Weekly Planner: Marchesa Journeys to the South of France, "Beyond Bratwurst" and Schubas Does Brunch
Journey to Southern France Via Marchesa
In case you don’t have the budget for a last-minute vacation to the South of France this summer, Marchesa has you covered. The chic River North newcomer has started a new monthly series, called “Marchesa by the Month,” where diners get to explore the wide world of wine through a different featured region. Delving even further into the regionality, the restaurant offers inspired specials on cocktails, lunch and dinner dishes as well. For the rest of July, the region in question is Provence, Nice and the Côte d’Azur areas of Southern France. Come for special pricing on wines and cocktails, plus dishes like bouillabaisse, loup de mer Niçoise, tapenade, pistou and tarte Tropézienne. It also doesn’t hurt that the restaurant, decked out with fresh lavender, thyme and rosemary, has the look and feel of a cozy French hideaway. Once you’re done with dinner, head down to the subterranean “wine cave,” where Marchesa hosts weekly movie nights on Tuesdays. Next up: And God Created Women screening at 7:00 p.m. on July 31.
Brunch at Schubas Tavern
There’s a new brunch player in town, and it’s got a pedigreed chef to back it up. Award-winning chef Debbie Gold is behind the menus at Schubas Tavern, which just launched weekend brunch and runs it every Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 a.n. until 2:30 p.m. All eyes have been on Gold since she moved to Chicago from Kansas City to helm Tied House, the stunning new Lakeview venture situated alongside Schubas. Unlike Tied House, which skews contemporary and upscale, she’s keeping things more casual at the timeworn tavern. Look for “everything” deviled eggs, market vegetable frittatas, buttermilk pancakes with vanilla butter, croque madames and griddle burgers with “secret” sauce and cheddar cheese, to name a few.
Oysters + Rosé Happy Hour at River Roast
When it comes to quintessential summer pairings, oysters and rosé go together like beaches and sunburns. Together, the duo form the ultimate summery happy hour at River Roast, which just added a new weekday promo for the season. For $35, guests get one dozen oysters and a bottle of rosé, which is quite the steal. It’s all available from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m., and can be enjoyed in the bar or on the expansive riverside patio.
Beyond Sausage Bratwurst at M Burger
The ultimate summer sausage, bratwurst is a grilling staple this time of year. But it’s not too often these things come meat-free. On the heels of its wildly successful “Beyond Meat” burger, an entirely veggie-based burger with a taste and texture surprisingly akin to beef, M Burger has added the “Beyond Sausage” to its roster at all five Chicagoland locations. Similar in theory to the burger, the sausage is completely plant-based, yet cooks, tastes and feels like a pork sausage. The quick-service restaurants serve the bratwurst with fresh arugula, grilled or raw onions and whole-grain Dijon mustard.