Openings

Open now: Acanto (18 S. Michigan Ave., 312-578-0763) is the new name for the new restaurant replacing Henri, and Billy Lawless’s latest will lean relaxed Italian with help from Henri chef Chris Gawronski.

Open now: Bar Takito (201 N. Morgan St., West Loop, 312-888-9485), a baby sibling to Wicker Park’s Takito Kitchen, will be less about the tacos than all manner of Latin-inspired small plates and seviches. (But there will still be tacos, of course.)

Open now: Even more tacos! Authentaco (1141 N. Ashland Ave., Noble Square, 773-360-7345), from Picante owner Felipe Caro, features house-made tortillas, aguas frescas, and dishes with huitlacoche (a.k.a. “corn smut,” a fungus that grows on corn that tastes mostly like mushrooms.)

Monday, August 25: Breaking news: There can never be enough tacos! Mercadito Counter (738 N. Clark St., River North) will have them, but also plenty of other Latin-inspired eats, such as gordita sliders, hot dogs, and a beverage program courtesy of the Tippling Bros. (think Mexican milkshakes.)

Morsels

For less than a dollar, get doughnuts at Stan’s Donuts & Coffee (1560 N. Damen Ave., Wicker Park, 773-360-7386) on Saturday. They’re celebrating founder Stan Berman’s 85th birthday with 85-cent signature glazed doughnuts all day long.

Just one Chicagoan will represent on the next season of Top Chef. Our hometown hero will be Trenchermen executive sous chef Rebecca LaMalfa, and you can watch her take on the competition starting October 15.

Speaking of the city’s dining scene being underrepresented, the Bon Appétit Best New Restaurants list came out yesterday—and Chicago spots got totally shut out. Our contenders this year were Mott St. and Nico Osteria (two restaurants we showered love on earlier this year in our own "Best New Restaurant" rankings), but neither made the cut for the top ten list. Sigh.