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Tag: chicago-restaurant-news

  • Illinois Fines Chicago-Area Brewery for Cicada-Infused Malort

    Illinois Fines Chicago-Area Brewery for Cicada-Infused Malort

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    The state has fined a suburban brewery an undisclosed amount after they served a special infusion of Jeppson’s Malört with cicadas, celebrating the insects’ 2024 emergence. Noon Whistle Brewing Co. in Lombard made headlines in May for combining Chicago’s infamous liquor with bugs foraged from a neighboring park.

    The Illinois Liquor Control Commission’s March report includes a blurb that does not mention Noon Whistle, but it refers to a licensee selling an infusion containing cicadas: “The licensee was cited for the violation and was provided education on the issue.” A message to an ILCC rep wasn’t immediately returned. Noon Whistle’s co-founder Mike Condon confirmed the fine over email and wrote he preferred not to share more info.

    In May, Noon Whistle compared its cicada-infused malört to tequilas bottles with worms. They charged $5 per shot, and it was available for a limited time. Malört infusions are all the rage, as neighborhood bars are mixing ingredients like pumpkin spice and candy cane into the liquor. Even outside of Chicago, bartenders are unveiling sinister concoctions with the bitter spirit. The liquor is so storied that former Chicago Tribune beer writer Josh Noel has written a book, Malort: The Redemption of a Revered & Reviled Spirit, that will be released on September 3.

    Local authorities have long held concerns about spirit infusions made at taverns and restaurants, worried that bartenders would ignore the science and allow bacteria to grow while waiting for flavors to develop. Plenty has changed over the years in terms of information available to the general public. For example, the Illinois Liquor Control Act of 1934 wasn’t written to take into account homebrewers; the Internet has helped better educate folks. The act does include a 14-day limit for infusions and bottles have to be clearly labeled with the start and end dates and listed the ingredients used. The state law also defines infusions as using “ingredients, including, but not limited to, fruits, spices, or nuts, are added to naturally infuse flavor into the spirit.”

    Bugs aren’t listed. But neither is bacon — Chicago went through a phase, in the late 2010s, when bartenders were gleefully infusing spirits, like bourbon, with pork. There weren’t reported fines. However, presumably, they weren’t hunting pigs and curing their own bacon. They weren’t hunting wild pigs, they were buying a product from a store or butcher. There’s no such facility to procure food-grade cicadas.

    Keep this in mind when cicadas remerge in Illinois in 2037.

    Lollapalooza sightings

    Last week, Chappell Roan drew the largest crowd ever at Lollapalooza, with organizers claiming the star attracted the largest festival audience ever during a Thursday, August 1 performance with a legion of about 80,000 fans in Grant Park gathering in front of her stage. Of course, these folks have to eat and River North restaurants feasted on the opportunities to feed celebs. Two days before, Roan sampled seafood in River North at Sushi-san. A rep says it was a low-key visit and the singer was barely noticed at the restaurant, part of the Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises group.

    Lettuce has long been a company that draws celebrities and works with concert promoters to feed VIPs. With that in mind, it’s unsurprising that Kesha also found her way to Three Dots and a Dash where a rep says she threw a party for her band and took selfies in the bathroom. Meanwhile, The Killers, whose hit Mr. Brightside has found renewed life in clubs from Northalsted to River North, also played Lolla and the band dined at Lettuce’s Italian restaurant, Il Porcellino. This was while California singer-songwriter Dasha headed to Bub City and sang while they line danced, inspired by the performer’s viral TikTok. Rounding it out, Pierce The Veil did the most punk thing conceivable: They ate dinner at RPM Steak. The band also ate dinner with Blink-182’s Tom DeLonge at Miru the Japanese restaurant inside the St. Regis Chicago. Singer and actress Reneé Rapp (Mean Girls) was joined by Remi Wolf for dinner at RPM Seafood.

    Other sightings included the K-pop group Stray Kids who visited Bonyeon, the steak omakase in West Loop. Icelandic singer/musician Laufey dined at Publican Quality Meats and was tended to by head chef and butcher Rob Levitt.

    But life wouldn’t be the same without a Kardashian mention. Kourtney Kardashian, who has embraced more of a vegan diet, ate at Penelope’s Tacos in River North and posted a photo on Instagram.

    5419 N Sheridan Rd, Chicago, IL 60640
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  • Illinois Doesn’t Ban THC Drinks, But The Battle With Big Cannabis Continues

    Illinois Doesn’t Ban THC Drinks, But The Battle With Big Cannabis Continues

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    Measures in Springfield that would ban hemp-derived cannabis beverages in Illinois — a move that the state’s breweries say would have dealt a big blow to operations — did not go forward. That includes legislation that would have begun regulating delta-8 and other forms.

    All parties involved, including Gov. J.B. Pritzker, say the issue will come up again during the next session — the growing industry needs rules, they argue. In the meantime, the summer should provide some data in terms of how popular THC-infused drinks can be in Illinois. Observers believe the state could generate larger sales — and tax dollars — compared to Minnesota. Minnesota, whose lawmakers have embraced the drinks, has become

    THC drinks have been a lifeline for struggling breweries aiming to diversify revenue streams. Breweries say they were caught off guard by bills that were introduced to regulate the THC industry — actions they say they support — and then altered to crush their business. There’s the belief that no one wants the drinks truly banned, but larger players want to weed out smaller competitors that were first to market before introducing their own brands.

    Security patrols backed by Boka, LEYE, and One Off start in West Loop

    It’s been a year since news that some of Chicago’s major restaurant groups — Boka, Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, and One Off Hospitality Group — were organizing to deploy private security patrols in West Loop and Fulton Market. The owners of restaurants including the Publican, Aba, and Girl & the Goat, have gotten their wish. Block Club Chicago reports P4 Security Solutions is working with the groups and patrol SUVs have been spotted outside the restaurants in those neighborhoods.

    The restaurants are part of the Fulton Market District Improvement Association, and the patrols are “entirely funded by contributions from businesses and organizations.” Security guards carry handcuffs and are armed. Their shifts extend to 3 a.m., according to Block Club. Chicago police have launched nightlife or “entertainment patrols” in areas like Wicker Park and the Near West Side. P4 is supposed to augment that and serves Bucktown and Lincoln Park. Greektown is another area that has its own patrols.

    Springfield keeps the tipped minimum wage

    Observers who witnessed One Fair Wage’s efforts in Chicago to abolish the tipped minimum wage could see this building. Lawmakers in Springfield did not move forward with the measure to abolish the tipped minimum wage statewide, but the campaign is still going national. The National Restaurant Association, which earlier in May hosted its annual show in Chicago, is gearing up its opposition to the effort. After lawmakers finished their session in Springfield ended, the association sent a statement to Eater defending the tip credit (a government subsidiary fills in the gap, and allows restaurants to pay workers below the minimum wage) as a “win-win-win for tipped restaurant workers, restaurant operators, and customers.”

    “This win for Illinois restaurants will help keep menu prices down and will protect the jobs and high-earning potential of tipped workers in vibrant Illinois restaurant communities,” a statement from NRA Executive Vice President for Public Affairs Sean Kennedy reads.

    North Center diner closed after a Thursday fire

    Irene’s Finer Diner in North Center is closed indefinitely after a fire on Thursday at 2012 W. Irving Park Road. The owners announced the news on Friday morning: “We’re deeply saddened to share that due to a recent fire, we are forced to close for further notice. We are very grateful that no one was harmed. We’ve put a lot of heart and sweat into this diner, and will keep you posted on when we can welcome you once again for breakfast.”

    5419 N Sheridan Rd, Chicago, IL 60640
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  • Clark Street Outdoor Dining to Return Without Pedestrianized Roads

    Clark Street Outdoor Dining to Return Without Pedestrianized Roads

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    The city has modified the Clark Street outdoor dining program, a saga that has gripped River North restaurant owners, the area’s alderman, and residents torn between enjoying the city’s few scant weeks of al fresco dining in the summer and those who abhor the season’s traffic jams.

    Mayor Brandon Johnson is allowing restaurants to expand sidewalk patios, but won’t close Clark, between Grand and Kinzie, to auto traffic: “The format will give participating restaurants extra capacity and create an inviting outdoor space for dining while taking into account the need for accessibility and traffic flow in the River North community,” a news release sent by the mayor’s office reads.

    The city, following others across the country, pedestrianized streets as the pandemic safeguards closed dining rooms in 2020 and 2021. Restaurants lucky enough to be in those areas saw a boost in business. The city, under former Mayor Lori Lightfoot, saw it as a way to bring energy to Downtown Chicago; most workers were staying at home and keeping offices empty. But those away from Clark saw it as an unfair advantage — they couldn’t expand their seating and it made it harder for customers to get to their establishments. They wanted the program to sunset to restore balance. While supporters enjoyed the European open market feel of the pedestrianized streets, objectors didn’t say they signed up for summer festival traffic 24/7.

    It’s not a perfect compromise, especially when bicycles and delivery drivers are concerned. But the program has been saved through October meaning the debate will reignite in 2025.

    Cook County punts on tipped minimum wage

    As Chicago has voted toward phasing out the tipped minimum wage, Cook County lawmakers are punting, pushing the state to make a decision. Earlier this week, county commissioners approved a resolution in supporting the state’s efforts to abolish the tipped minimum wage, the subject of a nationwide progressive campaign, backed by One Fair Wage. While the county didn’t follow Chicago’s lead, the resolution — more of a symbolic action — calls attention to the debate in Springfield. The state minimum wage is $14 per hour, and the so-called subminimum wage is $8.40; certain municipalities, if they’re large enough — like Chicago — can create laws that supersede the state’s jurisdiction. Legally, workers won’t get paid that lower wage with the gap paid by tips, which can be likened to a government subsidy for restaurants. Why would the county push this to the state level? Perhaps they wanted to avoid a piecemeal solution, wanting the state to create uniformity.

    AAPI Restaurants Week starts

    Today marks the first day of the third-annual AAPI Restaurants Week, a celebration of restaurants owned by Asian Americans — not everyone is serving and selling Asian food. The restaurants may offer discounts, a prix fixe menu, or donate money to a charity of their choice. The event, which goes from Friday, May 17 through Sunday, May 26, is hosted by OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates, Look for places like Thattu, Verzanay, Bites, Laos to Your House, Side Practice Coffee, and more.

    The Cubs turn to Alpana

    Alpana Singh, the proprietor of Alpana in Gold Coast and the longtime host of Check, Please!, will hurl the ceremonial first pitch on Sunday at Wrigley Field before the Cubs take on the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Pirates were coincidentally the subject of Disney’s Million Dollar Arm. Singh tells Eater the team called her to celebrate AAPI month. She adds her career as a master sommelier, which involves opening and pouring many bottles of wine, has primed her for this moment with her pitching arm ready.

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  • Nicki Minaj Swears She’s Not Pandering While Praising Chicago’s Pizza

    Nicki Minaj Swears She’s Not Pandering While Praising Chicago’s Pizza

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    Most New Yorkers aren’t shy about telling you about their pride in being a New Yorker, and Nicki Minaj is certainly not shy. The Trinidadian rapper performed Wednesday, April 24 at the United Center. But before her concert, she warmed up to locals with some eye-opening takes on Chicago food.

    On Wednesday afternoon, Chicago witnessed a miracle as a “proud New Yawka” complimented Chicago’s pizza scene. She writes on the social platform formerly known as Twitter, that even though she hates pandering, Chicago’s pizza “might be” a runner-up to New York, even though she’s traveled “around the world and even Italy.” The latter part is going to give some Neopolitan pizzaiolo a stroke.

    There are no public signs of where Minaj dined, so it’s unclear what type of pizza she enjoyed or where. These are key points when arguing about pizza. Folks need to know if she ate deep dish so they can offer their preset response that “it’s not the real Chicago pizza” and that “it’s only for tourists.” They need to know if Minaj ate tavern-style pizza so they can comeback with “no one calls it tavern style” and “why didn’t she go the South Side?” Perhaps the less fans know is better when surviving the pizza wars.

    Minaj, born in Trinidad and Tobago, also shared some love for an often overlooked portion of Chicago’s population in praising its Trini and Jamaican spots. She writes that Chicago has “really great Caribbean food.” Again, there’s no word where she dined. No doubt, those restaurants would stand to benefit, the same way Jay-Z helped Bronzeville Soul last summer and how Dimo’s Pizza soaked up the attention in May 2023 thanks to a TikTok review from Lizzo.

    The Bear and Da Bears

    It only took two seasons, but the national media has finally connected the dots between Chicago and The Bear. Minutes after the Chicago Bears selected University of Southern California quarterback Caleb Williams, ESPN’s SportsCenter social channel pushed out a meme that mashed up the TV show and the football team. They used the text “The Bears have a new Chef.” Good thing they proofread. Didn’t want Bears fans to think the team had acquired Patrick Mahomes.

    Cafe Selmarie bids a final farewell after 40 years in Lincoln Square

    Cafe Selmarie, a European-style restaurant and bakery pillar for four decades in Lincoln Square, has announced a closing date more than six months after founder Birgit Kobayashi declared her plans to retire. Its last seating will be at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 27, at 4729 N. Lincoln Avenue, according to a rep. Kobayashi, who opened Selmarie in 1983 with late business partner Jean Uzdawani, first shared the impending closure in September 2023 but didn’t specify a date.

    Cafe Selmarie will be replaced by a new restaurant, Willow Cafe and Bistro, owned by Andrew Pillman of neighboring beer bar Lincoln Square Taproom. An opening date is not yet available.

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    Ashok Selvam

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  • Smith & Wollensky Remains Closed After Weekend Fire in Downtown Chicago

    Smith & Wollensky Remains Closed After Weekend Fire in Downtown Chicago

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    The Chicago location of Smith & Wollensky remains closed after a small Friday, April 5 fire in the steakhouse’s kitchen. A firefighter was seen taken off in a stretcher. No customers or staff were hurt, according to the steakhouse.

    The cause of the fire remains under investigation. The steakhouse, via social media, apologized to customers and vowed for an update ASAP. Smith & Wollensky, a chain with 10 locations, opened its Chicago steakhouse in 1998, off the Chicago River in the Marina City complex.

    Marshmello fans lineup in front of Wiener Circle

    Before his Saturday performance at the Aragon Ballroom, Marshmallo, a DJ and electronic music producer, played a surprise set on top of the Wiener Circle — turntables were installed on the roof. Hundreds flooded toward the restaurant. No ketchup stains harmed the DJ’s glorious white visage.

    Chart-topping musician visits River North restaurant

    If music doesn’t work out for singer-songwriter Benson Boone, maybe working in a restaurant will.

    Boone, whose album — Fireworks & Rollerblades — released last week was in Chicago where he played two shows at the Salt Shed. In between the concerts, he joined a growing contingent of musicians who arrange to work at a restaurant for publicity. Pizzeria Portofino in River North was the venue of choice. While the Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises’ restaurant along the Chicago River isn’t exactly a magnet for Boone’s Tik Tok-obsessed fanbase, the singer still shared a pizza (topped with marinara, Italian sausage, red onions mozzarella cheese, artichoke hearts, and parmesan) he baked alongside Pizzeria Portofino’s Pizza Chef Jeff Smyl with guests. Boone’s single, “Beautiful Things,” has been No. 1 on global charts since mid-February.

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    Ashok Selvam

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  • Signature Room Workers Win $1.5 Million Lawsuit Against Their Former Bosses

    Signature Room Workers Win $1.5 Million Lawsuit Against Their Former Bosses

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    Six months after closing, workers from the Signature Room have won a $1.5 million lawsuit against their former employers as a federal judge ruled that Infusion Management Group broke Illinois law by failing to give workers proper notice of their decision to shutter, which happened on September 28.

    Unite Local No. 1 represented 132 former workers at the restaurant that stood on the 95th floor of the Hancock Center. State law, under the Workers Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act, mandates employers to inform their employees with a 60-day notice of their decision to close. This applies to workplaces with 75 or more full-time employees. The $1.5 million is for back pay and benefits. That total comes out to about $11,363 per worker if it’s divided equally. The court ruling was made on March 14, according to the Sun-Times. The paper also reports workers celebrated with a cake decorated with the words “Justice is served.” Infusion wasn’t reached for comment.

    Tortilla plant workers file NLRB complaint

    Seven months after factory workers from El Milagro tortillas won an NLRB complaint against their employers, workers from another Chicago tortilla factory are claiming their employers aren’t treating them fairly. On Thursday, Authentico Foods workers filed a retaliation complaint with the NLRB as a news release from Arise Chicago says employees at Authentico’s Archer Heights factory have been threatened with layoffs. Arise, a faith-based worker’s rights group that’s done labor organizing in Chicago’s Spanish-speaking communities frames the threat as retaliation for worker protests that have dated back to 2022. Authentico is the maker of the popular supermarket brands El Ranchero and La Guadalupana. Inspired by their peers at El Milagro, workers at Authnetico’s three plants claim similar complaints — abusive managers, low pay, and insufficient breaks under state law.

    One Off launches app

    One Off Hospitality, the owners of Big Star, the Publican family of restaurants, Avec, and influential cocktail bar Violet Hour, have launched an app with a customer loyalty program. The 27-year-old group, founded in 1997 when Blackbird opened in West Loop, is one of the city’s most recognized groups thanks to partners Donnie Madia, executive chef Paul Kahan, Eduard Seitan, Peter Garfield, Terry Alexander, and the late Rick Diarmit.

    The app offers discounts with a points system based on customer spending and allows One Off to better track customer preferences. In a news release, CEO Karen Browne says the project has been years in the making and that made sense “as a growing restaurant group.”

    One Off joins Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises as Chicago-based restaurant groups with apps and programs.

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  • ‘The Bear’ Could Be Filming Seasons 3 and 4 Back to Back in Chicago

    ‘The Bear’ Could Be Filming Seasons 3 and 4 Back to Back in Chicago

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    As Chicagoans attempt to track The Bear with Season 3 production underway in various locations around town, including Randolph Restaurant Row, reports have emerged that the show has already been green-lit for Season 4.

    There’s speculation that Seasons 3 and 4 are being filmed back to back with episodes for Season 4 already in production. Some have also called Season 4 the show’s final season. In the wonderful world of television, nothing is ever a certainty and FX hasn’t confirmed any of this.

    Show creator Christopher Storer, a Park Ridge native, reportedly has a long list of projects necessitating an endgame to Carmy, Sydney, and Richie’s antics. Similarly, actors Jeremy Allen White, Ayo Edebiri, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach are entertaining more opportunities. It’s come a long way since the 2022 James Beard Awards in Chicago where White attended and was easily approachable. His stock, along with his co-stars’, has soared since then.

    Season 3 should debut in June on Hulu.

    Atelier and Christian Hunter Make Moves

    Back in January, Christian Hunter, the chef at Michelin-starred Atelier in Lincoln Square, posted a diner menu on Instagram (since deleted), and that prompted folks to think that the James Beard-nominated chef was on the cusp of opening a second restaurant. Hunter would tell Eater in January that this was a dream, to open a diner that would pay homage to his mother’s (Angela Laverne) Cincinnati roots. Yes, that meant chili loaded with noodles and cheese. He also mentioned Coney Dogs, burgers, chicken sandwiches, and veggie options. Fine dining was great, but Hunter wanted to open a more affordable restaurant and was working with Atelier founder Tim Lacey on fleshing out the concept. In late February, Atelier announced that Hunter was now a co-owner and that they had promoted Bradyn Kawcak from chef de cuisine to executive chef to give Hunter room to pursue new projects as a bonafide restaurant group. Kawcak had worked at Michelin-starred restaurants in Chicago like Band of Bohemia, Entente, and Elizabeth. As far as the diner is concerned, Lacey and Hunter are searching for spaces with hopes of opening something by the end of the year.

    River North nightclub owner faces felony drug charges

    The 43-year-old owner of Spybar, a River North nightclub, has been arrested and faces felony drug trafficking charges for allegedly attempting to smuggle 14 pounds worth of ketamine and about 5.8 grams of ecstasy through O’Hare International Airport.

    Cook County prosecutors claim Dino Gardiakos tried to bring the illegal drugs through airport security as he arrived from London with the intent to sell them. Gardiakos had already been placed on probation for felony drug charges. He now faces a battery of charges including trafficking of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance. He’s been released on pre-trial conditions after appearing in court on Thursday.

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  • Guinness Gives Chicago a Sign of Spring With St. Patrick’s Day Reservations

    Guinness Gives Chicago a Sign of Spring With St. Patrick’s Day Reservations

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    “Is your patio open?”

    Customers have repeatedly uttered those four words this week to restaurants and bar workers all across Chicago, a city that is rejoicing after hitting the 50-degree threshold for the first time in 2024.

    There’s hope, no matter what those groundhogs have revealed, of flipping the page to spring. But nothing is easy, as Thursday morning much of the country was greeted by a cell phone outage that mostly impacted AT&T customers. Overall, more than 100,000 phones have reportedly been hit.

    How that outage will affect online ordering and reservations remains to be seen. AT&T has recommended that customers use WiFi calling if users want to be old fashioned, you know, the antiquated process that eliminates service fees for restaurants — unlike online ordering using a third party (DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub).

    Despite the latest hurdle, there are reasons to be optimistic for the restaurant industry in Chicago. On Wednesday, the city’s tourism arm, Choose Chicago, claimed Restaurant Week as a success, sending out a release that trumped the event gaining popularity with 463 restaurants. The website drew 1.34 million page views, a 7.2 percent increase compared to 2023, and 430,000 website clicks — 32 percent more than in 2023. The 17-day “week” went from January 19 to February. It’s a promotion where participating restaurants offer set meals to bring diners in during the typically slower winter weeks.

    The spring feeling is in full force as Guinness is prepping for its first St. Patrick’s Day in Chicago, with reservations for its Fulton Market brewpub live. The Chicago taproom, which opened in September, is touting five days of St. Patrick’s Day events, from Wednesday, March 13 to St. Patrick’s Day, Sunday, March 17. Customers can book a table for four, eight, or 12 or opt for general admission. The reservations come in three-hour blocks.

    The city has come a long way since St. Patrick’s Day 2020 when bar owners packed revelers into their establishments right before Gov. J.B. Pritzker shut down on-premises dining to help slow the spread of COVID.

    Regardless of optimism, true Chicagoans know it’s way too early to put away their shovels or heavy winter coats.

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