Coming attraction: Trader Vic’s
The doors won’t open until late November at the earliest, but Trader Vic’s, which occupied space in the Palmer House hotel in the Loop for 48 years before closing its doors (and auctioning off most of its memorabilia) at the end of 2005, has a new Chicago location.
Last week, workers installed a massive tiki statue — a Trader Vic’s signature and a remnant from the Loop location — in the outdoor garden in front of 1030 N. State St., where Trader Vic’s will reopen. Considering that the address was once home to the late, great Arnie’s, the Gold Coast neighborhood is replacing one Chicago icon with another.
But for Chicagoans who have been jonesing for pu-pu appetizer platters and Zombie cocktails — you won’t have to wait much longer.
— Phil Vettel
My Pie goes to Northbrook
Fans who indulged their appetite for My Pie’s deep-dish pizza for 31 years at the eatery’s now-closed location at 2417 N. Clark St. will have a new option early next year — in Northbrook. In addition to its Bucktown location, My Pie will be opening at 1361 Shermer Rd. along with its sibling eatery, Li’l Guys.
— Judy Hevrdejs
Gourmet cites Chicago ‘Legend’
Gourmet magazine’s October issue — for more than a dozen years, its Restaurant Issue — has hit the streets, and among the features is a hand-picked list of 20 “Legendary American Restaurants.” Among the honorees (all of which dated back at least to 1941, the year Gourmet made its debut) is Gene & Georgetti (500 N. Franklin St.; 312-527-3718).
The G & G blurb does include this dreadful bit of this-just-in boilerplate: “Chicago’s reputation as a meat-and-potatoes town is quickly giving way to newer, flashier cuisine,” a “compliment” that out-of-towners have been paying to Chicago for at least 25 years. But hey, it’s nice to be included.
Elsewhere, there’s an adulatory piece on Alinea that borders on the priapic, and a list of the “14 Coolest Bars in the U.S.” that includes our town’s legendary Green Mill (4801 N. Broadway; 773-878-5552) and long-time Sox fans hangout Shinnick’s Pub (3758 S. Union Ave.; 773-523-8591). Gotta give them credit for digging up the South Side spot.
— P.V.
Opening soon: Loop farmstand
Chicago plans to open Downtown Farmstand, a market created to sell local foodstuffs (with “local” defined as being within a 250-mile radius of Chicago). Especially appealing is the fact that the inventory won’t just be packaged goods, but fresh fruits and veggies in season as well as baked goods. The store is set to open Oct. 1 at 66 E. Randolph St. The address is a tip-off to the sponsor, the city’s Department of Cultural Affairs, because it shares the same address as the department’s Gallery 37 building. The Farmstand will be housed where the Cafe used to be, a little west of the retail shop.
“When we were recently presented with the opportunity for this space, we decided that it was the perfect time and location to bring this [long-germinating] idea to fruition,” notes Karen Ryan Vaughan, of Chicago’s tourism office. “It’s becoming even more important given the rise in the residential population of the East Loop area.”
The current plan is to have an ever-changing roster with at least 5 growers of produce, 25 non-produce products and 10 books, plus special items and Chicago favorites. Expect the mix to evolve. There’s a small catch. Just as Midwestern tomatoes and strawberries have short seasons, the store does too, at least in 2008. The Farmstand will close in the middle of December. (Hours are 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays, and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays.) But wait! There’s more! It is set to reopen sometime next spring — and continue operations on a year-round basis.
The Web site is not up yet (it’s expected to be up by Oct. 1). Until then, queries concerning the Farmstand are being directed to the Chicago Office of Tourism, 312-744-2400.
— Renee Enna
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For more dining and food news, go to chicagotribune.com/stew
