Art Smith receives award, hosting brunch
On April 21, Chicago chef Art Smith received a special award at The U.S. State Department by Secretary of State John Kerry for his Israel/West Bank trip as part of the U.S. State Department's Diplomatic Chef Corps.
In addition, Smith will host "Bring Your Beard Brunch: A salute to LGBT Culinary America" at Table 52, 52 W. Elm St., at 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Smith, a James Beard Award two-time award winner and 2015 presenter, will celebrate equality and same-sex marriage/adoption. Smith and husband Jesus Salgueiro will match all brunch sales with a donation to the The James Beard Foundation. Call 312-573-4000.
Rockit to relaunch May 1 in River North
On Friday, May 1, Rockit Bar & Grill, 22 W. Hubbard St., will relaunch a complete redesign of the physical space and a newly inspired menu.
A media event held on April 20 revealed the new design, which includes marble bars on both floors as well as brass taps on a large marble tile. Some of the ( very delicious ) menu items include garlic bread prawns, ham-and-cheese fries, chile caramel corn, pan-roasted salmon, The Double Beast ( two quarter-pound Black Angus beef patties, cheddar, shredded lettuce, onion rings and Rockit sauce ) and the ever-popular Rockit Pockit ( which someone described as "a cheeseburger egg roll" ).
There will also be an array of festivities, including a special alignment with the James Beard Foundation to present "Beard & Boxing" on Saturday, May 2, 7 p.m.-3 a.m..
Beard & Boxing will include a live broadcast of the epic boxing showdown between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao. In addition, Chef/Partner Kevin Hickey will present a robust dining "tour" showcasing passed signature selections from all of Rockit group's restaurants: The Duck Inn, Bottlefork, Sunda, Ay Chiwowa and Rockit Bar & Grill. The cost is $125 per person all-inclusive, with a special rate of $75 for James Beard Foundation members; visit
Rockit's team includes partners Billy Dec, Brad Young and Arturo Gomez as well as Michelin-rated chef, Hickey and executive chef/partner Amanda Downing.
Andrew Davis