It’s Deep Dish November, and we’re looking at openings, closings, upcoming wine dinners and special events in Chicago and the North Shore.
Openings and Closings
For every door that closes, another two open! We say goodbye to Benjamin Tapas in Highland Park andEverest Burger in Glencoe, but hello to Naf Naf Grill,Lao Sze Chuan, OMG (Olive Mediterranean Grill, not ohmigod, but maybe both, who knows?), and Tomate Fresh Kitchen, all in Evanston. Not that Evanston has a dearth of restaurants to begin with, but wow! That’s a lot of openings, all by the end of November.
Here’s where to find them:
- Lao Sze Chuan , 1633 Orrington Ave., Evanston (the latest from the Tony Hu restaurant empire)
- Naf Naf Grill , 1629 Orrington Ave., Evanston (Mediterranean chain, also opening sometime soon in Lincolnshire and Mt. Prospect)
- OMG , 1726 Sherman Ave., Evanston (more Mediterranean, ‘cuz you can never have too much falafel in a two-block radius…)
- Tomate Fresh Kitchen , 914 ½ Noyes St., Evanston, 773-757-3322 (already open, serving tacos, empanadas, burritos and gorditas!)
Juicy Gossip!
True Juice (542 Chestnut St., Winnetka, 847-784-8796) opened in September, and it’s been a hit from the word go. They’ll make your juice to order (12 oz./$7, 16 oz./$9), or you can grab a cold-pressed juice from the cooler for $11. Sounds pricey, but remember that there’s up to seven pounds of fruits and veggies crammed into that little bottle, not to mention the plethora of vitamins and nutrients that will bombard your system. Owner Whitney Fitzgerald of Glencoe is selling smoothies and juices, of course, but also tapped Chef Jona Silva (former owner of Hota in Evanston) to provide the salads, wraps and sandwiches, all with a healthy bent and lots of nutrient-dense organics. There’s a $65/day juice cleanse available, also. I’m feeling healthier just reading this.
Changes at The Noodle
There’s been a name change for The Noodle Small Plates & Market; henceforth, you’ll be dining at the Twelfth Street Market by The Noodle (1156 Central Ave., Wilmette, 847-251-1133). They will still be featuring the small plates at lunch, but will act as an overflow for The Noodle at dinnertime, albeit with the addition of Small Plates favorites like the Brussels Sprouts Chips and the delicious dessert doughnuts. And yes, I realize the address says Central Ave., but they are located on the corner of Central and Twelfth Street, hence the name!
So Luxe!
Thursday, Nov. 14 is the date of this year’s LuxeHome Chill event, featuring 40 top chefs, 150 premium wines and wall-to-wall home boutiques and showrooms. This annual event benefits theRespiratory Health Association , Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra , and The Lynn Sage Foundation . The VIP Tasting Reception runs from 5-6 p.m., while the Wine & Culinary Event goes from 6-8:30 p.m. ($115 for general admission, $175 include VIP Reception). You’ll find it all under the roof of The Merchandise Mart (222 W. Merchandise Mart Plaza, Chicago, entrance at the corner of Wells and Kinzie streets). Do it up for a good cause!
New Party Space
The Gibsons Group has a fabulous new event space in the uber-happening River North neighborhood! The Montgomery Club at 500 W. Superior in Chicago has 8,000 square feet of flexible dining space that can handle groups from 12-200 for seated events and up to 500 for a standing cocktail party. Food is provided by the ever-dependable Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse ,Hugo’s Frog Bar & Fish House , LUXBAR and Quartino restaurants. Always looking for a good place to party!
Mark Your Calendars
You won’t want to miss this! Cascabel is returning to Chicago this summer for a four-week run, and the tickets go on sale to the public November 19. The winning combination of super celebrity chefRick Bayless and Tony Award-winning Lookingglass Theatre, it’s a night of dinner theatre unlike any you’ve ever experienced. All I can say is go. The show will be performed at the Goodman Theatre in the Owen (170 N. Dearborn St., Chicago) from July 30-August 24, 2014. Tickets are available online .
One More Thing…
As always, if you have any Deep Dish-appropriate gossip for me, let me know! Send it tojchernoff@makeitbetter.net or tweet me @juliechernoff .
