Traveling musicians, make sure Chicago is on your next tour.
The Windy City, once hailed as the humble whipping boy of New York City, San Francisco and L.A., is busting–gloriously–out of its cultured little britches. Chicago is schoolin’ the coasts in all things gastro and sonic. Take, for instance, when Graham Elliot Bowles served as the first “culinary director” at this year’s sprawling Lollapalooza festival.
As if the coasts don’t suffer enough from Grant Aschatz envy (the chef-wundergenius behind Chi town’s Alinea, and widely considered the best chef in the country), covetous indie beat/grub heads have even more reasons to grumble: Guitarist/chef James Toland will soon open a restaurant devoted to punk rock and the perfect sous vide poussin.
The new joint, named Gabba Gabba Hey for the Ramones’ timeless tune “Pinhead,” will be “simple and to the point like a Ramones song. We will be fun Fun FUN all the time! We are joining the small group of restaurants in America that aren’t afraid to put out high quality cuisine without the pretense” he writes on his blog.
Expect “braised short ribs with the most perfect pomme puree ever, sous vide poussin, oak-planked pork ribs and olive oil-poached cod with shrimp pudding.”
Toland, hewing to old school hardcore ethos, will cater to and feed his tribe of wandering, hungry musicians. He has a completely refreshing approach to the super value meal for exhausted, hungry tambourine shakers: Gabba Gabba Hey promises touring bands a free meal (as long as they can prove they played Chicago within in one week of their dinner).
And restaurant insiders get 10 percent off every time they visit. For more info on Toland and his new venture, check out his effusive, super chatty blog.
TOPICS: Eat to the Beat, Kathleen Willcox