What problem?: The Avondale spot TriBecca's Sandwich Shop had to temporarily close because of flooding caused by a burst water pipe. However, it reopened Jan. 15.
Co-owner Becca Grothe emailed me that day, saying, "Fortunately, the damage wasn't that bad and we were able to stop the water before it destroyed things. We are now left with some minor drywall repairs." So you're free to go back and try some more of TriBecca's enticing sandwiches.
World of wonder: Here's a reminder that I will be a judge at AIDS Foundation Chicago's World of Chocolate fundraiser!
Join me in sampling delicious chocolate from local chefs and help support a great cause on Friday, Feb. 9, 6-9 p.m., at Union Station.
You can use the code ANDREW during checkout to receive $15 off tickets. Tickets are available at action.aidschicago.org/chocolate24 .
Deal or no deal: A Reddit user put together a spreadsheet showing the best and worst deals for Chicago Restaurant Week (CRW), according to NBC Chicago.
The spreadsheet breaks down the offerings into different categories, including "Top $59 dinners," "Top $42 dinners," "Top Brunch" and more. It's based on each restaurant's "Restaurant Week" menu "compared to their current menu."
CRW will take place through Feb. 4. The spreadsheet can be accessed at docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1LgVvycgBkZRaMEwAofXrH7kuikXAklqsCBpq1MqbhCw/edit .
Opening: Chicago chef and restaurateur Stephen Gillanders plans to open five new spots across the city within the next year, per Eater Chicago.
The first one is Signature—a sports bar at 1312 S. Wabash Ave. (the onetime spot of Italian restaurant Gioco) that he's opening with business partner and former Chicago Bears defensive end Israel Idonije. It's opening this weekend. Find out more about this elevated sports bar at www.signaturebar.com/ .
High Beam: Wildfire, 159 W. Erie St., will host a Beam Suntory bourbon dinner on Tuesday, Jan. 30.
Each part of the custom four-course menu (blue-crab corn croquette and pastrami canapé; miso shrimp and udon noodle soup; braised lamb shank; and salted-caramel peanut butter cream pie) will be paired with bourbon from Beam Suntory. Beam Suntory Portfolio Manager Matt Jannotta will join to discuss the pairings.
The dinner is $130 each, plus tax and tip. Visit www.wildfirerestaurant.com/events/beam-suntory-bourbon-dinner-5/ .
Dry profile: Some people observe Dry January, and there are certainly some special options for them.
For example, I/O Godfrey, 127 W. Huron St., is offering Mint To Be (a choice of peach, strawberry, raspberry acai, lavender or cucumber, with muddled mint, fresh lime, lemon and Topo Chico) and Peach Out (which features peach tea). Also, LondonHouse Chicago, 85 E. Wacker Dr., has cocktails such as Aperitif & Soda, Kombucha Spritz and One in a Melon (Seedlip Garden non-alcoholic spirit, RTC Mallorca Melon Shrub, pineapple and lemon). And Lure Fishbar, 616 N. Rush St., has the Appleberry Spritzer and even a Sweet Potato Old Fashioned (Earl Grey tea, Sweet Potato demerara, saba and white balsamic vinegar).
In addition, the James Beard Award-winning cocktail bar The Violet Hour, 1520 N. Damen Ave., has the Local Darling (equal parts of Lyre's N/A Rosso and The Pathfinder Hemp & Root Spirit) while The Whistler, 2421 N. Milwaukee Ave., has the Virgin Milk Maid (with coconut cream, cucumber and lime) and Maple & Ash, 8 W. Maple St., is offering The Sippin Pretty (with the non-alcoholic spirit Seedlip Grove 42, hibiscus, lemon and honey, topped with yuzu lime tonic). Also, don't forget the Cucumber/Pineapple Cooler at Big Star.
And lastly…: Uberis shutting down alcohol-delivery service Drizly three years after acquiring it for $1.1 billion. Easy come, easy go…
Much more culinary news is at future3733.substack.com .
