Friday Foodie Forecast: April Fool’s!

Friday Foodie Forecast: April Fool’s!
Friday Foodie Forecast: April Fool’s!

Friday Foodie Forecast: April Fool’s!

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Food can be fun, but around here, it’s no joke. That being said, this week still promises a good time for foodies looking for a sense of whimsy but free from the fear of hoaxes and tricks. Take a trip down the rabbit hole to the Meinl Coffeehouse and enjoy an Alice in Wonderland themed tea party worthy of the Queen of Hearts. Or use that twitter account to secure your spot at Glimpse - a collaborative pop-up restaurant led by a culinary crew including Gaztro-Wagon’s Matt Maroni, Hum Spirits and Fritz Pastry – where only those who hurry up and become followers will reserve a table. So let your guard down, no need to be on the lookout for mischief and shenanigans today - a hidden whoopee cushion on your chair? Now that’s a different story.

Afternoon Tea with Alice in Wonderland

Don’t be late to this very important date! The Queen of Hearts requests your presence at a special Alice in Wonderland themed Un-Birthday Tea Party hosted by the Julius Meinl Coffeehouse on Southport, Thursday, April 7 at 4 p.m.  With a kid-friendly menu designed by Executive Pastry Chef Jennifer Templeton – who may just show up as the Mad Hatter – guests are sure to be inspired to “eat me” and “drink me” as they head down the rabbit hole. The afternoon tea menu will include an assortment of petit fours (orange chiffon with carmelia ganache, chocolate cake with chocolate mousse and lemon cake with raspberry), scones (blueberry lemon, cranberry orange, served with Devonshire cream, lemon curd and jam) and of course, Queen of Heart’s tarts. Reservations are required at this affair; there’s also a weekly Thursday afternoon tea service featuring a variety of sandwiches, scones and sweets, kicking off Thursday, April 14 from 3 – 5:30 p.m. at both Southport and Lincoln Ave. locations. Call 773-868-1857 opt.5 to confirm your attendance - adults cost $25, children $17 (under 13) excluding tax and tip.  The Julius Meinl Coffeehouse is located at 4364 N. Lincoln Ave., and the Un-Birthday Party at 3601 N. Southport Ave. For more information, visit, http://www.meinl.com/northamerica/home.html.

Catch a Glimpse in Logan Square

In what’s being called a “blink and it’s gone event,” a new pop-up restaurant called Glimpse will last all of four days at Logan Square Kitchen from Wednesday, April 6 to Saturday, April 9. In a collaboration between Matt Maroni, the brains behind the Gaztro-Wagon, Adam Seger of Hum Spirits serving up cocktails, and Fritz Pastry chefs whipping up bread and dessert courses, the Glimpse menu will focus on seasonal cuisine and a family style tasting experience. For $50 per person, a five-course meal is divided into sections of fish, vegetables, meat, cheese and dessert, where each table can create its own tasting menu featuring options including: whitefish (prepared with grapefruit, yucca, vanilla and fennel); a spinach ricotta ravioli (lemon, sage and hazelnuts); lamb (curry, radish, avocado and onion rings); and trio of cheeses followed by dessert options of pineapple crumble or tapioca pudding. A drink tasting menu ($25), a la carte drinks ($10), and bottles of wine ($40) are also available. For a complete menu, click here.

Seating is limited, and as part of the “social collective experience” it is trying to create, reservations will be handled exclusively on Twitter. To get a table, follow @Glimpse_Chi  – they will follow you back - and then you can then send a direct message with date, time and number of guests and await confirmation. But you better hurry, Glimpse only seats 70, and as of today, they already have nearly 500 followers. Logan Square Kitchen is located at 2333 N. Milwaukee Ave. For more information, visit www.logansquarekitchen.com.

Wine Away the Rainy Day Blues

Whether you’re a novice or a serious oenophile, you can sip and swirl your way to improve your wine knowledge at Eno, as the lounge hosts its final monthly ENO-Versity class this Thursday, April 7 at 7 p.m. The night’s theme: Rainy Day Blues. Located in the InterContinental Chicago, guests will explore the world of blues by pairing wines that include Chateau de la Genaiserie Les Simonelles and Fonseca Quinta do Panascal Port with a variety of blue cheeses. With most classes led by Senior Wine Director Scott Harney and Wine Director Shara Bauer, participants are encouraged to smell, taste and ask questions about their wine and blue cheese experience, and gain a better understanding of a particular wine varietal or vintage. Classes are $25 per person, and reservations can be made by calling 312-321-8738. Eno is located at 505 N. Michigan Ave. For more information, visit www.enowinerooms.com.

-Dimitra Apostolopoulos