—And I quote: “Your body is not a temple, it’s an amusement park. Enjoy the ride.”—Anthony Bourdain
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—Quick change: Toro Chicago—within Chicago’s Fairmont Chicago—is offering its Latin-inspired cuisine with a Quick Comida lunch offering for $29, available Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The courses involve a soup or salad; specialty dish or the spot’s signature steak and fries (+$11); and a daily chef-selected dessert and drip coffee to go. Available cocktails (for extra) include the Passion Pisco Sour, smoky-sweet Corn & Mezcal, or the Reforma Avenue Paloma.
—Not so sweet: Krispy Kreme stock plunged initially after the chain said it would slow down the expansion of its partnership with McDonald’s amid slow sales—and now is being sued over the delay, per Restaurant Business.
The Charlotte, North Carolina-based chain sells its doughnuts in 2,400 McDonald’s restaurants and had planned to expand it to all of the burger chain’s sites. “The company is reassessing the deployment schedule together with McDonald’s while it works to achieve a profitable business model for all parties and does not expect to launch in any additional restaurants in the second quarter of 2025,” Krispy Kreme said.
The lawsuit argues that Krispy Kreme made misleading statements about the condition of its business in the aftermath of the McDonald’s deal.
—In the House: To celebrate one year in business, Andersonville’s Tala House will be featuring specialty prix fixe dinners through June 15.
Diners can select from the restaurant’s $45 or $65 prix fixe menus (tax and gratuity not included). For $45, select a starter like muhammara with roasted red pepper, garlic, pomegranate molasses and chili flakes; or the roasted cauliflower with Fresno pepper and salsa matcha. Next, choose between a chicken breast; Ora King salmon with tamarind glaze, mango and green papaya and avocado puree; or an enchilada de Calabaza—butternut squash with muenster cheese and pipian mole sauce. Dessert is your choice between flourless chocolate cake or cheesecake. For $65, starter choices include tuna crudo tostada, burrata and beets, or a shaved Brussels sprouts salad. Main entrée options are Prime Allen Brothers skirt steak; Prime Allen Brothers filet mignon with portobello mushrooms, porto wine and sauteed fresh green beans; chicken breast; sesame-crusted wild caught ahi tuna with celery root puree, shiitake mushrooms, baby bok choy, and citrus sunflower mojo; or enchilada de Calabaza. Again, dessert is flourless chocolate cake or cheesecake.
—A taste of Italy: Streeterville restaurant the Albert, inside Hotel EMC2, is now hosting “Brunchissimo” at 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
Menu highlights include a pancetta egg bake; mushroom-and-goat cheese frittata; Sicilian-style pizzas; the Albert Burger; crostini; and pannetone and sweets. Classic espresso, Rishi tea, prosecco spritzes and Italian wines round out the experience; in addition, a bottomless mimosa package is available for $26 per person for two hours. RSVP here.
—Good burger: In honor of National Hamburger Day on Wed., May 28, all 11 Illinois Epic Burger restaurants will serve a sizzling deal for burger lovers as guests will enjoy an “Epic Burger” for just $5.
In a statement, owner David Grossman said, “This is our chance to say thank you to our community with a burger deal that’s just as Epic and delicious as Chicago itself. Whether you’re a longtime Epic Burger fan or trying us for the first time, May 28 is the perfect day to get a taste of what makes Epic Burger, well, epic.”
—Cool runnings: This summer, Levain Bakery is offering “Levain à la Mode” for a first (and limited) time.
For the first time in its 30-year history, Levain is partnering with local ice-cream shops across all seven of its markets to serve scoops alongside its iconic six-ounce cookies. In Chicago, Levain is partnering with Pretty Cool Ice Cream, and will feature an exclusive Toasted Vanilla Bean ice cream. Levain will offer Cookies à la Mode throughout the summer for $10.50, including one cookie and one scoop of ice cream.
That’s the news for this week. Be sure to come back next week for more tasty treats!
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The write stuff: Be sure to read and subscribe to my other Substack—Pop-Eds: My thoughts on pop culture, in which I’ve tackled issues ranging from Trump’s tariffs to Diddy to the value of pets to Amazon’s jungle.