Bob Zrenner, last seen running the kitchen at X/O, will head downtown with Graze (35 W. Ontario St.), a contemporary American small-plates concept taking over the old Masck space (being redecorated by Rocco Laudizio). Those who’ve had Zrenner’s food at X/O will find Graze fairly familiar. “My style will be very much the same,” Zrenner says. “Two or three components and a sauce, very well presented. But my food at X/O had a strong Asian influence, and here it’ll be more American.” Look for prices maxing out at $17 to $18, portions that encourage multiple ordering but still permit sharing, and an opening on or around Dec. 11.
Speaking of X/O (3441 N. Halsted St.), sous chef Aaron Bischoff has taken Zrenner’s spot in the kitchen, cranking out dishes such as rabbit ravioli, and Cajun chicken breast roulade with crawfish-rice stuffing. 773-348-9696.
Rick Tramonto and Gale Gand will unveil their new concepts with today’s opening of Osteria di Tramonto and Gale’s Coffee Bar, both in the new Westin Chicago North Shore hotel (601 N. Milwaukee Ave., Wheeling). The osteria will showcase Tramonto’s regional-Italian cooking in a contemporary space boasting room for 250 amid brick walls, a two-story, glass-enclosed wine wall and an open kitchen that includes a wood-burning oven. The coffee bar will offer specialty coffees as well as pastries, salads and sandwiches, as well as breakfast pastries for the osteria. 847-777-6570.
Sometime this week (Monday, perhaps?), we should see the opening of fRedhots And Fries (1707 Chestnut Ave., Glenview). Owner Fred Markoff will feature Vienna Beef dogs, an Angus Beef burger, Belgian-cut fries with dipping sauces plus venison and even alligator hot dogs. 847-657-9200.
Already open (actually re-opened) is Barcello’s (1647 N. Milwaukee Ave.), with chef/owner David Richards at the helm. “The coolest thing about the place is the pizza oven,” he says. “It dates back to the ’50s and it’s as big as a car.” That oven will continue to produce traditional thin-crust pizzas, but “that’s the only thing we kept from the old menu,” Richards says. New touches include “trattoria” pizzas with toppings such as duck, fennel and goat cheese–and a $100 pizza topped with cooked egg, creme fraiche and an ounce of Russian osetra caviar. More down to earth dishes include truffled potato ravioli. 773-486-8444.
Shaw’s Crab House (21 E. Hubbard St., 312-527-2722) launches its annual “Royster with the Oyster” party beginning Monday. Throughout the week there will be live music, nightly oyster specials and a 6 p.m. nightly “oyster slurping contest.” The big celebration will be the outdoor Tent Party, which will take place beginning at noon Oct. 20 and will feature more specials , costume contest and music by Shemikia Copeland. And there will be live music and oyster specials that week in the northwest suburban Shaw’s (1900 E. Higgins Rd., Schaumburg; 847-517-2722).
Bistrot Margot (1437 N. Wells St.) will celebrate its seventh anniversary by offering a different prix-fixe menu, priced at $19.99, every night from Sunday through Oct. 19. 312-587-3660.
Belated congrats to the local winner of the annual Great American Beer Festival, held last month in Denver. Flossmoor Station Brewing Co. was named Small Brewpub Company and Small Brewpub Company Brewer of the Year, and four of its beers were medalists, including a gold for its Black Wolf Schwarzbier in the German-Style Schwarzbier category. Goose Island Beer Co. won a gold in the English-style Summer Ale category for its 312 Urban Wheat Ale, and Piece won two medals, including a gold for its Worryin’ Ale in the Rye Beer category.
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pvettel@tribune.com
