Kal’ish, 1313 W. Wilson, a short-order vegan restaurant that promises a 100% animal-free menu, opens in Chicago on January 14. That day at 1 pm you’re invited to stop by for complimentary samples of the restaurant’s hot cocoa, cookies, grilled cheese and tomato soup. Gina & Andy Kalish, operators of the Ravenswood Event Center, are excited to be opening the restaurant in the neighborhood they’ve called home for over 20 years.
“We’ve always wanted to open a vegan restaurant that could satisfy vegans and omnivores alike,” says Gina. “Kal’ish offers indulgent plant-based alternatives to favorites found at traditional fast food restaurants.”
Diners can expect a wide range of animal-free takes on classic Americana dishes, including gluten and nut-free options. Kal’ish makes from scratch all meat-like protein replacements, using legumes, roots, nuts, yeasts, wheat, vegetables, starches and more to find the right flavor combinations. To do so, the kitchen has become somewhat of a laboratory, testing ways to create animal-free versions that any eater would enjoy. Favorites from the menu include:
K Burger: a classic beefy patty, horseradish kale mayo, cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles and onion, served on a classic bun
Pulled Pork-N-Jack: pulled braised jackfruit, smoky sweet q sauce, purple slaw and pickles, served on a classic bun
Chili Cheese Fries: skin-on salted fries topped with savory house chili, cheese sauce and spicy pico de gallo
Farmer Brown Plate: steamed and griddled vegetables with Midwest curry on a bed of brown rice
In addition, Kal’ish also offers an all-day breakfast menu and Sunday brunch, with options including:
K-Eggs, Potatoes & Toast: a plant-based riff on traditional scrambled eggs with griddle potatoes and onions and a side of buttered toast
Clucker Crisp & French Toast: just like fried chicken & waffles, but plant-based
Biscuits & Sausage Gravy: southern classic fluffy biscuits with homemade vegan gravy and fennel sausage
Take out or eat in the bright, minimalistic space, designed by vegan architect Ferdinanda Marcic.
While Indian food is considered an acquired taste by some, the good stuff is known the world over for its subtle, multi-layered flavors and aromas. And there is no shortage of very good Indian restaurants in our great city of Chicago. Check out TimeOut Chicago’s recent list of Chicago’s 10 best Indian restaurants here. And below is news about two others you may want to consider when you’re in the neighborhoods.
Hakka Bakka Kati Rolls in Lincoln Park serves fast casual Indian food featuring natural, fresh ingredients and authentic recipes to showcase the myriad of flavors that truly represent Indian cuisine. With a menu providing a simplistic approach, Hakka Bakka is putting one of India’s most popular street food items, the Kati Roll, on the culinary map. The Kati Roll features homemade, pan-seared flatbread filled with choice of chicken, lamb, paneer, chickpea, potato or egg, and is prepared with a Tikka (tomato and yogurt based) or Hariyali (cilantro and mint based) marinade, then topped with house made chutney like spicy chili, cilantro, sweet tamarind or savory yogurt.
BACK-TO-SCHOOL SPECIALS
Monday, January 16 through Tuesday, February 28 (one per customer)
$5.99 Mini Kati Roll Combo Meal (available now) includes Masala Fries and soft drink (chicken or chickpea mini roll only, dine-in only).
FREE tea & coffee
NATIONAL SOUP MONTH MONDAYS
Monday, January 9, 16, 23 & 30
FREE lentil soup with any purchase (one per customer, dine-in only). Hakka Bakka’s lentil soup is made in house daily from fresh and healthy ingredients. There is no oil or fat added and they use fresh mung beans boil it down for about two hours. A hearty, healthy alternative to and just as satisfying as heavy cream-based bisques.
NATIONAL HOT & SPICY FOOD DAY SPECIAL
Monday, January 16, National Hot & Spicy Foods Day
FREE veggie samosas with tamarind chutney with any purchase (one order per customer, dine-in only). Hakka Bakka’s spicy samosas are bite-sized deep fried triangles of dough stuffed with potatoes, peas, carrots, onions, and ginger. Think of it as an Indian Empanada.
And, further north, consider a unique Indian bistro Mango Pickle, located in Edgewater at 5842 North Broadway. Owner Marisa Paolillo learned how to cook Indian cuisine as a result of living and traveling in India for 9 years, and she continued to explore on her own. She worked for a time at The Table restaurant in Mumbai, India where she was exposed to the culinary world.
Marisa’s new bistro menu demonstrates her love for food and brings a spoonful of India back to Chicago. Using saffron and cardamom, Mango Pickle is serving up authentic Indian dishes with a Western twist. Based on the popularity of Chai Tea Time in India she’s created a special Chai menu. On Fridays and Saturdays starting at 4:30pm, Mango Pickle features a family recipe, Chai Masala, along with house-made syrups and infusions. The Chai Menu includes:
Bombay Masala Chai…$3
Spiced Hot Chocolate…$3
Then pick from one of these optional add-ons:
Saffron-cardamom…$1
Cocoa…$1
Spiced Jaggery…$1 (natural sugar that’s like a cross between spicy molasses and buttery caramel)
2 nights of dim sum at Intro. Photo credit: Anjali Pinto
If you haven’t experienced the joys of cuisine delivered by top chefs being given a chance to shine – and experiment using their highest skills, to the great enjoyment of guests – how about trying it this week? Wednesday, December 28 – Thursday, December 29 reserve your spot at Intro for a modern dim sum pop up. For two days only, three former Intro visiting chefs are taking the entrepreneurial skills that they learned at Intro to take over the restaurant with a menu inspired by their travels – in particular the nine Asian countries Chef Gillanders recently toured.
An a la carte menu and pre-fixe option are available will feature elevated dim sum, noodles and rice and family-style feasts. A limited number of reservations are available from 5:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. next Wednesday, December 28 and Thursday, December 29 for this special a la carte menu. To make a reservation or view the menu, visit www.introchicago.com or call the restaurant at 773.868.0002.
Eden Restaurant, 1748 W. Lake St., opens its doors tonight, bringing refined cooking, impeccable hospitality, and unwavering conviviality to the dining community. Principal Jodi Fyfe, Chef/Partner Devon Quinn, and Chef de Cuisine Miles Schaefer deliver stellar cuisine and a rustic ambiance.
Beautiful, clean, creative cuisine at Eden in W. Lake district
The new 95-seat restaurant draws inspiration from Portugal, Spain, Lebanon, and more and offers a fresh, farm-forward menu that epitomizes clean cooking. A biologist by nature with a passion for hyper-local ingredients, Chef Quinn applies the bounty of his onsite 1800-square foot greenhouse throughout the menu, which means fresh flavors year-round. Think creative options like Umami Doughnuts, Roasted Baby Beets, Braised Duck Lasagna, and Portuguese Spiced Chicken.
Eden’s Pastry Chef Stefano Tulipano, General Manager and Sommelier Arif Rahman, and Mixologist Alex Rydzewski eachoffer distinctive drinks and desserts that work beautifully with Eden’s menu.
The restaurant is designed with careful craftsmanship using local resources and features rustic touches and authentic finishes. Original exposed brick speaks to the neighborhood’s industrial history, while graphic black and white tile highlight the exclusive chef’s counter and expansive bar. Eden is now open for dinner. Preview the menu here, and for reservations visit or call (312) 366-2294.
English: GREENWICH, Conn. (June 27, 2009) Local citizens and U.S. military personnel display a giant American flag during a “Salute to Veterans” celebration in Greenwich, Conn. The “Salute to Veterans” celebration has been held annually since 1992. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. j.g. Arlo Abrahamson/Released) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
BELLY UP SMOKEHOUSE & SALOON, 1132 S Wabash. Veterans – active, former or retired military – get 20% off your bill for dine-in only (one per veteran/active military personnel, per order, per visit, per ID). A special all-American drink features a bottle of Budweiser and a shot of Jack Daniels for $8.
IVme WELLNESS + PERFORMANCE, 1347 N. Wells St., offers a 20% discount to all Veterans and active military personnel. One per veteran/active military personnel, per visit, per ID. Board certified physicians, Dr. Jack Dybis and Dr. Scott Yilk, and a team of fully accredited, licensed nurses and support staff, offer professional rehydration therapy for those with cold and flu, wellness and vitality, jet lag, hangover and more). Also B12 shots and oxygen therapy.
MAK: MODERN ASIAN KITCHEN, 1924 W. Division. Offers 50% off orders to active, former or retired Veterans for dine-in only (one per veteran/active military personnel, per order, per visit, per ID). Traditional Chinese cuisine with a healthy and modern twist – bowls, wraps, soups and more that use locally sourced ingredients and meats that are naturally raised, and hormone, steroid and antibiotic free.
YARD HOUSE‘s several Chicago locations all salute every branch of the military this Veterans Day with a complimentary appetizer for lunch, dinner or late-night dining.
Nando’s PERi-PERi, the South African-Portuguese restaurant known worldwide for its spicy flame-grilled chicken, hatches two new Chicagoland restaurants this month in Skokie and Oakbrook. Nando’s will pay it forward by donating 100 percent of sales each opening day to support student programs at Niles North High School and Hinsdale Central High School.
• SKOKIE: Nando’s ninth Chicago location will open on Sunday, November 13, in Westfield Old Orchard mall. Nando’s will donate opening-day sales to Niles North High School. The restaurant is located at 4999 Old Orchard Center, Skokie, IL. Phone: 847-972-6833
• OAKBROOK: Nando’s tenth Chicago location will open on Sunday, November 20, in Oakbrook Center. Nando’s will donate opening-day sales to Hinsdale Central High School. The restaurant is located at 523 Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook, IL. Phone: 630-230-4348
Opening-day sales in Skokie will be donated to the Niles North High School’s “Dance Marathon” charity organization, with proceeds earmarked for local families and students in need and for Hope Junior, an afterschool program that offers children and teens high-quality after-school program activities throughout Chicago. Opening-day sales in Oakbrook will be donated to the Hinsdale Central High School’s performing arts program, to help offset costs of five plays and musicals this school year.
Nando’s 11th Chicagoland location opens in mid-January 2017 in the Hyde Park neighborhood, at 1447 E. 53rd Street near the University of Chicago.
Go enjoy some Nando’s and painlessly and deliciously support your local school!
Do you expect exceptional food when you go out for live music? Chicago has a few places that make this a priority. In the city, where you can get there by cab or public transport:
Bandera, 535 N. Michigan. Jazz & blues every night. Cocktails, lunch and dinner in sexy, subtle lighting.
Eddie V’s Prime Seafood and Steak, 521 N. Rush St. Seafood, oysters, crab, sea bass, etc. and prime steaks. Pricey but highly rated.
Buddy Guy’s Legends, 700 S. Wabash. Rockin’ good music and down home Southern-inspired dishes. Word is, Buddy himself sits in sometimes!
And we just heard about one in the ‘burbs that’s making food a priority, too: 210 Restaurant and Live Music Lounge, 210 Green Bay Road, Highwood, IL. Co-owner and Executive Chef Jeff Tomchek brings 30 years of experience in several countries honing his abilities to turn fresh, high quality, locally sourced produce and ingredients into menu items that span regional and global cuisines as well as barbecue and Southern-style dishes.
Appetizers include Hawaiian Tuna Poke with toasted Macadamia Nuts ($13); Roast Local Corn Mexican Street Food Style ($5/$8); Korean Chicken Wings ($12); and Tomato Bisque ($5/$8). Salads include Roast Beets with Bean Hummas, Arugula & Pine Nuts ($12); Frillman Farms Heirloom Tomato with Burrata & Basil ($11); and a Crispy Chicken Chopped Salad with Chipotle Ranch ($18).
Main dishes include Baby Back Ribs, Dry Rub & Pit Smoked (taste $8, half $16/full slab $24); Buttermilk Fried Chicken Sandwich with Arugula & Remoulade ($13); Roast Scottish Salmon with corn mashed potatoes and Mexican Truffle Vinaigrette ($24); and Andouille Jambalaya with Louisiana Style BBQ Shrimp ($19).
This place even lets you get your vegetables in with original presentations like Roast Local Eggplant with Moroccan Spices ($9); Miso Glazed Acorn Squash ($8); Roast Cauliflower with Thai three flavor sauce ($8) and Bacon Braised Collard Greens ($8); and Not Yo Mamma’s Mac & Cheese ($8); and Local Bi Color Corn Sautéed with Peppers & Onions ($8). Seasonal offerings and daily specials are listed on the website.
If you live in the city and want to enjoy 210 Restaurant and Live Music Lounge, consider finding a nice hotel in the area so you can stay as long as you like and not have to worry about driving home. If you live nearby, get thee hence and try it soon.
Knife, 4343 N. Lincoln Ave., opened for business this week. Steak and seafood abound, and every creative item on the menu is presented with passion, precision and love in awarm and intimate atmosphere. Knife is brought to you by David and Paula Byers and Chef Tim Cottini, the team behind the popular Lincoln Square restaurant, Fork.
At first glance, the handsomely designed menu is understated and traditional-sounding, but the element of surprise will be ever-present in each dish. “We want to take the essence of a classic dish and re-create it in a unique way,” said Chef Cottini, who understands that, “We first eat with our eyes before we eat with our mouths. The visual impact of the food will be almost as important as the taste.” Throughout the menu, Chef Cottini maintains a high standard using locally sourced, quality seasonal ingredients, as he transforms the traditional into the unexpected.
Chef Tim Cottini
Knife is modernizing the old-school steakhouse mentality and ambiance. It will raise expectations of what a steakhouse can be while paying homage to menu classics. Promoting culinary creativity and cultural fusion is what makes this restaurant truly American.
Menu Rundown The dinner menu is clearly organized into six sections: Appetizers, Chilled Plates, Salad & Soup, Entrées, Steaks and Sides. Appetizer choices include Fois Gras Terrine, seasonal jam, brioche, market greens and pickled vegetables ($19); Oxtail Doughnut Holes, aupoivre sauce ($10); Lobster Tail Tempura, arugula & ginger-orange sauce ($22); and Shrimp De Jonghe, puff pastry, garlic, fine herbs ($17).
Lobster at Knife
Chilled Plates feature seafood, including Oysters on the Half Shell (market price); Ahi Tuna Tartare, avocado, fresno chili, endive ($14); and Shrimp Cocktail, horseradish & candied lemon ($16). The ala carte Bread Service offers two house-made choices: Parker House Rolls with whipped butter & sea salt ($6) or Focaccia with seasonal dipping sauce ($6).
Salad & Soup choices include the Heirloom Tomato & Burrata Salad, basil pesto, marinated red onions & basil ($16); Lobster Bisque, crème frâiche, tarragon ($11); Tableside Caesar, white anchovies, focaccia croutons, parmesan & pecorino ($19); the Market Salad, shaved market vegetables, Urban Till greens with sherry vinaigrette ($9); and the Grilled Wedge Salad, Urban Till baby iceberg, green goddess, lobster mitts, bacon, bleu cheese, tomato, scallions ($18). The Tableside Caesar can be prepared tableside for three or more persons.
Pork chop at Knife28-day aged bone-in ribeye for two at Knife
The Entrées section of the menu includes the non-steak main courses, and there are seven from which to choose, providing plenty of variety for guests who prefer alternatives to steak. The Pork Chops are served with candied sweet potatoes and butter-bourbon gastrique ($27). Lamb Chops are accompanied by stuffed zucchini & hollandaise sauce ($27). The vegetarian Pasta entrée is built on a foundation of pappardelle, with market vegetables, basil pistou & parmesan ($18). Poultry lovers will enjoy the Green Circle Farm’s Chicken, a braised thigh with macaroni gratin, chicken jus ($24). Fish entrées include Wild Salmon, caramelized cauliflower, béarnaise ($27); Ahi Tuna, green beans amandine, smoked tomato butter ($28); and Halibut, pipperade, creamed kale, lobster demi ($30).
Knife’s Steaks section clearly emphasizes the restaurant’s keen philosophy: “Knife is proud to offer locally-sourced, house dry-aged beef. This premium product hails from local farms in Illinois and Iowa that uphold humane standards and practices as well as conservation.” There are five selections from which to choose and all steaks are served with house-made Journeyman steak sauce and choice of onion strings or hand-cut frites. Guests may order the Sirloin (10 oz, $27), Beef Tenderloin (6 oz, $33); Trio of Medallions with Bleu Cheese Crust (8 oz, $25), or the Boneless Ribeye (12 oz, $34). Knife’s signature steak is a 28-Day Dry-Aged Ribeye for Two, carved tableside and served with twice baked potatoes, green beans and au poivre ($89).
inspired zucchini dish at Knife
Embellishments to the steaks are plentiful. Guests can choose a Lobster Tail ($19), Shrimp ($4), Foie Gras ($9), Oscar Style ($14) or Bleu Cheese ($5). Several sauces are available as well: Béarnaise ($3), Barolo ($2), Hollandaise ($2), Butterbourbon ($2), Au Poivre ($3) and Smoked Tomato Butter ($2).
Rounding out the dinner menu are nine creative side accompaniments, including Smoked Frites, lemon aioli ($6); Onion Strings, roasted pepper aioli ($6); Macaroni Gratin, parmesan, Jarlsberg & lemon ($7); River Valley Ranch Mushroom en Pappiotte, portabella, cremini, shiitake, rosemary & roasted garlic ($9); Stuffed Zucchini, basil roasted peppers & parmesan ($7); Caramelized Cauliflower, sultanas, balsamic & capers ($8); Green Beans, almond tuile & butter ($8); Twice Baked Potato, bacon, fontina, scallions, crème frâiche ($8); and Whipped Potatoes, confit garlic with cream & butter ($7).
Dessert selections continue to showcase Chef Cottini’s modern interpretations of steakhouse classics. Choices include Flaming Gran Torino, bruléed spumoni, sponge cake with vanilla, pistachio & brandied black cherry ice creams ($13); Profiteroles-gluten free-with chocolate & Tahitian vanilla ice creams with house made fudge sauce ($9); Key Lime Version 3.14, raspberries, ginger graham crust, whipped cream ($11); Chocolate Layer Cake, chocolate mousse, fudge sauce, white chocolate ($12); Blossoming Apple Tart, Honeycrisp apples, almonds, cranberries, caramel, Saigon cinnamon ice cream ($13).
Sophisticated preparation and exciting presentation are the foundations of Chef Cottini’s food The menu descriptions purposefully understated on paper, belie the sophisticated preparation and exciting presentations that guests will experience, creating a memorable dining experience.
For example, the Grilled Wedge Salad starts with iceberg lettuce raised locally by Urban Till in Chicago specifically for Knife. The smaller lettuce heads enhance the natural flavor, and are grilled to add a charred smokiness. The traditional toppings, bacon, tomatoes, cucumbers, and blue cheese are scattered around the plate, but Chef Cottini has gone the extra mile, dehydrating the bacon for twelve hours to make it extra-crisp.
Other appetizers, such as the Heirloom Tomato & Burrata Salad, are re-invented at Knife as well. The tomato is peeled, hollowed, and filled with a locally produced Burrata, infused with local basil-pesto and roasted. The Oxtail Doughnut Holes are savory bites filled with classically braised oxtail and served with an au poivre sauce. Bread offerings are baked in-house with Parker House Rolls served fresh from the oven and an artisan, potato-based Focaccia provides a dairy-free option.
Steaks are served uncut. “We wouldn’t dare deprive our customers of the joy of cutting into an exceptional, tender steak with ease. It’s an experience unlike any other,” says Chef Cottini. The special 28-Day Dry-Aged Ribeye for Two is carved tableside – such a pleasure to watch the juices flow.
The Pork Chops have an intense marbling and flavor, served with a side of candied sweet potatoes seasoned with a spicy Saigon cinnamon, then topped with marshmallows and a butter bourbon gastrique. In a completely different category than any candied sweet potatoes many of our moms used to make.
Sourcing quality ingredients is a cornerstone of the Knife philosophy. The Wild Salmon is prepared with Skuna Bay Salmon, a top quality fish from a Vancouver Island, British Columbia vendor who exemplifies the sound ecological raising of farm-raised salmon. Sides are thoughtfully designed to enhance each flavor profile. The River Valley Ranch Mushroom en Pappiotte is a marinated portabella cap filled with shitake and cremini mushrooms, rosemary and roasted garlic. The Macaroni Gratin is jazzed up with a blend of cheddar and jarlsbergcheeses with lemon. The Stuffed Zucchini is sourced from local farmers, hollowed out and stuffed with a zucchini puree.
Knife bacon-wrapped potato
One example of Chef Cottini’s creativity is the Twice Baked Potato. This steakhouse standard side dish takes a contemporary turn as it stands up on its side, filled with an Italian fontina cheese, wrapped in bacon, and then roasted.
About Knife Knife, located at 4343 N. Lincoln Avenue in Chicago, is a new contemporary steakhouse from David and Paula Byers and Chef Tim Cottini, the team behind the popular Fork restaurant in Chicago’s Lincoln Square. Knife is inspired by traditional steakhouse food and beverages and gives them a modern interpretation, using fresh, locally sourced ingredients.
Knife is open for dinner from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.Tuesday through Thursday; 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.Friday and Saturday; closed on Sunday and Monday. All major cards will be accepted; ample street parking is available. Knife also will be available for private events. For more information, please contact Knife at (773) 799-8283. Visit the website at knifechicago.net. Like Knife on Facebook at Facebook.com/KnifeChicago; follow on Twitter atTwitter.com/KnifeChicago and on Instagram at Instagram.com/KnifeChicago.
According to Grubhub, the nation’s leading online meal delivery service, it’s time to order takeout/delivery food items that appear to be good luckfood for the Cubs as they begin the National League Championship Serieson Saturday. If the Cubs are to appear in the World Series for the first time since 1945 and ultimately clinch their first championship since 1908, you may want to order these foods on game day!
The following are the top 5 most ordered foods during game day wins in Chicago for the Cubs vs. game day losses.
In Chicago, hamachi kama was ordered 145% more when Cubs won than when they lost.
In Chicago, creamy mac and cheese was ordered 117% more when Cubs won than when they lost.
In Chicago, black bean taco was ordered 111% more when Cubs won than when they lost.
In Chicago, horiatiki salad was ordered 91% more when Cubs won than when they lost.
In Chicago, shepherd salad was ordered 88% more when Cubs won than when they lost.
It’s not delivery convenient, but it’s a chance to get out and exercise without killing your whole lunch hour or having to rush through a restaurant meal.
MealPal launched its subscription lunch service in Chicago today with more than 50 restaurants on board. Choose menu options from local restaurants for less than $6 per meal – and skip those annoying lines.
Chicago and DC are the latest cities to join the crowd. In New York, San Francisco, Boston and Miami, weekday lunch crowds have now ordered over 500,000 meals from more than 1,000 restaurants. MealPal has also recently introduced Pal, a smart bot that uses artificial intelligence to personalize your choices.
Preferences. Pal will ask you a series of questions to understand which ingredients you like and don’t like. That way you see meal options that fit your tastes.
Reminders and calendar integration. Pal will remind users to reserve lunch on any given day if you forget, and will add lunch reservations to your calendar.
Longer booking window. Previously, you couldn’t start ordering until 7pm the day before to select your lunch for the following day – but now you can check out the next day’s menu starting at 5pm.
The service is simple to use. Visit the website or mobile app to browse the daily menu, filtering meals by cuisine and portion size. Reserve your meal by 9:30am, choosing a time to pick up your lunch. When you pick up your food, skip the line and be in and out of the restaurant in less than 30 seconds.
Six bucks for lunch? Not bad. And you don’t have to sign up to use it everyday. As of right now, it’s only available in the Loop but they expect to add more ‘hoods soon.
include Baby Back Ribs, Dry Rub & Pit Smoked (taste $8, half $16/full slab $24); Buttermilk Fried Chicken Sandwich with Arugula & Remoulade ($13); Roast Scottish Salmon with corn mashed potatoes and Mexican Truffle Vinaigrette ($24); and Andouille Jambalaya with Louisiana Style BBQ Shrimp ($19).
