UPCOMING EVENTS
Flower & Flour: A Botanical Bake-Off at Ace Hotel Chicago
Executive Pastry Chef Felicia Mayden has tapped some of the city’s top pastry talent for a bit of healthy competition in Flour & Flower, a botanical bake-off event at Ace Hotel Chicago. In partnership with Asrai Garden, local florist Elizabeth Cronin has assigned each participating chef an individual flower species to serve as inspiration for their tasty treat. On Sunday, August 22nd, participating chefs will present bite-sized portions of their floral-inspired creation, and after sampling each, attendees will vote for the chef they believe should take the cake. All ticket proceeds will be split between two organizations: one chosen by Cronin, and one chosen by the winning chef.
THE LINEUP + FLORALS:
Faith Taheny, Sugargoat – Rose
Mai Giffard, Bang Bang Pie – Iris
Val Taylor, Loba – Chamomile
Ashley Johnson, Petal and Moon Pastry – Pansy
Kelly Dull, Kasama – Bird of Paradise
Danielle Marelli, Coda di Volpi, Sophia Steak – Hellebore
Ashley Robinson, Dusek's – Anthurium
Nicole Guini, Adalina – Queen Anne's Lace
Danielle Snow, Prequel Cafe – Poppy
Felicia Mayden, Ace Hotel Chicago – Carnation
Guild Row "No Bad Days" Pop Up with Chef Maurice Jackson
Chef Maurice Jackson, renowned nationally as one of America's great barbecue pitmasters, boasts truly unique events based on offerings around his signature Southern cuisine. As part of No Bad Days, Chef Maurice is expanding his purview into the realm of social philosophy, intending to exhibit through good food and drink, that even in a world full of problems and strife, harmony through community is never more than one good meal away.
Guild Row is a new multi-building social club in Chicago’s Avondale neighborhood, and the first of their No Bad Days events will take place on July 17 (starts at 2pm) - 18 (starts at 11am).
The event will feature four different meal options along with beer partners. Cajun BBQ Chicken with your choice of sauces, Grilled Pork and Beef Smoked Sausage, Baby Back Ribs, and Blue Cheese & Onion BBQ Burgers. Each plate comes with a side of Four Cheese Mac, Carmel Baked Beans, Apple Coleslaw, and Buttermilk Jalapeno Cornbread ($29 big plate with sides/$39 big plate with two beers or two canned margaritas). Joining Guild Row and Chef Jackson are Apologue Liqueurs, Big Star Margaritas, Pilot Project Brewing, and ROVM Hard Kombucha.
Make reservations by emailing reservations@guildrow.co to reserve your spot.
2021 Chicago Black Restaurant Week
The 2021 Chicago Black Restaurant Week is now a TWO WEEK-long event designed to celebrate amazing food and beverage businesses, owned by African Americans in our community. CBRW is held at various registered African American owned restaurants throughout the city and suburbs of Chicago, and a list of all participating business can be found HERE!
Follow the food train on Facebook & Instagram (@officialchicagobrw), and also via Twitter (@chicagobrw).
Mariano's Black History Month Virtual Tastemaker Events
To honor Black History Month, Mariano's has a line-up of events celebrating influential members in the Black food community in Chicago. They will include, but are not limited to:
Feb. 9th: Mariano's Tastemaker Chef Brian Jupiter
Join Brian Jupiter of Ina Mae Tavern & Packaged Goods and Frontier Chicago to cook and connect at home. Brian will be demonstrating how to make his signature Crawfish Hushpuppies. Sign up here.
Feb. 18th: Local Vendor Essie Marie's with Itiona Scott
Itiona Scott, owner of Essie Marie's Dressings & Marinades, joins Mariano's in a celebration of Black History Month to demonstrate Chile Lemon-Lime Salmon Fajita Salad with Cilantro. Essie Marie's is a women-owned and run local black business. Sign up here.
Feb. 22nd: Local Chef James Sanders of Dirty Birds Southern
Chef James Sanders of Fuze Catering and Dirty Birds Southern Kitchen joins Mariano's for a special Crab & Lobster Stuffed Shells demonstration. Cook along at home by signing up here.
Mariano's is a proud supporter of a variety of Black-owned vendors and businesses. A selection includes Essie Marie's Salad Dressing, Signature Sweets Factor, Love Cork Screw, Social Sparkling Wine, Bee Love Honey, Doc's Gourmet Salsa, Goode Foods, Charboy's BBQ Sauce, Solomon's Sauces, Margie's Sauces, IYA Foods, Mike's Seasoning, Reggio's Pizza, Two Fish, TGIN (Thank God It's Natural), and more.
Cochon555 Chicago
COCHON555, the popular annual culinary event with stops in cities across the country will return to Chicago the week of October 20th as Carryout with Cochon555 presented by Citi. The virtual and interactive feast will feature four of Chicago's top talents who will bring the popular event into participant's homes. Chefs Brian Jupiter (Frontier and Ina Marie Tavern), Cedric Harden (River Roast), Daniel Espinoza (Santa Masa Tamaleria), and Jimmy Bannos, Jr. (Purple Pig) will lead "virtual dinners" on Zoom, offering participants the opportunity to partake in an intimate dinner with a pork-centric meal plus wine and cocktails.
Tickets include a multi-course meal, prepared by the featured chef with almost all of the ingredients sourced from local heritage breed pig farms. Kits can be picked up at the chef's designated restaurant or have it delivered for an additional $30 fee.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit HERE!