Restaurant News: Homestead Opens Tonight, Lynn House Leaving Blackbird
By Anthony Todd in Food on May 31, 2013 4:40PM
One of Homestead's garden boxes in full bloom on the patio.
- Homestead on the Roof (or just Homestead) is back for another year, and it's going to be a doozy. We've got to admit that Homestead is pretty much our favorite rooftop venue in Chicago - and it's definitely got the prettiest garden. Now that they've assembled the dream team of Chef Chris Curren and Mixologist Ben Schiller, it's going to have the food and drink to match the space. The restaurant opens tonight at 5 p.m. We haven't gotten a chance to check out the new menu yet, but dishes include a miniature New England clam bake, crispy duck leg with wild black rice and an agnolotti stuffed with sweet corn and manchego. A cool feature: Homestead will be serving only beer from one brewery at a time, and the selection will rotate regularly. For more about the space and the rooftop farm, check out our visit from last year.
- 312 Dining Diva reports that Lynn House, the mixologist at blackbird, is going to be leaving in mid-June. House has been one of our favorite mixers for a long time, and we're sad to see her go, but she's got a fabulous new job as a brand rep for PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur. Good luck, Lynn.
- Ada Street is beautiful, charming and well-hidden. It's also somewhat difficult to get in to, because it's so popular. Starting tomorrow, they're changing the way they handle reservations. From 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., you'll still be able to claim a seat in advance online or by phone. After that, it'll be first come first served to get into one of the cutest patios in town.
- Bread and Wine has been one of the wonderful sleeper hits of the past year. The restaurant, away from most other fashionable restaurants, has been lauded for its great food, interesting wine list and cheese and charcuterie selection. Now they've got a new chef. Michael Dean Reynolds, formerly of the much-beloved Leopold, has taken over. He'll launch new menus in mid-June, and the restaurant also plans to expand their retail offerings.