Brighter Days: Northalsted Market Days—an annual half-mile street festival celebrating the spirit of community in Chicago’s Northalsted/Lakeview neighborhood—will take place Aug. 7-9.
There will be all-day line-ups of live music on four stages, 250+ vendors, food and drink, dance exhibitions, drag performance and more. Scheduled performers include Keri Hilson, Frankie Grande, RuPaul’s Drag Race winner Myki Meeks, Bev Rage & The Drinks, Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus, Kameron Ross, Jordy and many more.
—In the Mood: Mood Fabrics—popularized on the show Project Runway—plans to open a Loop showroom in Chicago at 109 S. State St., The Chicago Sun-Times noted. The almost-2,000-square-foot showroom will have a soft opening in mid-August, with a grand opening planned for September.
And now, on to culinary items…
—FRESH start: Illinois residents who lost SNAP benefits following federal rule changes are receiving $400 (per eligible household member) under a new program that Gov. JB Pritzker announced, according to WTTW.
The FRESH (Families Receiving Emergency Support for Hunger) program started Aug. 1. The $70 million program can support up to 175,000 Illinois residents who lost or received reduced SNAP benefits due to changes in eligibility. No paperwork or application is required; the one-time benefits are issued automatically.
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REVIEW: Like a few other restaurants I’ve reviewed, Casa Chi by Richard Sandoval has a built-in customer base because of its Michigan Avenue location, as it’s housed within the InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile (which is also home to Michael Jordan’s Steak House).
Casa Chi is a Nikkei lounge that showcases Peruvian and Latin American dishes with Japanese techniques. (Peru has the second-largest Japanese population in South America, behind Brazil.) Sandoval, through his hospitality company, is behind dozens of international locations including Chicago’s Toro (although Noyane is no longer open).
But the question of the hour is: How is the cuisine at Casa Chi?To find out, visit SAVOR with Andrew.
—Shell, yes!: National Oyster Day is Aug. 5, and several spots are offering one-time and ongoing specials:
- This National Oyster Day, Michelin-starred Cariño is serving its michelada on the half shell. James Beard Award finalist Chef Norman Fenton’s Oyster Michelada has become one of his tasting menu’s most talked-about bites. A West Coast oyster is marinated in tomato dashi mignonette and salsa lizano, topped with Cerveza Modelo beer foam and coctel spheres, then finished with a rim of Fresno chile hot sauce and Tajín. RSVP here.
- La Grande Boucherie’s rosé and oyster special will only be available on the patio. Freshly shucked East Coast oysters will be $2.50 apiece while there will be pairings like the Le Patio Package: one bottle of rosé, 12 fresh oysters and pommes frites for $65.
- Chicago Oyster House, 1933 S. Indiana Ave., will actually celebrate on Aug. 5 and 6 with $2 fresh oysters, $4 grilled oysters and $5 oyster shooters in the bar/lounge area.
- Fulton Market destination The Publican—under the culinary direction of chef/butcher Rob Levitt, who has appeared on The Bear—will offer $2 oysters all day.
- Mon Ami Gabiserves a half-dozen oysters on the half shell with mignonette sauce and horseradish—a classically French dish that pairs perfectly with a glass of white wine.
- At Shaw’s Crab House (Chicago), guests can feast on half-priced select oysters on the half shell as well as enjoy bites and snacks 3-5 p.m. This offer is dine-in only.
- Indulge in coastal luxury for National Oyster Day at Adalina Prime, in the West Loop. Choose from the charred “Oysta Rockafeller” with pimiento cheese, panko and braised collared greens; or take the ultimate seafood experience with the Fire & Ice seafood tower that’s stacked with shrimp, lobster, oysters, mussels, top neck clams and chewy tteokbokki rice cakes, all in a fra diovola sauce.
- Acclaimed St. Charles spot The Graceful Ordinary is offering $2 freshly shucked oysters and $10 martinis Tuesday through Friday at 4–6 p.m.
- West Loop Japanese gastropub TenGoku Aburiya is offering its oyster tasting throughout the summer for just $22. The tasting features three Royal Miyagi West Coast oysters served with bright yuzu vinaigrette, and three Goldilocks East Coast oysters paired with classic ponzu sauce.
- The Loop restaurant Mariela is putting a spin on the tradition with $1 oysters served with a house-made guava-habanero salsa. Also, Mariela offers two tower options—one that serves two and one that serves four; the towers include oysters, prawns, ceviches and various coastal condiments.
—Square essence: The Rogers Park Business Alliance announced that the Jarvis Square Pierogi Fiesta will take place Aug. 8 at 1-10 p.m between Greenview Avenue and the Jarvis Red Line station.
There will be an array of pierogi flavors, from classic potato and cheese to adventurous combinations like sauerkraut and mushroom—and even pierogi margaritas. Guests can also explore unique goods and crafts from local vendors. Find out more info here.
—Comfort zone: Also on Aug. 8, The Greater Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce (GRCC) and Minh Hearing Solutions will debut the Feel Good Fest—a one-day-only micro-festival that brings together wellness, arts, sustainability and local organizations for an inclusive, all-ages, all-abilities celebration.
Feel Good Fest will take place 11 a.m.-5 p.m. along Sunnyside Avenue, next to Black Ensemble Theater (4450 N. Clark St.). It will be an outdoor, block party-style event that promotes feeling good, doing good and fostering meaningful community.
Bites and brews will be provided by 5411 Empanadas, Begyle Brewing, Mindful Baking and more. Local wellness providers and artisans will include Black Ensemble Theater, Dandelion Therapeutic Art Center, EmpowerFit Chicago, The Helpful Hummingbird, StretchLab, Trading Post Pet Supplies and others.
—To your health: On Aug. 8-9, Guinness Open Gate Brewery is hosting a Summer Wellness Weekend.
For just $15 each (with tickets available at OpenTable), attendees will get a full wellness experience—plus a discount on brunch afterward. Among the highlights will be an all-levels yoga class led by Kristian from Studio Three (9-10 a.m.; with mats provided and all experience levels being welcome); complimentary smoothies and wellness shots from Pure Green Fulton Market; and a special spa experience courtesy of Scratch Goods.
—Book ‘em: On Sunday, Aug. 9, at Northbrook’s Prairie Grass Cafe, Bill Kurtis and Michael Gebert will sign their new books—Whirlwind: My Life Reporting the News and The Chicago Way: An Oral History of Chicago Dining, respectively.
This book-signing will feature light snacks and seasonal family-style tasting portions created by Prairie Grass chefs George Bumbaris and Sarah Stegner; words from Stegner; and a short interview between Gebert and Rebecca Fyffe. Lastly, Kurtis will talk about his book and his life. In March, I interviewed Gebert about The Chicago Way; read the free interview here.
Admission is $35 (excluding tax and gratuity); other beverages will also be available for purchase during the event. To make a reservation, call the Prairie Grass team at 847-205-4433.
—”Dance” fever: Details have been confirmed for this year’s Chicago Gourmet, powered by Invesco QQQ—a series of events over Sept. 23-27 that has the theme “Let Your Tastebuds Dance.” Here’s a rundown of what’s happening (and ticket prices are exclusive of taxes and fees):
- However, before the main slate of events, there will be the Gourmet Tailgate, taking place Sunday, Sept. 13, 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m., at Utopian Tailgate, 1608 N Wells St. Hosted by Kindling’s Jonathon Sawyer and featuring chefs/personalities such as Buttercup’s Alexander Carnovale and Israel Idonije (among others), guests will watch the Chicago Bears in action while sampling gourmet spins on tailgate favorites. Tickets are $110 each and guests have to be at 21.
- Then there’s the Dine Around Series, powered by Invesco QQQ, that will take place Sept. 1-18. Food lovers can visit nearly 80 restaurants (including The Dearborn, JR Dessert Bakery, Tacotlan, Ambar, Soul & Smoke and many others) to experience exclusive, festival-inspired dishes, tasting menus, cocktails and wine pairings. As an added bonus, guests who spend $50 or more at these spots during the series can enter to win an ultimate Chicago Gourmet VIP experience, featuring a two-night stay at the Hyatt Regency Chicago, four tickets to the Hamburger Hop, and four tickets to the Grand Cru, Session 2.
- The Global Stage Dinner, presented by Square, is a new item that will take place Wed., Sept. 23, 6-9 p.m., at Pritzker Pavilion Stage at Millennium Park. Headliners include chef/TV host Lorena Garcia; Kwame Onwuachi, of NYC’s Dōgon by Kwame Onwuachi; Piccolo Sogno’s Tony Priolo; and The Loyalist’s John Shields. Admission is $250 each.
- Also new—and on the same night—is the Asian Night Market, 6:30-9:30 p.m., at the Zhou B Art Center, 1029 W. 35th St. Hosted by Thai Dang, HaiSous, Cà Phê Dá and Crying Tiger, among others, the 21-and-older Asian Night Market ($99 each) will feature bites and cocktails from “performers” such as Michael Morales (Sunda New Asian); Helen Nguyen, Saigon Social/Cô Lạc (New York City); and Joe Fontelera, Boonie’s Filipino Restaurant.
- On Thursday, Sept. 24, 6-9 p.m., on the Harris Theater rooftop, Tacos & Tequila, presented by Square and US Foods, kicks off Chicago Gourmet weekend with a celebration of Mexican cuisine, agave spirits and dance. Chefs Diana Dávila and Rick Bayless will host the 21-and-older event; tickets are $130 apiece.
- Somm Sessions will be Friday, Sept. 25, noon-2 p.m., at Adalina Italian, 912 N. State St. Guests will slip away for an upscale, lyrical luncheon hosted by Chef Soo Ahn and sommelier Serafin Alvarado. Admission is $250 each.
- The main event, Grand Cru, Presented by UnitedHealthcare®, will return Saturday, Sept. 26, in two sessions (2-5 p.m.; 7-10 p.m.) at the Harris Theater rooftop. Per the press release, there will be “an elegant choreography of standout cuisine from 30+ award-winning chefs paired with an exceptional lineup of premium wines and spirits—all in a gorgeous setting.” Pioneer Tavern Group’s Brian Jupiter, Naia’s Athinagoras Kostakos and avec’s Natalie Saben will be among those offering sumptuous samples. Passes are $255 each at the 21+ event.
- Also new this year will be Chef Demos, taking place Sept. 26 at various times throughout the day at the Pritzker Pavilion Stage at Millennium Park, 201 E. Randolph St. Stephanie Izard, Art Smith and Sarah Grueneberg will be among those presenting tips and tricks to re-create some of their most popular dishes. Passes are $20 each, but a Grand Cru ticket is required.
- The closing act is the Rise & Shine Gourmet on Sunday, Sept. 27, noon-3 p.m. at the Harris Theater rooftop. Hosted by chefs Art Smith (Chef Art Smith’s Reunion) and Erick Williams (Virtue), this gathering features sweet and savory bites from top-tier chefs, refreshing cocktails and feel-good energy. Tickets are $115 per person.
- Called “The Dance Battle Breakdown” (as we keep the musical theme in mind), Hamburger Hop will return Friday, Sept. 25, 6-9 p.m., on the Harris Theater rooftop, 205 E. Randolph St. Chefs from Smash Jibarito, Torali Italian-Steak at The Ritz-Carlton, Kuma’s Corner, Empire Burger and other spots will compete. Tickets ($130 each) are available on Eventbrite.
—If you have any tips, news, etc., email me at syntax3733@gmail.com. ALSO, remember that there’s much more news (for this week and others) at SAVOR with Andrew.
Until next time…