—Remembrance: Rainbow PUSH will have its Dr. King Annual Breakfast at the Fairmont Chicago on Monday, Jan. 19, at 8-11 a.m.
It is advertised as “a morning celebrating the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. alongside the impactful work of Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. and Rainbow PUSH.” RSVP here.
And now on to culinary items…
RESTAURANT PICK: Lorraine Hayes is the senior director of philanthropy and community engagement for Vivent Health + TPAN. Since 1987, TPAN (which is now part of Vivent) has been delivering vital programs and services in Chicago for people living with HIV/AIDS and those at risk of HIV transmission.
Hayes was happy to tell me about her favorite restaurant—and drink. She stated, “My favorite Chicago restaurant is Marina’s Bistro and Rum Bar, a Puerto Rican restaurant in Uptown at 4554 N Magnolia Ave. The exterior is unpretentious, tucked in a strip mall, but the moment I walk in I’m in a Puerto Rican haven with tropical décor and a relaxed, welcoming feel. The atmosphere is warm, the vibe is genuine, and I’ve never been disappointed with the food or the experience. The hospitality feels family-like in the best way. Owner/chef Eric Roldan often steps out from the kitchen to greet diners, which sets the tone for the entire meal.
“My go-to cocktail is the Tres Casas, made with Bacardi 8, Barrilito 2-Star, Don Q Reserva 7, chocolate and espresso. It’s delicious and intense, and one is usually enough for me. For food, I typically start with a beef and halal chicken pastelito and the seasoned plantain chips with hummus. I’ve tried most of the main entrées but always come back to the pollo al ajillo mofongo. The chicken is marinated with garlic and seasonings for 48 hours and falls off the bone. Every time I have an out-of-town guest, I make sure we get a meal at Marina’s because it’s a sure-fire hit every time.”
Keeping with the restaurant theme, on Thursday, April 23, Vivent Health + TPAN will host its annual Dining Out For Life Chicago event. Diners can visit a participating restaurant, and a portion of their bill will support HIV care, prevention, and essential services at Vivent Health + TPAN for people across Chicago.
—Update: There’s new information regarding the passing of revered local chef Rick Gresh, who was only 50.
Brooklyn Steinway—Gresh’s best friend who speaks on behalf of his family—was kind enough to update me.
According to Steinway, Gresh actually passed on Dec. 21. Although the final coroner’s report had not yet been received when Steinway messaged me, the discussion between the office and Gresh’s sister points to complications with a blood clot as the preliminary cause of death.
Also, a celebration of Gresh’s life will be held at Chicago’s GMan Tavern, 3740 N. Clark St., on Sunday, Feb. 22, 1-3 p.m. Gresh’s official obituary is here.
—Stocked market: Green City Market closed on a former garden center at 2457 W. Montrose Ave. in December for $899,000—and now has a year-round market.
According to a press release from Green City Market CEO Letisha Steele, “the Montrose space will allow Green City Market to expand programming beyond the outdoor market season and deepen its support for farmers, food access, education, and community connection. Planned uses include winter and shoulder-season farmers markets, educational programming for youth and adults, and space to support farmer and food producer infrastructure.”
—Week in, week out: Make your reservations now! Choose Chicago announced the return of Chicago Restaurant Week (CRW), with a record-setting number of participating restaurants. Produced annually by Choose Chicago, the event celebrates its 19th year Jan. 23-Feb. 8.
Participating restaurants will showcase specially curated prix fixe menus with prices set at $30 for brunch or lunch, and $45 and/or $60 for dinner (excluding beverages, tax and gratuity). Lending an ideal reason to explore Chicago’s nationally lauded culinary scene, diners can experience new, show-stopping restaurants and familiar favorites alike daily. More than 500 participating restaurants (an all-time record) represent 33 distinct Chicago neighborhoods and 61 suburban eateries. Chicago Restaurant Week will kick off in grand style on Thursday, Jan. 22, at First Bites Bash.
—Good golly—tamales!: La Licor Panamericana, in Logan Square, has unveiled a new tamale-centered menu.
La Licor’s new winter menu features tamales from across Pan-America. Enjoy four different regional styles of tamales—chicken green (Mexico), potato paches with chicken (Guatemala), criollo pork tamal (Colombia) and tolimense tamal (Peru)—for $35, or purchase individually for $10 each through the end of the year.
There’s also a revamped full-time menu with items such as palta rellena (Chile), a starter featuring avocado asado, cucumber granita, aguachile and black olive mayo; brisket sureño (Uruguay, a slow-cooked brisket glazed in red wine chimichurri, served with burnt onion and telera bread; and tarantela porteña (Argentina), a dessert croissant bread pudding with lacto-fermented apple and dulce de leche.
Until next time…
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