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News for Restaurants in Chicago
November 2013 Archive

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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

Adjacent to Summer House Santa Monica is Stella Barra Pizzeria, a pizza concept that chef Jeff Mahin started in Southern California. The 120-seat restaurant serves the signature pies along with new dishes unique to the Chicago location. Stella Barra Pizzeria, 1954 N. Halsted St., Chicago, IL 60614, 773-634-4100.
 
Celebrity chef Art Smith, owner of Table Fifty-Two and Art and Soul, former personal chef to Oprah Winfrey and "Top Chef Masters" participant, joins forces with chef Tal Ronnen, vegan chef to VIPs and author of The Conscious Cook, to launch LYFE Kitchen in River North. The restaurant features fast, healthful, nourishing fare, with no dish containing more than 600 calories (no butter, cream, additives or preservatives) and prices topping out at around $13. Menus cater to meat eaters as well as vegans and most special diets, including gluten free. LYFE stands for "love your food every day." Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner daily. LYFE Kitchen, 413 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL 60654, 312-836-5933.
 
Shin Thompson (Bonsoiree) and Ryan O'Donnell (Gemini Bistro, Rustic House) are behind Japanese brasserie Kabocha. It serves Thompson's beloved "Duck, Duck, Goose" as well as steamed braised rabbit dumplings. Kabocha, 952 W. Lake St., Chicago, IL 60607, 312-666-6214.
 
Summer House Santa Monica is a culinary collaboration from chef/partner Jeff Mahin (Stella Barra Pizzeria and M Street Kitchen in Southern California, Do-Rite Donuts & Coffee in Chicago), Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises and chef/partner Francis Brennan (formerly of L2O). The menu offers California-inspired fare such as fish tacos with guacamole, fennel slaw and salsa verde. Summer House Santa Monica, 1954 N. Halsted St., Chicago, IL 60614, 773-634-4100.
 


News Bytes
What’s Next at Next
Chef Grant Achatz has announced the upcoming menus for Next Restaurant. The early 2014 menu is themed around "Chicago Steak" with high-quality dry-aged beef. A modern Chinese menu will be created in May, followed by "Trio 2004" in September that revisits a menu chef Achatz served in January 2004 that helped lead to the creation of Alinea. Next Restaurant, 953 W. Fulton St., Chicago, IL 60607, http://www.nextrestaurant.com.
 
Renowned chef/restaurateur Charlie Trotter passed away on November 5, 2013 Mourning the Loss of Chef/Restaurateur Charlie Trotter
Renowned chef/restaurateur Charlie Trotter passed away on November 5, 2013, at the age of 54. He made a name for himself with his eponymous Chicago restaurant Charlie Trotter’s, which closed in August 2012 after 25 years in business. Charlie Trotter’s was named one of GAYOT’s Top 40 Restaurants in the U.S. in 1990, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009-10 and 2011. He earned such accolades for his “never-repeated tasting menus” presenting “polished contemporary American cuisine that remains fresh and vibrant.”
 
Thanksgiving at Café des Architectes
Café des Architectes will offer a three-course prix-fixe menu for Thanksgiving. Options will include black truffle risotto; turkey breast with cornbread stuffing, roasted brussels sprouts and chorizo jus; and pumpkin verrine with caramel corn, Bourbon and sweet cream. The cost is $65 per adult and $19 for children under 12 (tax and gratuity excluded). Thanksgiving dinner will be served from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. For reservations, please call 312-324-4063. Café des Architectes, Sofitel Chicago Water Tower, 20 E. Chestnut St., Chicago, IL 60611, 312-324-4000.
 
Return of Chicago Restaurant Week
Chicago Restaurant Week 2014 arrives January 24-February 6, 2014, with prix-fixe menus starting at $22 for lunch and $33/$44 for dinner (excluding beverages, tax and gratuity). For a complete list of participating restaurants, visit www.choosechicago.com
 

Chef Shuffle

Check back soon for more news.


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.

Sprout, Lincoln Park's French-American hybrid that had "Top Chef" chef-testant Dale Levitski at the helm, has closed. Sprout, 1417 W. Fullerton Ave., Chicago, IL 60614, no phone.
 

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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VALENTINE'S DAY WINES

Add wine to the celebration of love, curated by GAYOT´s Wine & Spirits Editor.

Check the list.

CHAMPAGNE COCKTAILS

For a rosé bubbly Valentine's Day celebration.

Get the recipes.

GAYOT'S RESTAURANT AWARDSOver the years, we have been electing restaurants to be on GAYOT's Yearly Restaurant Awards.

Check the list.