News for Restaurants in Chicago May 2010 Archive Search / Openings / Closings / Chef Shuffle / News Bytes / Culinary Events / Wine Dinners / Sign up for our free, monthly newsletter / News Archive Read about the openings, closings, chef shuffle, and special events in Chicago here. Gayot's Restaurant News has the information you want on the local restaurants in Chicago.   CHICAGO RESTAURANT NEWS Openings Flirty Cupcakes, a mobile purveyor, hits a sweet spot, dispensing treats from a van full of sweets. Locations are announced via Facebook and Twitter. Flirty Cupcakes, Throughout Chicago, Chicago, IL no zip code, 312-852-4441.   Aiming to be most things to many people, Rita's American Roadhouse is about to open in Downers Grove, offering food and entertainment. Rita's American Roadhouse, 1211 Butterfield Rd., Downers Grove, IL 60515, 630-515-1177.   The folks behind Simone's in the Pilsen neighborhood are working on opening The Boiler Room, a joint that will prep Neapolitan pies with traditional and less-common toppings. The Boiler Room, 2210 N. California Ave., Chicago, IL 60647, 773-276-5625.   Kiki's Bistro alum---server, then manager---Simon Yacobi opened Rendezvous Bistro with Bernardo Lopez, former Kiki's sous chef, in the kitchen. Expect classics, such as coq au vin and duck confit at the intimate BYOB. Rendezvous Bistro, 2656 W. Lawrence Ave., Chicago, IL 60625, 773-561-4400.   Season Four Top Chef winner Stephanie Izard is set to open Girl & the Goat on July 12 in conjunction with Rob Katz and Kevin Boehm of Boka Restaurant Group (Boka, Landmark Bar & Grill, Perennial). The approach? Hip small plates with Spanish-Italian flavors and a healthy dose of innovation---not to mention house-cured charcuterie. Girl & the Goat, 809-813 W. Randolph St., Chicago, IL 60607, 312-492-6262.   Gibsons Steakhouse & Bar is set to open its third location in Oak Brook in early June, serving the same meaty menu that earned it fame. Gibsons Steakhouse & Bar, 2105 Spring Rd., Oak Brook, IL 60523, 630-954-0000.   Remember Nozumi Japanese Cuisine, the ambitious North Shore eatery that suddenly closed? It's baaaaack---sort of. Nozumi Asian Cuisine has some new owners but largely the same menu. This time around, though, it's more cost-conscious. Andy Park, co-owner and chef, remains in the kitchen. Nozumi Asian Cuisine, 100 W. Higgins Rd., South Barrington, IL 60010, 847-783-0001.   So, you think you know bread? It's time to check out Hendrickx Belgian Bread Crafter, a Belgian-bent newcomer that arrives by way of the Bahamas. Seriously strong coffee pairs with muffins, white chocolate bread and just-baked pastries. Hendrickx Belgian Bread Crafter, 100 E. Walton St., Chicago, IL 60611, 312-649-6717.   Smoque BBQ will open an offshoot with a limited menu at U.S. Cellular Field, but only ticket-holders near section 318 on the LG Skyline Club Level will be able to access the pulled pork and brisket. (Sorry, no ribs.) Smoque BBQ, 3800 N. Pulaski Rd., Chicago, IL 60641, 773-545-7427.   Black Dog Gelato---a favored offering at many Chicago restaurants---will have its own proper shop in June. From lemon-chocolate chip, roasted red pepper and cassata gelato, Jessica Oloroso's bring-you-to-tears scoops will abound. Gelato cakes and bars will also be on offer, and she'll be hitting the streets with a movable ice cream cart this summer. Black Dog Gelato, 859 N. Damen Ave., Chicago, IL 60622, No phone yet.   News Bytes Fast Food The push continues to bring food trucks to Chicago. As things stand, 32nd Ward Alderman Scott Waguespack plans to initiate a proposal to legalize them and is currently working with Phillip Foss (Lockwood). Among the other portable feasts in the works: Gaztro-Wagon from Matt Maroni of chicagofoodtrucks.com (5973 North Clark Street). At the National Restaurant Show, incidentally, there was a model food truck on display, and there was much discussion about the movement. The ordinance is expected to be introduced June 9. Until it's official, you can sample Maroni's eats at his small storefront at 5973 N. Clark St. beginning in early June. Lockwood, Palmer House Hilton, 17 E. Monroe St., Lobby level, Chicago, IL 60603, 312-917-3404.   "Tennis Uncorked" If you're enjoying Tennis Channel's coverage of the French Open, you're probably in the mood for some French cuisine. You can taste a little bit of Paris right here in the United States with the network's "Tennis Uncorked" restaurant partnership this spring. The multi-city campaign pairs the channel with these select French restaurants in Chicago: Le Bouchon, Café Matou, Mon Ami Gabi (Oakbrook), Mon Ami Gabi (Chicago), La Sardine, Socca, La Tache and Bistrot Zinc. These French eateries are helping to celebrate Tennis Channel’s round-the-clock coverage of the two-week French Open, tennis’ largest and most prestigious clay-court competition. For more information, go to www.tennischannel.com.   Rick Bayless Prepares White House State Dinner Rick Bayless of Topolobampo, Frontera Grill, and Xoco restaurants in Chicago,  prepared Mexican cuisine at the recent White House State Dinner honoring Mexican President Felipe Calderón and his wife, Margarita Zavala. The menu included herb green ceviche of Hawaiian opah and Oregon wagyu beef in Oaxacan black mole. Read our blog for more on the event. Topolobampo, 445 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL 60610, 312-661-1434.   Big Chef, Big News Chicago chef-restaurateur Grant Achatz is on a roll---and the buzz is extending well beyond five-year-old Alinea these days. He has announced the pending opening of two new projects this year: Next Restaurant and a cocktail bar, The Aviary. The former will offer a seasonally changing, fixed-price menu with optional drink pairings. "Tickets" to dine will need to be purchased in advance ($40-$75 per person, depending on the day and dining time). Alinea, 1723 N. Halsted St., Chicago, IL 60614, 312-867-0110.   James Beard Award Winners & Finalists The James Beard Award winners have been announced, and among the Chicago winners are Alinea for Outstanding Service and Koren Grieveson of Avec restaurant for Great Lakes Regional Outstanding Chef. The Chicago finalists included Spiaggia for Outstanding Restaurant; Richard Melman of Lettuce Entertain You for Outstanding Restaurateur and Mindy Segal of HotChocolate for Outstanding Pastry Chef.   Chef Shuffle Roland Liccioni (Le Français, Carlos', Les Nomades, Le Lan, Old Town Brasserie) has left Miramar with plans to travel and announce his next venture upon his return. Miramar, 301 Waukegan Ave., Highwood, IL 60040, 847-433-1078.   Closings CLOSED FOR GOOD Take your taste buds on a walk down memory lane! Check out our exclusive closed restaurant database for Chicago to virtually visit your favorite dining spots from yesteryear. The Dining Room, R.I.P. A surprise to many, 11-year-old Tizi Melloul has closed. Owner Steven Ford is at work opening Pork Shoppe, 2755 W. Belmont Ave., 773-961-7654, in the Avondale neighborhood. Tizi Melloul, 531 N. Wells St., Chicago, IL 60610, 312-670-4338.   Follia---the fashionable Italian eatery in West Town---has shuttered, leaving Bruno Abate to focus on Tocco in Wicker Park. Follia, 953 W. Fulton Mkt., Chicago, IL 60607, 312-243-2888.   Uh-oh. Seriously---uh-oh. Spring is for sale. For $300,000. Rumor has it, Peter and Sue Drohomyrecky and Shawn McClain---who severed ties---couldn't agree on how to divide up their restaurants, which also include Custom House Tavern and Green Zebra. In the end, Spring will be sold; but it's open for now. Spring, 2039 W. North Ave., Chicago, IL 60647, 773-395-7100.   After 17 years, Marche---a French mainstay in the West Loop---plans to close, serving its last meal on June 13. Howard Davis and Jerry Kleiner, who own the space, plan to open a new restaurant in its place. Marche, 833 W. Randolph St., Chicago, IL 60607, 312-226-8399.   Cuatro, the Latin American eatery in the South Loop, has closed. Cuatro, 2030 S. Wabash Ave., Chicago, IL 60616, 312-842-8856.   The Chinatown location of Lao Sze Chuan is closed on account of a fire, though its menu is being served at its nearby sibling, Lao Beijing, 2138 S. Archer Ave., 312-881-0168, as well as at its Downers Grove outpost. In the meantime, owner Tony Hu is working on Tony's Lao You Ju, 2002 S. Wentworth Ave., 60616, which is expected to open this summer. Lao Sze Chuan, 2172 S. Archer Ave., Chicago, IL 60616, 312-326-5040.   Eivissa closed---for remodeling, as rumor has it. Eivissa, 1531 N. Wells St., Chicago, IL 60610, 312-654-9500.   Orvieto Pizzeria & Wine Bar at Green Dolphin Street has closed. To add insult to injury, the club is moving away from the very thing that made its name---jazz. Orvieto Pizzeria & Wine Bar, Green Dolphin Street, 2200 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago, IL 60614, 773-395-0066.   CULINARY EVENTS Want to learn to cook? Try new dishes? Meet a foodie friend for fun? Check out our compilation of culinary events in your area. View our calendar of Wine Dinners & Tastings in Chicago

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