Weekend Planner: Pastoral Artisan Producer Festival, Grilled Cheese Day Decadence, and Cocktail Carts at Travelle

Pastoral Artisan Producer Festival

Pastoral's fourth annual Artisan Producer Festival is this Saturday, April 12, at the Chicago French Market. The free-to-attend festival brings together upwards of 100 food artisans from across the world, gathered en masse in the West Loop to showcase their wholesome wares. It's the Epcot of worldly artisanal foods. The event takes place from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m., affording attendees ample opportunity to peruse, sample, taste, chat up producers, and sip wine, beer, and spirits. Expect stellar cheeses from the likes of Hidden Springs Creamery in Wisconsin, Rogue Creamery in Oregon, and Dutch Girl Creamery in Nebraska; salumi from Portland's Olympic Provisions and charcuterie from Smoking Goose Meatery in Indianapolis; small-batch wines from Napa Valley's Forlorn Hope Winery and Ohio's Firelands Winery; spirits from nearby CH Distillery; beer from Half Acre; goat's milk caramels from Big Picture Farms in Vermont; and lots more. Additionally, many Chicago French Market vendors will also participate in the fest, featuring special tastings from the likes of Little Goat Bread, Lillie's Q, and Beavers Coffee + Donuts. 

Grilled Cheese Flight for Grilled Cheese Day

In other Pastoral news, Bar Pastoral is celebrating Grilled Cheese Month with a grilled cheese flight, which is especially apropos this weekend for Grilled Cheese Day on April 12. Available all month long, the cheese tasting includes a traditional grilled cheese with Widmer's one-year cheddar and a side of tomato tapenade; a Castelinhos grilled cheese adjoined by charred scallion pepper jelly; and a Maxx Extra grilled cheese with some chocolate ganache on the side. All sandwiches are made on sourdough bread and the flight soars for $12. 

(Zillion Dollar Grilled Cheese)

Zillion Dollar Grilled Cheese

And while we're on the subject of Grilled Cheese Day, here's a version that is sure to stun: the Zillion Dollar Grilled Cheese at deca Restaurant + Bar. Don't worry, it's not actually one zillion dollars, nor will it send you spiraling into bankruptcy. It will cost you a good amount more than your average sandwich, though. For $100, you can partake in the most lavish grilled cheese ever, made with gold flake-infused cheddar, 100-year balsamic, a duck egg, Iberico ham, white truffle aioli, and other exotic, frou-frou accoutrements, all served on artisan country sourdough bread. It's served with a side of lobster mac and cheese because why the hell not you've come this far. 

Cocktail Carts Get Rolling at Travelle

Just in time for the Mad Men premiere, recalling a glistening era of free-spirit boozing and schmoozing, Travelle launches cocktail cart service. The service is an homage to the type of tableside service popularized in the 1960's, aka Mad Men era, aka swag. Working with Rockwell Group to design the four custom carts, each one sports brass and satin detailing, a mirrored glass underside, and Macassar ebony shelving. These things are as slick as Don Draper's coif. While two carts are positioned around the bar displaying bottles and glasses, the other two swivel through the restaurant lounge, allowing guests to marvel at table-side cocktail preparations. The signature drink off the carts is the Madhattan, made with whiskey, sweet vermouth, Benedictine, and housemade smoked syrup. Various ohter whiskeys can be found elsewhere on the carts as well.

- Matt Kirouac