Windy City Media Group Frontpage News

THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

home search facebook twitter join
Gay News Sponsor Windy City Times 2023-02-22
DOWNLOAD ISSUE
Donate

Sponsor
Sponsor
Sponsor

  WINDY CITY TIMES

SAVOR GreenRiver opening; Ceres' Table
by Andrew Davis, Windy City Times
2015-09-16

This article shared 4505 times since Wed Sep 16, 2015
facebook twitter pin it google +1 reddit email


GreenRiver ( 259 E. Erie St., 18th floor; GreenRiverChi.com ) is among a crop of restaurants receiving a lot of buzz before its autumn openings. ( GreenRiver officially opens Sept. 17. )

A media preview was held Sept. 9—and, believe me, there are many impressive aspects to this restaurant. One is the sweeping view of Streeterville and the lake once you step out onto the massive ( and stylish ) terrace. All sorts of modern couches and pillows dot the outside, almost making attendees wish the space opened in late spring or early summer so they can enjoy the exterior a bit more.

As for the food, we sampled a few dishes, and I especially relished the whitefish tartine as well as the farro salad. It's a promising start for Executive Chef Aaron Lirette.

The restaurant is a collaboration between The Best Bar in the World ( BBITW ) and Union Square Events, the catering and venue hospitality business from Danny Meyer's Union Square Hospitality Group. The teaming has also resulted in event spaces that can accommodate up to 300 people, which probably won't be too hard to get in an area dominated by Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Northwestern University.

GreenRiver is supposed a modern Irish-themed restaurant—and, at least to me, the motif wasn't readily apparent. However, a closer look at the cocktail menu ( which organized by basic ingredient—which is not the same as the basic spirit ) reveals the stories of famous ( and infamous ) Irish-American Chicagoans. The creative team behind the drinks consists of BBITW's Sean Muldoon and Jack McGarry, with GreenRiver Head Bartender Julia Momose—not too shabby.

I look forward to trying more items at this restaurant. It'll be interesting to see if it lives up to the buzz.

Craig Degel has joined Lake View restaurant Ceres' Table ( 3124 N. Broadway; CeresTable.com ) as its new executive chef. ( Former Executive Chef Giuseppe Scurato will remain aboard as chef emeritus. )

Before moving back to Chicago, Degel was most recently helming the kitchen at Solo Trattoria in Phoenix. In 2013, Degel joined the team at Eataly Chicago—Chef Mario Batali's Italian spot featuring a range of eateries and food markets.

I recently returned to the spot to try Degel's contributions, which continue Scurato's farm-to-table tradition as well as the Sicilian theme of the restaurant's fare.

Savory options include the panzanella salad ( heirloom tomatoes, rustic crouton and basil-avocado green goddess ), crostini ( especially the chicken liver/pickled onion ) and DiStefano burrata. ( By the by, some of these items are part of the expanded bar menu. )

I was also drawn to the Skuna Bay salmon ( flaky and tasty ) as well as the hanger steak ( a little rarer than I usually like, but still quite appealing ). Do not skip the meatballs, in any way; they're divine.

Pastry chef Leticia Zenteno deserves a special shout-out for her offerings, which include millefoglie ( basically a peach Napoleon ), blueberry pie and ( my fave ) salted caramel budino ( with butterscotch cream and chocolate biscotti ).

Also, the drinks are as tasty as ever. I tried the Eighty-Six Mule, a drink that has part of the proceeds go to the "86 Hunger" campaign.

Degel has been a presence at several restaurants over the years. Hopefully, he'll stay at Ceres' Table for a while.


This article shared 4505 times since Wed Sep 16, 2015
facebook twitter pin it google +1 reddit email

  ARTICLES YOU MIGHT LIKE

Gay News

Quigley, Torres, Sorensen lead letter to FDA on updated blood donation guidance
2023-03-30
--From a press release - Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Representatives Mike Quigley (IL-05), Ritchie Torres (NY-15), and Eric Sorensen (IL-17) led 23 members in a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services and the Food and Drug Administration ...


Gay News

SAVOR Mexican spot Tzuco maintains high standards
2023-03-27
Chef Carlos Gaytan has never failed to impress. He initially opened Mexique—with French-inspired Mexican offerings in Chicago's West Town—in 2008, running that spot for a decade. Along the way, he became the first Mexican chef to ...


Gay News

Baldwin leads 22 colleagues in calling on FDA to end discriminatory blood donation policy
2023-03-24
--From a press release - WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) has headed up a group of 22 colleagues in sending a letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf expressing support for the agency's ...


Gay News

SAVOR Peruvian spot Tanta; fundraiser for The Evolved Network
2023-03-09
One of the best things about Chicago cuisine is that you can travel the world without ever leaving the Windy City. The River North spot Tanta (118 W. Grand Ave.; https://www.tantachicago.com/) embodies one such example. Tanta ...


Gay News

Let's Talk presents "Let's Talk & Celebrate" foodie bash March 2
2023-02-03
--From a press release - (CHICAGO) — Kick off Women's History Month with a "Let's Talk & Celebrate" Gold Glamour Gourmet bash by 35+ Chicagoland Let's Talk Womxn LetsTalkWomxn.com restaurateurs on Thursday, March 2, at Moe's Cantina in River North fr ...


Gay News

SAVOR Le Petit Chef: A singular, (literally) animated experience
2023-01-29
There are experiences and then there are EXPERIENCES. If you're familiar with those recent Immersive Van Gogh and Kahlo events, imagine that transferred to a table setting and you have an idea of what's involved with ...


Gay News

FDA to relax rules of blood donations for gay, bisexual men
2023-01-27
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is reportedly slated to lift restrictions on blood donations from sexually active gay and bisexual men. However, there's at least one stipulation, The Advocate reported: A gay or bisexual ...


Gay News

SAVOR Bacon Lover's Brunch at Frontier; Chicago Restaurant Week
2023-01-22
"Bacon's the best. Even the frying of bacon sounds like applause."—Jim Gaffigan Judging from that quote, revered comic Jim Gaffigan would certainly have had a lot of fun at the Bacon Lover's Brunch at Frontier (1072 ...


Gay News

SAVOR Uproar; Feb. 2 benefit dinner
2023-01-19
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, an uproar can be "a loud and impassioned noise or disturbance" or "a public expression of protest and outrage." Scott Horwitch—the owner of Old Town spot Uproar (1252 N. Wells ...


Gay News

SAVOR The Hen of Lincoln Park
2022-11-20
There are several reasons that The Hen of Lincoln Park (2423 N. Clark St.; https://thehenoflp.com/) is a popular brunch spot. Nested in the heart of—surprise!—Lincoln Park, this casual spot is in a location that draws a ...


Gay News

SAVOR Celebrity Chef Ball; 'Chefsgiving'; Ralph's Coffee
2022-11-18
More than 50 top Chicago chefs—including many Michelin, James Beard, and Bib Gourmand awardees—worked together to create a truly unique experience for supporters of Meals on Wheels Chicago (MoWC). Because of their hard work and the ...


Gay News

SAVOR Tabu
2022-11-06
The West Loop has no shortage of tantalizing brunches to try each weekend. Add Tabu's (401 N. Morgan St.; https://tabuchicago.com/) to the mix. This pan-Latin spot ...


Gay News

SAVOR Matcha Cita
2022-10-31
Just steps from the Morgan stop on the Pink and Green lines is a heavenly place. And if you don't believe this writer about Matcha Cita (1017 W. Lake St., with an additional spot at Studio ...


Gay News

Five Worth Finding: COVID book, 'Wicked' cocktails, 'A Taste of Hope' and more
2022-10-24
—COVID-19, the LGBTQIA+ Community and Public Policy: As studies emerge to help us understand the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on every facet of modern life, it is critical that the effect of the pandemic on ...


Gay News

BOOKS Lesbian co-author discusses 'No More Police: A Case for Abolition'
2022-10-18
"We don't need all the answers to start down the road toward where we want to go: a world where everyone has safety, food, clean water, shelter, education, health, art, beauty, and rest."—No More Police: A ...


 




Copyright © 2023 Windy City Media Group. All rights reserved.
Reprint by permission only. PDFs for back issues are downloadable from
our online archives. Single copies of back issues in print form are
available for $4 per issue, older than one month for $6 if available,
by check to the mailing address listed below.

Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, drawings, and
photographs submitted if they are to be returned, and no
responsibility may be assumed for unsolicited materials.
All rights to letters, art and photos sent to Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago
Gay and Lesbian News and Feature Publication) will be treated
as unconditionally assigned for publication purposes and as such,
subject to editing and comment. The opinions expressed by the
columnists, cartoonists, letter writers, and commentators are
their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay,
Lesbian, Bisexual and Transegender News and Feature Publication).

The appearance of a name, image or photo of a person or group in
Nightspots (Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times
(a Chicago Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature
Publication) does not indicate the sexual orientation of such
individuals or groups. While we encourage readers to support the
advertisers who make this newspaper possible, Nightspots (Chicago
GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay, Lesbian
News and Feature Publication) cannot accept responsibility for
any advertising claims or promotions.

 
 

TRENDINGBREAKINGPHOTOS







Sponsor


 



Donate


About WCMG      Contact Us      Online Front  Page      Windy City  Times      Nightspots
Identity      BLACKlines      En La Vida      Archives      Advanced Search     
Windy City Queercast      Queercast Archives     
Press  Releases      Join WCMG  Email List      Email Blast      Blogs     
Upcoming Events      Todays Events      Ongoing Events      Bar Guide      Community Groups      In Memoriam     
Privacy Policy     

Windy City Media Group publishes Windy City Times,
The Bi-Weekly Voice of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Trans Community.
5315 N. Clark St. #192, Chicago, IL 60640-2113 • PH (773) 871-7610 • FAX (773) 871-7609.