I’m a word nerd. I’m sure that’s not a shocker. I’m thrilled when I discover a new-to-me word. Just in time for spooky season, I learned “eldritch.” It means strange or unnatural, especially in a way that inspires fear; weird; eerie. Seems right for this time of the year, but don’t worry all this food news is wonderful and will inspire hunger.
Cue the haunted house music, but you are going to want to walk through these doors:
Alice & Friends, an all-vegan outpost with two other Chicagoland locations has been renovating the old Munch space at 104 N. Marion St., Oak Park. Word is that they should have their final inspection and be open in early October.
Get cooking with ingredients from a new grocery store, 40 Acres Fresh Market at 5713 W. Chicago Ave. in Austin. This full-service, independent, Black woman owned business is open 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. daily. They also offer fully cooked entrees to go. Support this meal-maker with a mission to increase access to fresh, healthy, affordable food on the West Side.
A new ‘za place is coming to 6606 W. North Ave.: Golden Pizza. No clue when the dough will start rising.
Gyumon, Japanese BBQ, is looking at a soft open at the end of October. Those who have taken a look inside say it is stunning. You’ll find it on North Marion Street.
At the corner of Ridgeland and South Blvd, in the old Piertz Brothers spot, a sign on the door says, “Three Fold. a Bakery, coming soon”. The tagline for this viennoiserie (French breakfast pastries, savory & sweet) is: crafted croissants, curated coffee. If the photo of their croissant on social media is any indication of their output, I’ll be in flaky layer heaven.
Dutch Bros Coffee, a java chain that originated in Oregon, has requested a Zoning Board of Appeals public hearing (on Oct. 8 at 7 p.m. in room 201 at Village Hall, 123 Madison St, Oak Park). They want to make use of the existing drive-through in their renovation of the Kentucky Fried Chicken building at 316 Madison St. in Oak Park.
In response to our Eats magazine article about favorite coffees in the area, a vigilant Brookfield reader wrote in with their own hot take. They felt disappointed that we didn’t include their favorite coffee stop, Loco Moco at 8858 Burlington Ave. inside the Brookfield Metra station. The gelato machine on their Facebook page is mesmerizing.
Soft serve flowing right into a coffee cup. I’m intrigued and will certainly check it out.
If you’re thinking that the new exterior on the Mr. Beef and Pizza location at 123 N. Harlem in Forest Park makes it look like it’s high. Well, you are sorta right. It’s the second location of a savory concept from the people who brought us Wake ‘n Bakery, called Pretty Original Thing. The idea is that savory dishes can be infused with THC and CBD too. My colleagues at the Forest Park Review have had little luck determining what is keeping it from opening. Perhaps it already thinks it is.
On Sept. 23 the burgers started flipping at Bobby’s Eastside or should we say Bobby’s EAT-side? More importantly, do you wanna go out to eat there with me? On Oct. 22 you can Eats-out there. For the first seven people who RSVP to the email below, I’ll save you a place at the table. The crew at Bobby’s will serve us a meal, all included for $30 (non-alcoholic drink, but you can buy something from the bar, if you would like). Connect with local, fellow food-lovers!
Got news, questions or ideas for this column? Email them to us at Eats@oakparkeats.com.
