Restaurant News: Moto Gets TV Show, Homestead Closes For Season

By Anthony Todd in Food on Oct 12, 2012 8:20PM

Veggie tempura at Homestead.

- Homaro Cantu is on a roll like nothing we've seen lately. His restaurants, moto and iNG, have released a series of amazing videos that have every foodie drooling so much they're going to void the warranty on their laptops from water damage. He's releasing bits of a memoir via Facebook that promises to be heart-wrenching and inspirational, he's creating whole movie sets to shoot trailers for themed menus, and his cookbook is coming soon. What more could the man do? A TV show. Not many details are available yet, but Cantu announced yesterday on Facebook that he'd signed another TV deal (his first show was Future Food on Discovery) with a multi-season contract. "CookiNG Under Pressure" will start airing on November 13th. We'll be tuned in for sure.

- Homestead, the restaurant-within-a-rooftop garden, is staying true to its green seasonal theme and closing for the winter. This is the last weekend of operation. The closing party, on Saturday, will see everything in the restaurant (food, beer and cocktails) at 30% off. If you haven't visited, this might be the moment. It'll reopen in 2013, and possibly host some pop-up dinners during the off season.

- A new Chicago coffee roaster has announced its existence to the world. HalfWit Coffee Roasters, based in Logan Square, is part of a trio of businesses that aim to create a "self-sustaining community of the coffee-centric," according to owner Travis Schaffner. He also owns The Wormhole and Fritz Pastry (to whom HalfWit will be supplying coffee). More locations will come soon, as will retail sales of their beans.