Feat of Clay: Continuing its 17th season, Red Clay Dance Company presents La Femme Dance Festival during Women’s History Month, with a performance at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance (205 E. Randolph Street) on Saturday, March 28, at 7:30 p.m.
This performance features the Chicago debut of viral tap dance sensation Syncopated Ladies, led by Emmy-nominated tap dancer/choreographer Chloé Arnold, whose recent work includes more than 70 episodes of The Late Late Show with James Corden; choreography for Jerry Seinfeld’s Unfrosted for Netflix; and the Apple TV+ musical film Spirited that stars Will Ferrell, Ryan Reynolds and Octavia Spencer.
And now on to culinary items…
SPOTLIGHT: During the Chicago Cubs season, most Wrigleyville (and Lake View) restaurants have almost more business than they can handle.
However, during the offseason (and when the Cubs have road games), those same spots need to rely on items such as crave-worthy dishes to get those patrons to return. Fortunately, Mordecai (which is across the street from Wrigley Field, at 3632 N. Clark St.) has plenty of those.
I was fortunate enough to be invited to a recent VIP event at the spot, which opened in 2018 and underwent a renovation in January of this year. While the arancini (with marinara aioli) and wagyu tartare with quail egg and potato chips were solid performers, the real standout for me was the duck gnocchi with gruyère; the Mordecai Burger was also impressive. Just a few of the other dishes include sweet-potato rosti, cheese curds (with fried pickles and giardiniera aioli), various salads, vegetable tagine and bone-in strip loin.
Mordecai may be located near one of Chicago’s baseball shrines—but it doesn’t offer the usual game-day fare. However, the relative upscale offerings actually make for a compelling reason to stop by this welcoming restaurant.
—I’ll drink to that: National Cocktail Day is Tuesday, March 24—and some places are offering some cool specials:
- The Logan Square spot The Radicle is carrying your National Cocktail Day lineup with sips starting at just $10. The Scoop of Blue Moon blends tequila, white rum, blue curaçao and a “top-secret” house-developed ingredient, finished with a sprinkle-studded flourish; for a more sustainable sip, Indecent Locals showcases the team’s fermentation-forward approach, featuring heirloom watermelon and peppers alongside mezcal, Arette reposado tequila and a select aperitivo.
- Offered at Bar Bambi, To Be Determined is a cross between a dirty gin martini and a highball, built with Tanqueray, apple brandy, manzanilla sherry, celery brine and coriander, then force-carbonated onsite.
- At Adalina Prime, there’s the Tiramisu Espresso Martini, which is made with ladyfinger cordial, Caffè Vecchio and Borghetti, then topped with mascarpone cream. Prefer something more spirit-forward? The Marrow & Ember blends bone marrow-infused 1792 bourbon with 400 Conejos mezcal, Punt e Mas Italian vermouth and a hint of smoked salt—finished with a piece of beef jerky on top.
—Hive mentality: Casa Chi by Chef Richard Sandoval invites guests to celebrate the food ecosystem with Viva Abejas 2026, a 30-day culinary experience running March 24-April 22 in honor of Earth Day.
Centered on the theme “Bloom to Table,” Viva Abejas highlights how pollinators like bees transform blossoms into food and flavors. Guests can enjoy a curated menu featuring cocktails such as the Viva Abeja Paloma, Margarita Melipona and Miel del Fuego; and food like a blue corn masa biscuit amuse bouche and Viva Tiradito appetizer. Proceeds from the program support The World Bee Project, helping to restore and sustain pollinator populations globally.
—Chicago Chefs Cook, the award-winning humanitarian nonprofit, will host its second annual “I Cook For” event on Thursday, March 26, 5:30-8:30 p.m., at the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago.
More than 30 of the city’s most celebrated culinary and mixology talents—such as Arshiya Farheen (Verzênay Chicago), Rick Bayless (One Off Hospitality), Darnell Reed (Luella’s Southern Kitchen) and Sam Zeitlin (Zeitlin’s Delicatessen)—will gather to “cook for” the causes that they support and champion. This year, the evening highlights five causes hand-selected by the chef community: Immigration, Sustainability and Regenerative Agriculture, Women’s Culinary Leadership, Food Insecurity and Pediatric Cancer Recovery.
Tickets are $150 and can be purchased at icookfor.chicagochefscook.org. If you cannot attend but wish to support this mission, donations can be made at donate.chicagochefscook.org/ICF-2026. In addition to supporting Chicago Chefs Cook, proceeds from the event will benefit Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, Camp Kids are Kids Chicago, Soul & Smoke Foundation, Women’s Chef Exchange, and Frontera Farmer Foundation.
—Second time around: Swadesi Café is celebrating its second anniversary on Thursday, March 26.
The anniversary also comes on the heels of the café’s latest seasonal drink launch, the Strawberry Shortcake with Pistachio Cold Foam, which is available as a latte or matcha. Inspired by the nostalgic dessert, the sip combines strawberry sweetness with creamy milk (or matcha) and a slightly nutty pistachio cold foam. Swadesi is already known for innovative dishes such as the samosa chaat croissant and the jaggery chocolate-chip cookie.
—Play ball!: And, of course, March 26 marks the Chicago Cubs 2026 home opener at Wrigley Field—so a few spots are celebrating:
- Cody’s Public House will open at 10:30 a.m. and serve drink specials including $4 Mimosas, $5 Old Style 16-ounce cans, $7 Cubby Bombs, $7 Malört, $7 Bloody Marys, $7 Tito’s Screwdrivers and $10 Espresso Martinis.
- Just one block from Wrigley Field, The Graystone Tavern will open at 9 a.m. Fans can fuel up for game day with crowd-pleasing specials including $5 corn dogs, $5 Old Style Tall Boy, $6 Cubbie Bombs, $8 Cold Brew Irish Coffee, $10 Chicago Handshakes and $30 Surfside buckets.
—Currying favor: Through March 27, TenGoku Aburiya gears up to launch the next edition of its Bento & Co. lunchtime guest chef series.
This time, two West Loop Japanese culinary concepts come together for a midday pick-me-up, courtesy of Executive Chef/Owner Paul VirantofGaijin. Virant is teaming with TenGoku’s Chef Danny Rodriguez to serve a Japanese Chicken Curry bento. The box highlights the duo’s shared love of Japanese flavors, featuring chicken curry with Four-Star mushrooms served over rice and topped with furikake; curry-pickled daikon with marinated tomatoes and pea shoots; and kombu-marinated vegetables. On the side, TenGoku adds shrimp shumai dumplings, ajitama and veggie miso soup.
Costing $20, the collaboration runs during weekday lunch hours (11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.). As always, a portion of proceeds from each Bento & Co. box sold will benefit the Greater Chicago Food Depository.
—Wonder women: In honor of Women’s History Month, Atelier—a Michelin-starred neighborhood restaurant in Lincoln Square—invites guests to show their appreciation for the female farmers and producers shaping the culinary industry during its exclusive Women’s Weekend on March 27-28.
Each night’s globally-inspired tasting menu will showcase the seasonal bounties of local female-led farms including Wild Trillium Farms, Hazzard Free Grains, Granor Farm, Larryville Gardens and Star Farm, and will celebrate the vital role these women play in the regional food system. Reservations for the weekend can be made here.
Until next time, find out a lot more Chicagoland dining news at SAVOR with Andrew.