—Monday, Monday: Something new is cooking at Bonyeon, Chicago’s first-ever steak omakase with Korean flair.
Chef Sangtae Park and the team are introducing an all-new six-course “Modu Monday” experience for $95/guest. Plates include Korean army stew with akahoshi ramen noodles, short rib, pork sausage, rice cakes and chili kimchi puree; the “Korean BBQ” platter with hanger steak, pork belly and skirt steak accompanied by banchan, ssamjang and lettuce; fried quail with kimchi powder; and a “Tteokgalbi slider” with bone-marrow miso butter and kimchi. RSVP here.
—Staying in his Lane: WBEZ Chicago and Exile in Bookville will present “An Evening with Matteo Lane,” which will take place Wed., April 9, at 7:30 p.m. at the Athenaeum Center. Tickets to this event include a copy of his new Italian cookbook, Your Pasta Sucks. RSVP atthis link.
I had the good fortune to interview Lane (a very well-known comic, author and actor) about comedy, his Chicago roots and Your Pasta Sucks. Stay tuned for the interview in a few days. And, Matteo, don’t forget the spot that I recommended!
—Reaching the top: Ateema Media & Marketing has announced the official nominees for The Summit Awards, an inaugural program celebrating excellence in Chicago’s hospitality, tourism and event industry that Live Art International is sponsoring.
Award categories cover the city’s top concierges to favorite hotels, venues and restaurants (and it’s not often you see Avec and Yolk in the same category). Category sponsors include 1905 New Media, Aries Charter Transportation, Big Bus Tours and Flood Brothers Disposal. The 2025 award winners will be announced live at The Summit trade show.
For the full list of nominees and to vote, visit thesummitchicago.com/awards. Voting is open now through March 28, allowing industry professionals and the public to choose this year’s winners.
—That’s Italian: Boka Restaurant Group’s Zarella, a neighborhood pizzeria and taverna, has opened in the heart of River North at 531 N. Wells St.—the former home of GT Fish & Oyster.
Chef-partners Chris Pandel (Swift & Sons; Cira) and Lee Wolen (Boka; Alla Vita) have crafted a menu featuring a mix of tavern-style and artisan pizzas, an array of entrées and small bites, fresh salads and an ever-rotating menu of Italian specialties. The pizzas are available in a range of specialty pies with flavors like spicy vodka with pickled peppers and mozzarella; and carbonara with Fra’Mani smoked pancetta, pecorino and egg, with toppings like giardiniera, Calabrian chilis, pPepperoni and Smoking Goose mortadella. Each specialty pizza and all toppings, including vegan cheese, will also be available on a gluten-friendly crust.
—Paella party: March 27 is National Paella Day, and Dell’ Rooster plans to celebrate in style.
The restaurant’s Valencia Style Seafood Paella contains shrimp, mussels, clams, chicken, saffron, tomato sofrito, bell peppers and bomba rice. The paella can be enjoyed as part of the restaurant’s Dell’ Rooster Thursday Three-Course dinner, which includes an appetizer, one entrée and one dessert, for $55.
—The grape escape: Wine dinners abound this season. Lincolnwood’s Stefani Prime is hosting an exclusive event featuring a six-course menu paired with award-winning wines on Thursday, March 27, at 6 p.m. This one-night-only experience is an incredible opportunity to enjoy the 2024 Wine Spectator #1 Wine of the Year.
Wines will be paired with dishes such as gnocchi grotto, Wagyu filet and crostata di mele, among others. The price is $185 each, including tax and gratuity; RSVP here.
—Feel the heat: National Hot Chicken Day is on Sunday, March 30.
Fry the Coop has recently added a few new items to its menu, including its Tender Flight, which has six heat levels—from “country” (no heat) to “insanity” (R.I.P).; and the Lil’ Sandwiches, with varieties like the lil’ Nashville, Chicago Hot, Chx & Cheese, or Spicy Butter for $7.95-$8.45 each. The latter items are simply smaller versions of the OG sandwiches (which weigh in at nearly 3/4 of a pound). Plus, Fry the Coop will offer $5 Lil’ Sandwiches (while supplies last) on that day to celebrate.
—Bloom with a view: Welcome eternal spring in the Secret Garden, a floral and botanical-themed mini-pop-up on the patio at The Dandy Crown, 694 N. Milwaukee Ave. Secret Garden is free to attend, and while walk-ins are accepted, reservations are recommended.
The pop-up will run through Mother’s Day, May 11. The colorful spring and floral-themed cocktails include I Can Buy Myself Flowers, the tequila concoction Queen Bee, Here Comes the Sun, Marigold (Nirvana’s Version), the rum-laden It’s Gonna Be May, Kiss From a Rose, April in Paris, Violet Beauregarde, Primavera and of course, Secret Garden (which has vodka, espresso, coffee liqueur, pistachio, MSG and pistachio foam), along with non-alcoholic versions of I Can Buy Myself Flowers, Queen Bee and Secret Garden.
And a non-culinary offering….
—Fair enough: The Other Art Fair, presented by Saatchi Art, returns for its seventh edition at Artifact Events, 4325 N. Ravenswood Ave., on March 27-30.
As Chicago’s leading artist-exhibited fair, it offers a unique opportunity to discover and buy art directly from 115+ independent and emerging artists. There will be interactive installations, live performances, DJ sets and the debut of the NEW Artisan Section, featuring works in ceramic, glass, metal and wood.
That’s the news for this week. Be sure to come back next week for more tasty treats! And be sure to check out SAVOR with Andrew for much more culinary news!