It’s easy to imagine Chicago’s finest chefs slaving away over a hot stove with truffle oil in hand and foie gras at the ready. But when they get off work, many are just like the rest of us, which is to say: They eat junk. We asked seven culinary stars where their lowbrow desires lay—and instantly felt better about ourselves
Theocracy in Action
“Despite the economy seeming to decline, our business has increased every month in a lot of ways,” says Theo Gilbert, chef-partner of Terragusto (1851 W. Addison St.; 773-248-2777). “We still turn away a couple of hundred people every week, so we’re opening a small restaurant similar to Terragusto to handle the overflow.” The new Terragusto (340 W. Armitage Ave.; 773-281-7200) bows this Friday (January 23rd) in the same mini shopping center as…
As the behemoth that is the greater Wicker Park/Bucktown nightlife scene continues its crawl southward, spreading its mission of martinis throughout West Town and Ukrainian Village, much of the activity has been centered on and just off Chicago Avenue, where new watering holes pop…
Geno Bahena, whose list of opened and closed restaurants is so long we’ve lost track, has plans to open Coco’s, a Puerto Rican/criollo spot at Division and California (that’s Humboldt Park) with a seviche bar on the second floor. “This will happen within a month or so, but…
Market Sharing
The Market House (Doubletree Hotel, 300 E. Ohio St.; 312-787-6100), a 150-seat modern American restaurant focusing on local suppliers, has designs on a February 15th opening. “I don’t want to get labeled as comfort food,” says the chef, Scott Walton (The Sheraton, Harry Caray’s), a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America. “It’s more a warm big feel to the food, driven by local farmers and…
Group punch bowls for sharing, as seen at Rebar (401 N. Wabash Ave.). Sexy or suspect? Germaphobes, discuss. The persistence of bottle service, as seen at Crescendo (222 W. Ontario St.)—despite a tanking economy and nose-diving 401(k)s Handcrafted cocktails, as seen at The Violet Hour (1520 N. Damen Ave.). Do tipsy nightlifers really … Read more
While some folks cowered on their couches Friday night, wishing they had ordered the as-seen-on-TV Snuggie (It’s a blanket! With sleeves!), others were undeterred by a little old blizzard and headed out into the driving snow to get their party on. Winter weather advisory or no, we snapped folks living it up at Sonotheque, where The Rapture’s Vito Roccoforte manned the turntables as part of the new monthly event Go Bang!, presented by the Empty Bottle…
You may not know Stephen Westman by name, but you should. Westman is the owner of Lakeview Broadcasting Company, a partner in Pete Wentz’s Angels & Kings, and he helped launch the flagship location of Clandestine Industries, the boutique and salon that houses Wentz’s clothing label of the same name.
Now 31, Westman has decided to take on a more behind-the-scenes role…
Details Are Sketchy
The Super Bowl is still a good three weeks away, but those hankering for a taste of hard-fought competition fraught with blood, sweat, tears—and, bonus: laughs—can get their fill this weekend at Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival, a 131-show collection of the best of short-form comedy running through January 18th at Theatre Building Chicago (1225 W. Belmont Ave.; chicagosketchfest.com). Highlights include Unintentionally Hilarious, written and performed by junior-high students (because what’s more painfully funny than those awkward tween years?), 1 p.m. Saturday the 10th, or, for the truly bloodthirsty, Fordham University Comedy Troupe (whose acronym we’ll avoid spelling out here), a group that pulls no punches—seriously: check out their skit Nun Ruler—8 p.m. Friday the 9th and Saturday…
John Peters (the former chef at Powerhouse) is in talks with Grant Achatz, his boss at Alinea (1723 N. Halsted St.; 312-867-0110), to do a restaurant project together. “Our intention is to open something else in the style of Alinea,” says Peters, who goes with Achatz back to the Trio days. “Not another heavy-hitter restaurant but something in the style of Alinea. We are kind of in limbo with the economy, obviously, but hopefully…
