Restaurant News: Endgrain Set To Open, Michael Simon Leaves Carriage House

By Anthony Todd in Food on Jan 8, 2013 4:00PM

- We hate to ask, but is Michael Simon cursed? He's a great mixer, but he can't seem to stay anywhere for very long. We loved his drinks at Acadia, and even at Graham Elliot before that. It's getting hard to put him in print because, just like in this mention of him as one of the 50 Most Beautiful Chicagoans, there will always have to be a correction. 312 Dining Diva reported yesterday that, after about six months, Simon has left The Bedford and The Carriage House, where his cocktails have been getting rave reviews. We'll be watching to see where he lands next.

- This totally flew under our radar - and it looks like almost everyone else missed it too. Chef Andrew Brochu, formerly of Kith and Kin (RIP), El Ideas and most recently of Graham Elliot, has found a new kitchen to call home. The Monarch opens in Wicker Park on Friday. We're going to a preview later in the week; since there has been no word about the food or drink and the website is still blank, all we know is that Brochu is running the show. However, for his fans, that might just be enough.

- Hands up if you've loved the bacon butterscotch doughnut at Nightwood? What about the meats at Girl and the Goat? The chef, Enoch Simpson, who was behind those dishes (and more at other Chicago restaurants) is opening his own place. endgrain will open in Roscoe Village in early February. It'll start as BYOB, and the menu is filled with inventive comfort foods. Meat pies, a duck egg salad with pickled shallots, decadent cinnamon rolls and fried chicken and biscuits; our mouths are already watering. And, of course, the donuts - the opening brunch menu has four types including bacon butterscotch and Nutella milk stout.