate/location-search#grocery to find a shop or retailer near you.
—The feast and the furious: Fat Tuesday/Mardi Gras will be on March 4—the day before the fasting season of Lent. A few spots have some specials to entice you into partying.
- Pastry Chef Angelyne Canicosa of Hinsdale’s Vistro Prime will make three assorted flavors of paczki: Boston cream, strawberry shortcake and blueberry. Items can be picked up on March 3.
- Mardi Gras vibes are taking over aliveOne in Lincoln Park this Fat Tuesday as it brings the Big Easy to Chicago with specials like $6 Abita Purple Haze beers. Guests can start the celebration early with the half-price happy hour at 5-7 p.m. that features half off everything (excluding shots). Party-goers can stick around for FREE music bingo beginning at 8 p.m.
- The Chicago Firehouse Restaurant’s 8th Annual Mardi Gras “Fat Tuesday” Party is happening on March 4 at 5:30-10 p.m. For $65 each, guests get to eat a buffet, enjoy live jazz performances by the High-Hat Second Line, and immerse themselves in Mardi Gras festivities complete with beads and revelry.
- Untitled Supper Club’s Fat Tuesday Celebration will start at 7 p.m. During the evening’s festivities, guests are invited to celebrate Mardi Gras with costumed servers, burlesque and The Magnificent Mile 2nd Line Band bringing the soul of New Orleans. Diners will feast on customary holiday cuisine with NOLA-style dishes and Big Easy drink specials. RSVP here.
- On Fat Tuesday, Cody’s Public House will feature Mardi Gras-themed tunes all night along with a FREE New Orleans-style buffet provided by sister restaurant, The Graystone Tavern, at 7 p.m. with gumbo, jambalaya, rice, cornbread and more. Drink specials will include $6 Lagunitas, $10 Pimm’s Cups, $10 Sazeracs, $10 hurricanes, $10 French 75s and $30 Surfside buckets.
- Also on Fat Tuesday, guests will enjoy Mardi Gras magic at Wicker Park’s Easy Bar as it partners with New Belgian Brewing for a festive night. Easy Bar will give away complimentary slices of king cake from Scafuri Bakery (while supplies last), and guests who find baby figurines in their slices will win New Belgium swag. Drink specials for the evening will include $4 beers, seltzers and ciders all night. Half-price happy hour will also be available at 4-6 p.m.
Find a LOT more Chicago culinary news atSAVOR with Andrew.
—Pop life: Please don’t forget that I have another column called Pop-Eds. My latest article includes my thoughts on that Trump/Zelensky standoff and my Oscar predictions. Check it all out at Andrew449.substack.com.