SPOTLIGHT: On Monday, June 23, co-owners Sol Ashbach, Gus Lappas and Ankur Joshi—the team behind the spots Little Bad Wolf and Gretel—will open a new concept: Wolf & Company—a 10,000-square-foot, two-story hospitality destination at 1752 N. Western Ave. in Bucktown.
I attended a media preview on June 19 that pointed out just how expansive the spot is. The restaurant—with items such as ribs, pizzas and the best sliders I’ve had in quite some time—will draw enough attention by itself. However, there are also a market/deli/butcher (on the first floor); and a café/lounge with access to the 2.7-mile-long 606 running/walking/biking trail (on the second floor).
By the way, the outdoor lounge provides the perfect vantage point to see and be seen. Be sure to check out Wolf & Company.
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SPOTLIGHT: Congratulations to the restaurants and chefs who won James Beard Awards on June 16. The ceremony again took place at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
Chicago received some love as local spot Kumiko won the Outstanding Bar award while Oriole’s Noah Sandoval took the honor for Best Chef (Great Lakes). (Side note: Ever since I sampled Sandoval’s incredible work at Lake View spot Senza a decade ago, I knew he was going to win award after award.)
Overall, the Outstanding Restaurateur award went to NYC’s Lee Hanson and Riad Nasr of Frenchette, Le Veau d’ Or and Le Rock. NYC’s Jungsik Yim, of Jungsik, was named Outstanding Chef. Frasca Food and Wine (of Boulder, Colorado) was honored with the Outstanding Restaurant award; Minneapolis’ Bûcheron was named Best New Restaurant; and two-time Beard semifinalist JinJu Patisserie, of Portland, was named Outstanding Bakery.
However, no coverage of this year’s awards can go without mentioning the role of immigrants, per Restaurant Business.
The current political climate was seemingly on everyone’s mind, many of whom were immigrants or children of immigrants themselves. More than one recipient and presenter said, “Fuck ICE.” Also, many more shared their own immigrant stories.
—A cut above: Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants has launched Prime Meats by Lettuce—a delivery-only butcher shop offering a variety of steak and chops to Chicago.
Cuts include Creekstone filets; prime dry-aged cuts, such as the 24-ounce cowboy steak and 36-ounce porterhouse; globally sourced wagyu (Westholme 12-ounce strip, Westholme 42-ounce tomahawk, Japanese sendai and Chateau Uenae snow beef); and classic cuts like the one-pound Bernie Miller Chop, the 12-ounce High Plains bison filet and the one-pound Beeman Ranch Delmonico ribeye. Additional enhancements—including tallow butter, garlic and rosemary butter, black truffle butter and RPM Restaurants’ Signature Steak Salt—are available to complement every order.
—The Spain event: Bambola will travel to Spain for a seasonal pop-up at Casa Beatnik Country House, Bonhomme Hospitality Group’s boutique hotel in Galicia’s Rías Baixas wine region. Recently awarded two Michelin Keys, Casa Beatnik is one of 12 hotels in the entire country to receive this exceptional recognition.
At Casa Beatnik, Bambola joins Tribu, the hotel’s Galician restaurant led by Michelin-starred chef Marcos Campos. Meanwhile in Chicago, Expat—known for globally inspired comfort food, natural wines and weekly DJ residencies—is expanding into Bambola’s West Loop space. “This isn’t a pause or a replacement—it’s a conversation between our spaces,” said Bonhomme Hospitality Group founder/creative director Daniel Alonso said in a statement. “Bambola is alive and thriving—both here and abroad. And this summer, Expat gets to stretch its legs and take center stage in Chicago.”
—Drink up: Swadesi is welcoming the summer season with a fresh lineup of inventive iced beverages.
Some of the summertime sips include Espresso Tonic (which pairs bright tonic water with espresso and a slice of orange); Iced key lime matcha (matcha crafted with ceremonial-grade tea, house-made citrus syrup and coconut milk, topped with cold cream); corn and saffron latte; and orange oat shakerato (cold brew meets bourbon vanilla and orange bitters, finished with cold cream).
—Drink some more: Gold Coast casual spot Layla & Ringo’s is launching its own summer specialty menu on June 23.
The drinks are made with housemade syrups, matcha and lemonade infusions, and fresh, seasonal ingredients. They include Strawberries & Cream Latte, Serrano Matcha Lemonade, Pistachio Honey Latte and Sunrise Tea (iced green tea with house blueberry syrup and house lemonade).
—Second time around: On Wed., June 25 at 5 p.m., 2024 Michelin Bib Gourmand recipient, Sifr will commemorate its second anniversary with an exclusive one-night-only dinner.
To mark the occasion, Culinary Director Sahil Sethi and Chef Sujan Sarkar will be joined in the kitchen by guest chefs Ryan Fakih of Beity, Bill Kim of Urbanbelly and Diana Dávila of Mi Tocaya Antojería. Together, they will present a special $95 multi-course menu. Highlights will include items such as parsley-spun hummus topped with lamb confit, lime fingers and pine nuts; rabbit albóndiga paired with quail egg and heirloom pipián; and an Arabic chocolate dessert with coffee crémeux, tahini crumble, pistachios and rose. Reservations are required.
—The berry fest: Strawberry Fest, Long Grove’s iconic seasonal celebration, returns June 27–29.
The festival’s culinary creativity is on full display with an array of strawberry-centric offerings, including strawberry-infused donuts, shortcakes, fudge, popcorn, smoothies, lattes, funnel cakes and more. For those craving something different, plenty of vendors will also serve classic fair foods and summertime favorites. There will also be a rotating line-up of musical acts, such as Petty Kings: Tribute to Tom Petty, Jagged Little Pill: Tribute to Alanis Morissette, Mixtape Heroes and Dancing Queen: ABBA Salute. Tickets ($7 per day or $15 for a three-day weekend pass) are now available.
—Happy time: Also regarding happy hour, Fairmont Chicago spot Toro Chicago, 200 N. Columbus Dr., is offering specials 4-6 p.m. on Monday through Friday.
Highlights include $5 tacos (carnitas, steak and adobo chicken),; $8 margaritas and a $20 margarita flight; a $8 classic daiquiri; and $12 guacamole and chips.
—Happy belly: River North spot Nic & Junior’s also is touting its happy-hour specials. This spot’s happy hour runs Monday through Friday at 4-6 p.m.
Specials include a variety of $7- $9 dollar cocktails as well as $5 beers; $9 wines by the glass; $7 bar bites like arancini or Brazilian cheese fritters; and entrees such as the double cheeseburger ($15) and San Marzano spaghetti ($12).
In addition, Nic & Junior’s has added lunch service in its bar area beginning at 11 a.m. daily, serving its all-day a la carte menu of globally inspired fare in the bar area.
That’s the news for this week. Be sure to come back next week for more tasty treats!
The write stuff: Be sure to read and subscribe to my other Substack—Pop-Eds: My thoughts on pop culture. There, I have an interview with Stephanie Wolf, a partner at VITAHL Medical Aesthetics, which offers Botox, body sculpting, facials, treatments for too much or too little hair, and much more—including Vampire Facials.