—To your health: After being postponed due to January’s dangerously cold temperatures, the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce’s inaugural Explore and Restore: A Health, Wellness and Service Open House has been rescheduled for Saturday, Feb. 28, at 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Check in at The Clark Street Trading Post (5706 N. Clark St.) for a punch card and full schedule of the day’s events. Some of the participating businesses will include Cheetah Gym, Bloom & Co., WasteNot Compost, Healing Roots, Barrett Bodywork, PXM Fitness & Wellness, Bender Martial Arts and Fitness, and AAA Targeted Writing and Coaching. Register here.
And now on to culinary items…
—Love is love: 
I hope you’re taking time to (re)connect with that special someone this weekend, whether it’s at a restaurant or … some other venue.
—Talk, talk: On Feb. 6, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson stopped by famed Logan Square spot Daisies. Deputy of Business and Neighborhood Development Max Budovitch also was there.
They met chef/partner Joe Frillman, Director of Operations Hannah Griffith and chef/pastry partner Leigh Omilinsky. Johnson then greeted the entire staff before sitting with Frillman and Omilinsky to discuss several topics while dining on Daisies’ Chicago Restaurant Week (CRW) fare, including CRW and the state of the restaurant industry—specifically, independent neighborhood restaurants and the unique challenges they face.
—History lessons: In honor of Black History Month, Hyde Park spot Daisy’s Po-Boy and Tavern is offering special Shoebox meals inspired by the Great Migration, when families carried homemade meals in shoeboxes while traveling north in search of opportunity and a better future.
Each $18.99 meal includes fried chicken, potato salad and a biscuit, along with a printed note explaining the history behind the tradition and why it still matters today. Available now through Feb. 28, a portion of proceeds will support Virtue Leadership Development—continuing the legacy of community, education and empowerment tied to this meaningful tradition.
—New kid on the block: Libertad, a Skokie neighborhood restaurant since 2011, opened a second location in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood on Feb.12 at 1835 W. North Ave.
Libertad’s seasonal menu is designed to be shared, embracing Latin America’s culinary traditions of communal dining. Rivera will bring fan favorites from the Skokie menu, including veneras (pan-seared scallops, “forbidden rice,” yuzu-habanero butter sauce and yardlong beans) and asada (grilled skirt steak, chipotle chèvre, yucca frites and chimichurri) as well as introduce new dishes to the Wicker Park location. The cocktail list highlights Latin-inspired spins on contemporary classics including the Libertad Old Fashioned, made with reposado tequila and mezcal, and finished with mole bitters.
The restaurant is open for lunch, brunch and dinner.
—Taking off: For the first time ever, Fry the Coop is adding wings to its menu.
Fry the Coop’s Wings are double-fried in 100% beef tallow and seasoned to your choice of heat level.The wings come in three sizes: 10-piece ($14.99), 15-piece ($21.49) and 20-piece ($29.49). Wings will be available for a limited time at all 10 Fry the Coop locations beginning Tuesday, Feb. 17.
—Celebrating Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday specials are taking place throughout the city on Feb. 17:
- At the Lincoln Park spot aliveOne, guests can toast the occasion with $6 Abita Purple Haze beers. The party kicks off early with half-price happy hour at 5-7 p.m., featuring half off everything (excluding shots). At 8 p.m., the celebration continues with FREE music bingo, followed by FREE live music.
- At Cody’s Public House, there will be Mardi Gras–themed music all night and a FREE New Orleans-style buffet at 7 p.m., provided by sister restaurant,The Graystone Tavern. The spread will feature gumbo, jambalaya, rice, cornbread and more classic NOLA favorites.
- Prairie Grass Cafe is bringing Fat Tuesday to the North Shore with items like battered fried catfish and king cake (with the latter baked fresh daily in partnership with Bennison’s Bakery (made without the traditional “baby” for safety).
- In addition to having several Mardi Gras-themed events throughout the month (including comedy bingo on Feb. 11), Ina Mae Tavern will mark the big day with a special Mardi Gras menu, drink specials, free live music—and even a late-night burlesque show!
- The Getaway in Lincoln Square will mark Mardi Gras with a special on its signature namesake cocktail. Available all evening for $12, The Getaway cocktail puts a tropical spin on the classic Hurricane, with Ron Zacapa 23 rum, Rhum Clément coconut liqueur, Tiki Lover’s pineapple rum, Giffard apricot liqueur, fresh lime juice, pineapple juice, orange juice and grenadine.
—How sweet: Paczki day is Feb. 17 and Roanoke Hospitality is now accepting pre-orders for treat lovers to pick up at Bandol Brasserie & Raw Bar, the group’s French concept at 100 W. Monroe St.
Paczki are available to order by the half-dozen ($20) and dozen ($36). Pre-orders can be made online via Google Form and the last day to pre-order is Feb. 15. Pickup will be available at 7 a.m.-noon on Feb. 17.
In addition, Heritage Restaurant Partners is teaming with The Beetle Bar & Grill for a one-day paczki pickup on Feb. 17 at 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Sweet and savory paczki will be available, with online preorders available, and limited walk-ups while supplies last. Flavors range from classic raspberry with hibiscus sugar to whipped feta with spinach and caramelized onion jam.
Also, Jarosch Bakery is celebrating the season by offering its classic Polish pączki both in-store and by pre-order at its new Elk Grove Village location at 111 E. Higgins Rd. Jarosch’s pączki are traditional yeast-raised donuts that are known for their generous filling-to-dough ratio, with flavors including raspberry, strawberry, custard, lemon, plum and more.
The Goddess and Grocer is teaming with Chicago’s Beacon Doughnuts to offer a limited-time drop of small-batch vegan paczki for Fat Tuesday. Flavors include blackberry, raspberry, grapefruit, tart cherry, butterscotch and dark chocolate.
And inspired by the food, music and spirit of New Orleans, Hyde Park spot Daisy’s Po-Boy and Tavern is celebrating Mardi Gras season with festive flavors and live music. Led by Erick Williams, Daisy’s is featuring king cakes crafted by Virtue pastry chef Becky Pendola through Ash Wednesday, Feb. 18, for $8 each. The petite bundt-style king cakes are offered in cinnamon and cream cheese flavors, with some cakes containing the traditional baby; when found, Daisy’s will donate a full meal to a family in need in the guest’s honor.
—Happy birthday: On Feb. 17-28, Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse has created a special birthday dinner for $123 per person in honor of Jordan’s own birthday (which is Feb. 17).
Menu highlights include bone-in filet, maple-glazed bacon, pan-roasted halibut and that famous 23-layer chocolate cake. Beverages include the Golden Goat (Cincoro Gold Tequila, agave, Whistlepig 15 year, tobacco bitters and angostura bitters), Air-Spresso Martini (cincoro reposado, coffee liqueur and liquor 43, with a mocktail version available as well) and the Jumpman (Grey Goose pear vodka, Mathilde pêche liqueur, Giffard pamplemousse, lemon, egg white, plum bitters and cranberry bitters). Reservations can be made on OpenTable.
—A special time: Lent is taking place Feb. 18-April 2. To mark that observance, some local restaurants are offering specials:
- Cruz Blanca puts a Baja spin on the traditional Friday fish fry with lightly battered Great Lakes whitefish, golden fries, fresh lemon, housemade michelada-style hot sauce, pickled jalapeño tartar and masa hush puppies finished with a dusting of powdered sugar.
- Beverly spot Sanders BBQ Supply brings back Fish Fridays throughout the entire Lent season, featuring fried catfish and perch on a first-come, first-serve basis.
- In preparation for Lent, at-home chefs can come in and buy a variety of seafood at The Fish Guy, including pollack, weekly featured fish from the Great Lakes (like walleye, trout and whitefish), cod, Gulf shrimp and halibut cheeks. And The Fish Guy’s lobster roll, salmon burger, crab cake sandwich and fresh tuna salad roll are all $17 and cheaper.
—Helping out: And Plainfield Pride’s next volunteer shift at the Northern Illinois Food Bank will take place Thursday, Feb. 19, 5;30-7:30 p.m.
Volunteers are instructed to look for Mosaic Church, 191 S. Larkin Ave. Food insecurity impacts many families, and this is a meaningful way to help make a difference. (Teens can earn service hours if needed, and individuals are encouraged to wear closed-toe shoes for safety and dress comfortably. People of all abilities are welcome.)
Until next time…