Congrats go to Daisies and Thattu. These two spots—in Logan Square and Avondale, respectively—were among the restaurants on a New York Times list of the publication's "50 places in the country [it's] most excited about right now," according to NBC Chicago.
Daisies originally opened in 2017 at a different location (2523 N. Milwaukee Ave.); now, it's just down the road, at 2375 N. Milwaukee Ave. Thattu, an Indian restaurant, is at 2601 W. Fletcher St.
The James Beard Award finalist bar Nobody's Darling, located in Andersonville, is expanding, per Eater Chicago.
Co-owners Renauda Riddle and Angela Barnes showcased the new space on Sept. 20, with food from fellow Black-LGBTQ+-women-owned business Taylor's Tacos. There's also a new cocktail menu with drinks such as the Eartha, Nina Simone and Harlem Renaissance (with the latter described as "bold + bitter + bawdy."
See www.nobodysdarlingbar.com .
West Loop cafe Good Ambler has announced its new executive pastry chef: Meg Galus.
To say Galus is experienced is to short-change her. She has worked in fine dining restaurants and high end hotels, ultimately serving as executive pastry chef at the Michelin-starred BOKA; most recently, she spent two years honing her chocolate skills at Cocoa + Co.
In addition, Galus has been nominated as a finalist for the James Beard "Outstanding Pastry Chef" award three times, was named "Pastry Chef of the Year" by the Chicago Tribune and received the Jean Banchet Pastry Chef of the Year award.
Good Ambler is at 216 N. Peoria St., and offers a wide array of croissants, savory danishes, scones, muffins and breakfast breads, along with cookies, brownies, bars and more. See www.goodambler.com .
Easy Bar, 1944 W. Division St., will host its monthly free Drag Bingo on Sunday, Sept. 24 (every fourth Sunday), 5-7 p.m.
Hosted by comedy drag queen Ginger Forest, bingo is FREE to play with prizes. Guests can arrive early and enjoy Easy Bar's half-price happy hour from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Additional Sunday specials that are available all evening include $3 Miller High Life, $5 Evan Williams Shots and $9 beer and shot combos.
Tree House Chicago, 149 W. Kinzie St., will host combination pizza-making and wine-tasting classes on Sept. 28, Oct. 19 and Nov. 16.
Guests will learn how to make Neapolitan-style pizza with customized toppings, and will taste various wines—all on Tree House's Italian-coast-inspired back room and outdoor patio.
Classes (which are only for those 21 and older) begin promptly at 6 p.m. The cost is $60 per person, and all equipment and ingredients are provided. Reservations are required; visit https://feverup.com/m/139142.
Get your caffeine on, as National Coffee Day is Friday, Sept. 29. (I know, I know—there's a national day for every food and drink.)
That day, Stan's Donuts & Coffee (with 16 locations in Chicago) will allow any guest to receive a FREE 16-ounce hot or iced coffee with any in-store purchase. For those not in Chicago, Stan's is offering 50% off all first month coffee subscription orders with the code DrinkMoreCoffee, available on Sept. 29 only.
Also, Big Shoulders offering is 15% off core coffees on the website and $2 drip coffees in cafes.
One of my favorite spots, The Albert at Hotel EMC2 (228 E. Ontario St.), will have a Chicago Marathon menu available Oct. 4-8.
The carb-focused menu will include starters such as arugula salad or seared ahi-tuna loin (the latter with Calabrian chili aioli); pasta dishes such as house-made gnocchi with fresh tomato and pesto, or garganelli with braised shrimp, peas and lobster cream sauce), among other dishes; and flourless dark chocolate cake with fresh berries.
The meal is $38 per person, or $48 per person with one glass of wine.
