Weekly Planner: Friends of avec Brunch Series, El Che Bar Chef's Counter, LUXBAR Happy Hour and More
Friends of avec Brunch Series
The best reason to roll out of bed on the weekend these days? The Friends of avec Brunch series is back in full force, with a delicious roster of restaurants tapped for periodic brunch takeovers in the coming weeks. It kicks off with Honey Butter Fried Chicken on January 8, when executive chefs Joshua Kulp and Christine Cikowski join Perry Hendrix for a special menu to adjoin avec’s regular brunch items. This includes biscuits & gravy with fried chicken strips, fried chicken and French toast, the “HBFC” Deluxe of focaccia with pimento cheese, honey buffalo drizzle and scallions, and a sandwich of fried chicken strips, candied jalapeño mayo, crunchy slaw and fried egg on avec ciabatta. Brunch is served a la carte between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. In the coming weeks, look for brunch takeovers from Lost Lake on February 5, Cellar Door Provisions on February 26, Half Acre Beer Co. on March 12, Snaggletooth on April 2.
Beatrix Rolls Out a Bloody Mary Bar
In other tempting brunch news, Beatrix in Streeterville just added a new design-your-own Bloody Mary bar on Saturdays and Sundays. Available between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., the concept is pretty awesome for those who like to mix and match and customize to their heart’s content. For $14, a server will bring you a sheet of paper and you’ll just check off everything you want. Then bring it to the bartender for them to build the base. Then you pick which tomato juice you want, what spirit (vodka, gin, whiskey, tequila or beer), what mix-ins and what kind of rim.
Take a Seat at El Che Bar’s Chef’s Counter
There’s a new chef’s counter in town, and it’s bound to get you up close and personal to one of the hottest kitchens in Chicago. One of the most renowned openings of 2016, El Che Bar has unveiled its two chef’s counter seats, available every evening with just one seating per night. It’s front-row dinner theater up here, with prime view of all the fiery kitchen action. The open hearth is sure to keep you warm through the winter months too. Should you choose, diners here have the opportunity to order a five-course chef’s tasting menu for $85.
New Happy Hour at LUXBAR
Hope you didn’t give up alcohol for your New Year’s resolution, because there’s a brand new happy hour you’re going to want to check out. LUXBAR’s new promo is available Tuesday through Friday from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m., featuring $5 wines by the glass, $5 select draft beers and $5 burgers made with Gibsons prime patties, American cheese, grilled onions and special sauce. Happy hour is available in the bar area only.
Cheers to National Hot Toddy Day at Mott St
Conveniently, National Hot Toddy Day takes place January 11, and Mott St is your ideal destination considering they’ve got a whole Hot Toddy menu in place. And true to form, these cocktails are anything but ordinary. The Bond in Tokyo contains sake, sweet potato shochu and genmaicha, while the Mr. Fawn’s Winter Considerations features a dessert-y mix of three amaros, Fernet Branca, chocolate and marshmallow. Then there’s The Whiskey One, a blend of Scotch, sherry, bitters and lemon.
Eat a Veggie Sloppy Joe at Saint Lou’s Assembly
If you resolved to eat less meat in 2017, you’re still in luck, because Saint Lou’s Assembly has a sandwich that’ll still allow you to eat a sloppy Joe. Brand new to the lunch menu, the veggie sloppy Joe features beluga lentils. fried onions and Parmesan cheese on a doughy sesame challah bun.