Six years after it first hit pubs in the U.K., the heavily touted Monkey Shoulder Scotch Whisky arrives on American shores—with Chicago as its first stop. Named for a common ailment suffered by malt men after a day of turning barley, Monkey Shoulder is a carefully crafted combination of three premier Speyside malts, and balances soft notes of rich toffee with a smooth vanilla flavor. The triple-malted blend is the result of a delicate marriage between time-tested, hard-nosed distilling traditions and modern sensibilities. Try Monkey Shoulder—on its own or mixed in the label’s signature drink, the Monkey Jam Sour—at Blackbird (619 W. Randolph St.) and Bar Deville (701 N. Damen Ave.).

Tavernita

The Chicago dining scene is about to be uncorked. While a French “revolution” and trend toward casual Italian fare seem to have taken over local dining as of late, Mercadito partner Alfredo Sandoval and chef Ryan Poli have set their sights on something with Latin American and Spanish flair: Tavernita. Housed in the old Martini Park space, the restaurant has three separate high-energy areas under one roof: a formal sit-down dining room, a closed-off casual pintxo bar, and a late-night lounge.

Mercadito’s Mexican themes will be given a Spanish twist by award-winning chef Poli, who describes Tavernita as a “chef-driven concept experience.” Found among the kaleidoscope of tapas tastes are a crudo bar (featuring oysters and ceviche), crostini and tomato sofrito, and larger plates such as a wood-grilled roasted half-chicken and a decadent suckling pig confit.

But the most revolutionary concept at Tavernita will take place behind the bar, with its groundbreaking 
“kegged” cocktails, the first such beverage program in Chicago. Masterminded by the Tippling Bros., Tavernita will feature six rotating signature cocktails made with fresh juices and syrups, two sangrias, and 22 wines on tap. The results? A drastically reduced wait time for handmade cocktails; a minimized carbon footprint; and wines with fuller flavor due to a longer maturing process. The cocktail and tapas industries may never be the same. 
151 W. Erie St., 312-274-1111. 

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANTHONY TAHLIER

To provide an elegant alternative to the glut of less-than-healthy food trucks in Chicago, Streeterville eatery e.leaven will set its own mobile food stop to the streets tomorrow. Like the restaurant, the truck will offer fresh, seasonal menu items, such as a light Baja chicken salad buoyed with black beans and creamy ranch dressing and a turkey brie sandwich with crisp apple slices and honey mustard. Most enticing is the short rib “piewich,” which consists of braised short rib and aji chili baked into a doughy shell. Think of it like a portable beef pot pie, without any mess. Follow the new truck’s location via Twitter and Facebook.

Beet and goat cheese salad

Chicago foodies who regularly travel to New York for a dose of chef Laurent Tourondel’s upscale cuisine can put away the suitcase now that the highly anticipated Chicago outpost of BLT American Brasserie has opened in River North. For the eclectic menu, the French-born and-trained Tourondel, best known for helming the BLT Restaurant Group, delivers an unabashedly wide variety of world culinary influences, expertly reflecting America’s role as a melting pot. A Thai skirt steak salad, finished with mangos, glass noodles, and Thai basil, is listed next to classic steak frites, while veal and pork ricotta meatballs share menu space with a grilled Mediterranean branzino, complete with veggie couscous. A beet and goat cheese salad exemplifies lighter fare, and the menu is rounded out with a selection of fresh sushi and a raw bar, offering both traditional (dragon roll, shrimp cocktail) and innovative (coconut-macadamia shrimp roll) options.

Equally as inviting is the interior. Designed by famed local designer Jordan Mozer, the restaurant’s look derives inspiration from the artists, designers, and architecture of France between 1915 and 1933, with dark woods and pops of gold. But thankfully, unlike our ancestors, we don’t have to wander very far for international flavor. 500 W. Superior St., 312-948-8744

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFF KAUCK

After losing her mother to cancer in 2006, Emily Israel Hoffman realized that when it came to serving food for her loved ones, there were certain smells, tastes and particular dishes that kept her mother’s memory alive, like the almost-overcooked smell of baked spaghetti. After she discovered that this was not an uncommon phenomenon, Hoffman took submissions from dozens of people in her same situation and, with the help of Michigan Avenue’s deputy editor Molly Each, spun the collection of memories and recipes into A Blending of BitterSweet Memories, a poignant, self-published cookbook. Available at lulu.com

What’s your cocktail menu like? It’s the most defining feature of the space.
There are about 50 cocktails, and on Tuesdays, we do a lot of Tiki-inspired drinks. One of our bartenders, Greg Buttera, spent a lot of time developing them.

How do most people find out about Curio?
That story is not as glamorous as one would think. It’s on the way to the bathrooms. People usually just walk by this room, hear people inside, peek behind the curtains, and want in.

Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine is one of Chicago’s top purveyors of specialty foods.

Whom do you sell cheese to?
LISA FUTTERMAN: More than 50 restaurants around the city, including Telegraph, the Publican, and Old Town Social.

What pairings do you like for fall?
LF: Cabot Clothbound cheddar balances out a light beer. Rosemary Manchego goes well with a nice tempranillo from Rioja. Pungent Rogue River Blue calls for a full-bodied, off-dry white wine, like a Chardonnay from Burgundy. And stinky Ardrahan goes with a full-bodied Chenin Blanc, or even a beer.
 

The Screen Porch Burger

Twenty-one years ago, Sutter Home Winery began the Build a Better Burger competition to prove that fine wine and comfort food go hand in hand. The competition challenges cooks from around the country to create a unique and tasty burger and pair it with an appropriate wine. Last week, 2011 Build a Better Burger finalists gathered at the World of Whirlpool showroom, where a judging panel tasted their time-tested recipes. Virginia resident Jennifer Beckman took top honors, and $100,000 in prize money, for her Screen Porch Burger paired with sauvignon blanc. Get Beckman's award-winning burger recipe here.

I generally do my drinking at the Billy Goat Tavern or Phil Stefani’s 437 Rush (aka Riccardo’s), since both are within easy stumbling distance of the Tribune Tower. But on Thursday evenings, after completing hosting duties for Chicago Live!, I have found myself drawn to Petterino’s, a block away from the CL! home, in the downstairs space at The Chicago Theatre. I have had fine times there after the shows with such CL! performers as Dennis DeYoung of Styx fame and his wife, Suzanne, and daughter, Carrie Ann; a bunch of the young talents from The Second City, which collaborates with the Chicago Tribune on presenting CL!; a comic or two; and a bunch of writers, including Karen Abbott, whose Sin in the Second City delightfully chronicled the life and times of the city’s notorious madams, the Everleigh sisters. One performer—who shall remain nameless for obvious reasons—decided, after four quick gin and tonics, that it would be a good idea to steal three sets of silverware and two plates, saying while stuffing the goods into her purse, “You just never know when you might need these.” The new season of Chicago Live! begins its six-week run on October 13, and so Petterino’s is where I will be on Thursday nights with some of the stars of the show. It is my understanding that Ed, the bartender, makes a mean margarita, but you’ll find me with a not-at-all exotic but suitably effective drink with a very simple recipe: glass, ice, Jim Beam.

Hennessy has further enhanced its fine cognac by enlisting the talents of New York-based graphic artist KAWS. The former graffiti artist lent original artwork for a crop of limited edition bottles of Hennessy Very Special Cognac ($30, 750 ml), all of which are individually numbered. The spirits purveyor has even gone so far as to create digital shorts detailing the dedication to craftsmanship on the parts of both Hennessy and KAWS. RSVP Gallery, 1753 N. Damen Ave. 773-770-6666