Welcome to the second installment of Deep Dish North Shore, a biweekly food and restaurant gossip column with all the latest openings, closings and special events on Chicago’s North Shore.
In honor of the late, great Julia Child’s August 15 birthdate, Chef Michael Lachowicz of Restaurant Michael (64 Green Bay Rd., Winnetka, 847-441-3100) will be featuring a special menu. A three-course meal of her favorite recipes (Coquille St. Jacques Bonne Femme, Coq au Vin a la Grand Mere, and Souffle Chaud, with a palate cleanser of Cranshaw Melon Sorbet) will be available for $42 per person, exclusive of tax and gratuity, from August 15-30. My favorite—of many—Julia quotes: “If you’re afraid of butter, use cream.”
Be still my heart: Trader Joe’s has finally announced an opening date for their new Evanston store (1211 Chicago Ave., Evanston, 847-733-0690), and it’s September 6! You’ll find me there that first morning loading up on all my guilty pleasures (frozen breaded eggplant or roasted corn, edamame hummus, antipasto fixings, and anything covered in dark chocolate). The kicker? It’s only four blocks from my house! Yay!
Congratulations to Fat Rice (2957 W. Diversey, Chicago, 773-661-9170), named #4 on Bon Appetit’s annual list of Best New Restaurants in America . They don’t take reservations, but wow— totally worth the wait. It’s not every day that you get the chance to dine at a restaurant that blends Portuguese and Asian food traditions. Don’t miss the Arroz Gordo (the eponymous “fat rice”), Piri Piri Chicken or the Shaken Chili Whitefish.
I had the chance to check out a new meal delivery service that pleasantly surprised me. Madison & Rayne is run by ex-consultant Melanie Mityas in partnership with Chef Josh Jones, former Chef du Cuisine at the award-winning Spring Restaurant. They prep locally sourced produce and sustainable foods into gourmet meals that you finish cooking at home. I made the Heirloom Tomato Panzanella with Grilled Prawns and it had restaurant-quality flavor (and not just because I’m a trained chef; the instructions are clear and concise, and cleanup was super easy). Next time I’m going with the Duck & Dandelion Green Ragout with Iroquois Corn Polenta and Pickled Green Tomatoes. Happily, they deliver to most of the Northern suburbs on Tuesdays.
Sad news in Chicago: both Grahamwich Sandwich Shop (owned by celeb chef Graham Elliot) and West Town Tavern (owned by Midwest stalwarts Drew and Susan Goss) have closed their doors, although the website hints that we should “look for a change at 1329 W. Chicago Ave.”
I had the opportunity to sit down with Evanston’s Dileep Gangolli, perhaps best known as founder and director of the Illinois Woodwinds Academy and clarinetist with Chicago Sinfonietta, but now owner of Evanston Cellars (847-864-0199). In addition to arranging Midwest Wine Trail Tours , he’s also the distributor for Forty Winks wines, developed in concert with winemaker Doug Welsch of Michigan’s Fenn Valley Winery. I’m a fan of the 2012 Pinot Grigio, a nicely balanced, crisp, dry white. You can find Forty Winks on the menu at Farmhouse Evanston and City Park Grill in Highland Park, or on the shelves at Schaefer’s in Skokie.
Have you been to the new Cocomero (1163 Wilmette Ave., Wilmette) frozen yogurt store in bustling downtown Wilmette? This bright and inviting new dessert destination originated in Champaign, where it’s a favorite with the college kids. The yogurt is priced by the ounce, so grab a cup and choose one or more of the many flavors (like Cake Batter or Coconut), spoon on your choice of toppings (nuts, fruit, juice pearls, sprinkles, cereals, etc.), weigh and pay.
Speaking of desserts, I noticed a new specialty bakery about to open right across from Old Orchard. The name tells you everything you need to know: Nothing Bundt Cakes (9719 Skokie Blvd., 847-370-1239). Ever since I saw the sign, I’ve been replaying “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” in my head. The store will open August 23. (Also pictured top right)
And last but not least, check out the free Cultivate Festival in Lincoln Park on Saturday, Sept. 7 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Last year 25,000 people attended the fest, sponsored by Chipotle , which is designed to raise awareness of sustainable, responsibly raised foods and the farmers who provide them. There will be great music (the Mowglis and Walk the Moon), famous chefs (including Paul Kahan, Tony Mantuano, Curtis Duffy and TV fave Carla Hall) and their food, regional craft beer and wine, and all sorts of demos and fun family activities.
