What's New in Food, Chicago? - Solstice Communications, Inc.

There are some AMAZING things happening in food this week…just in time for spring (or so we hope)! One of the favorites in Ravenswood, Fountainhead, launches a new menu created by another Ravenswood favorite, Chef Cleetus Friedman, while Wrigleyville gains a delicious BBQ joint featuring the award-winning Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ sauce, craft beer, specialty cocktails & a carefully curated bourbon list.

Is your mouth watering yet? Yeah, ours is, too. We’re going to continue anyway…

Hey Ravenswood…

FOUNTAINHEAD LAUNCHES

NEW MENU APRIL 19

Chef Cleetus Friedman revamps Fountainhead menu

Fountainhead, a well-known craft beer and whisk(e)y bar in Chicago’s Ravenswood neighborhood, is excited to celebrate spring with a new seasonal food menu created by executive chef Cleetus Friedman, a recent addition to the Fountainhead team. The new menu will be launching Friday, April 19.

The menu will focus on seasonality and places emphasis on local, sustainable food. Each menu item has been specifically designed to complement the stellar craft beer, wine, whiskey and spirits selection at Fountainhead. Having collaborated with local brewers, wine and whiskey makers in the past, Chef Friedman has a wide knowledge of pairing food and beverage perfectly. His knowledge shines through in the new food menu which highlights the extensive beverage menu. Most items on the menu come in multiple sizes to encourage sharing and pairing. Most dishes are priced at less than $20.

Menu standouts include:

Slow Cooked Pork Chili

Smoked Hummus with Homemade Everything Bagel Chips

Belly Fire Chicken Wings

Pan Roasted Salmon

Creating an almost entirely new food menu hasn’t put a stop to Friedman’s beer collaborations: Look for a beer created with Ravenswood’s Begyle Brewing that will make its debut on May 22 at Fountainhead. Chef Friedman’s future plans for Fountainhead include growing herbs on the roof deck, hosting the popular seasonal dinners and of course, continuing collaborations with local brewers. In addition, Fountainhead will continue to host its successful whisky pairing dinners and unique whisky events, such as the launch of the English Whisky Company on April 18 and a whole host of cool events for Whiskey Week.

Click here for the full new food menu. The new menu will be launching on Friday, April 19^th

Fountainhead Chicago

1970 W. Montrose Ave.

Chicago, IL

Hey Wrigleyville…

SWEET BABY RAY’S SMOKEHOUSE, BOURBON & BEER

TO OPEN IN WRIGLEYVILLE APRIL 19

Sweet Baby Ray’s Smokehouse, Bourbon & Beer, a unique smokehouse barbecue restaurant centered around the award-winning Sweet Baby Ray’s Barbecue Sauce, is opening in Wrigleyville (3478 N. Clark St.) on April 19. David Raymond (Sweet Baby Ray), Brian Reynolds (Prost!, The Gramercy, Lodge Management Group) and Dylan Lipe (executive chef) will bring award-winning pit master recipes and flavors to this new venture. Some menu standouts include Sweet Baby Ray’s Award Winning Ribs, Alabama Chicken, Smokehouse BLT, Green Chile Mac ‘n’ Cheese, Corn Maque Choux, Bruleed Banana Pudding and the faux “pulled pork” designed to entice BBQ-loving vegetarian palates. All recipes have been developed specifically for this restaurant.

Sweet Baby Ray’s Smokehouse, Bourbon & Beer in Wrigleyville will pay homage to the delicious heritage of barbecue by highlighting some favorite items from barbecue regions all across the country. As barbecue enthusiasts, the SBR Wrigleyville crew will share their love of the craft one plate at a time.

Sweet Baby Ray’s Smokehouse, Bourbon & Beer in Wrigleyville will be a BBQ joint whose workhorse will be a Southern Pride 850 Smoker, able to smoke 850 pounds of meat at full capacity. The Southern Pride is a rotisserie style smoker with a wood firebox. The restaurant will also offer a stellar selection of spirits, including a curated list of over 100 bourbons and ryes, 14 craft beers, including great BBQ brews such as Shiner Beers and Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale to great Chicago brews from Revolution Brewing, Goose Island Beer Co. and more. Sweet Baby Ray’s Smokehouse, Bourbon & Beer also has specialty craft cocktails on draft.

In addition to a few beers everybody knows, Sweet Baby Ray’s Smokehouse, Bourbon & Beer is proud to offer some exceptional craft beers. From light and citrusy to dark and smoky, Sweet Baby Ray’s Smokehouse, Bourbon & Beer has something for everyone and every meal.

Alright, now that we gave you the scoop, clear your calendars for Friday! You’ve got some eating to do!