Bite Club: Grumpy and Manchamanteles' mole pizza
Three of the city's flyest food and beverage makers are coming together tonight for a pop-up featuring mole pizza paired with mole stout at Marz Community Brewing Co. in Bridgeport.
Zoom in: Grumpy Pie king Alejandro Roman is topping his impossibly airy Detroit squares with black and red moles from Manchamanteles' chef Geno Bahena and pairing them with Marz brews of Abuelita Stout and Chela Negra dark lager.
Watch Roman make it here.
Monica's thought bubble: I tried the combo at a press preview and was blown away by how well they pair.
But, as a longtime fan of Bahena's black mole, I'd ask for an extra dipping bowl of this sauce on the side.
If you go: The pop up starts tonight at 5pm. A four-slice pizza costs $25.
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Chicago Tribune
25-02-2025
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Chicago paczki guide 2025: Where to get the decadent pastries for Fat Thursday and Fat Tuesday
The sweet, stuffed pastries known as paczki were once cooked as a way to get rid of any extra eggs, sugar and lard ahead of Lent. They've become a decadent tradition throughout Polish communities, and you should go out of your way to seek some out. These local bakeries are celebrating Fat Thursday and Fat Tuesday by serving up a mix of classic and novel spins on the treat. At the city's most popular and longest-running bakeries, preorders often sell out and walk-ins can involve waiting in lines that snake around the block. It's best to pick your paczki well in advance from this list of 20 spots. South Side & Near South Side Beverly Bakery & Cafe A dozen varieties of paczki including apricot, lemon buttercream and pineapple ($3.25 or $36 for 12) are available to pick up from 3 to 6 p.m. Monday and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday. You can also get fresh-filled strawberry paczki for $3.99, though preorders are required if you want more than six. 10528 S. Western Ave., 773-238-5580, Delightful Pastries The Portage Park bakery offers a wide variety of flavors including plum butter, passion fruit jelly, vodka vanilla bean custard and a new espresso chocolate custard topped with Belgian chocolate ganache. 5927 W. Lawrence Ave., 773-545-7215, Marz Community Brewing Co. The brewery celebrates its Polish heritage with the annual release of a paczki double milk stout made with lactose and cocoa nibs. Running from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday, the Paczki Fest features paczki from Racine Bakery, paczki sandwiches from Taco Sublime, and performances from the Wici Song and Dance Theater and the Environmental Encroachment marching band. Tickets are $20 and you can add on a variety pack featuring a raspberry, blueberry, custard and apricot paczki for $15. 3630 S. Iron St., 773-579-1935, Weber's Bakery Lines often reach around the block for Weber's paczki, which are offered Feb. 27 to March 4. Flavors include custard topped with powdered sugar or chocolate, strawberry buttercream and apple cinnamon for $1.75 or $21 for a dozen. 7055 W. Archer Ave., 773-586-1234, North Side & Northwest Side Daisies Pastry chef Leigh Omilinsky offers vanilla cream and strawberry jam paczki by the half dozen for $24. 375 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773-697-9443, Wurst Behavior Chef-owner Art Wnorowski worked with his mom to make sweet orange glazed paczki filled with rose jam and Dubai chocolate paczki topped with pistachios ($3.95). They're available March 1-9 at both the new sausage spot and sibling restaurant Pierogi Kitchen. 4009 N. Elston Ave., 773-654-3122, Somethin' Sweet Donuts The family-owned bakery offers eight varieties of paczki by the half dozen ($23) and dozen ($45) including cheese, apricot, raspberry and apple. 4456 N. 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Buffalo Grove Road, Buffalo Grove and 813 Waukegan Road, Deerfield, 847-520-0068; Firecakes Pick up malted chocolate, lemon curd, drunken plum and cherry jam paczki ($3.75 or $40 for a dozen) Feb. 24 through March 4 or a king cake doughnut stack ($17) on Fat Tuesday. Multiple locations, Hewn Hewn's version of paczki are baked instead of fried and stuffed with chocolate or raspberry. Place an order by 8 p.m. Saturday to pick up a $20 four-pack on Tuesday. 1733 Central St., Evanston, 847-869-4396; KD Market The Polish grocery store opens at 4 a.m. Fat Thursday and 6 a.m. Fat Tuesday to offer traditional handmade paczki stuffed with vanilla custard, plum butter, black currant or apricot for $12 for a half dozen. Multiple locations, Kolatek Baking Co. Visit Fat Thursday or Fat Tuesday for a dozen varieties of paczki ($2.29-$2.99) including raspberry, rose, limoncello and caramel bacon. 2445 N. Harlem Ave., 773 637-3772 and 1916 N. 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Axios
11-02-2025
- Axios
Bite Club: Grumpy and Manchamanteles' mole pizza
Three of the city's flyest food and beverage makers are coming together tonight for a pop-up featuring mole pizza paired with mole stout at Marz Community Brewing Co. in Bridgeport. Zoom in: Grumpy Pie king Alejandro Roman is topping his impossibly airy Detroit squares with black and red moles from Manchamanteles' chef Geno Bahena and pairing them with Marz brews of Abuelita Stout and Chela Negra dark lager. Watch Roman make it here. Monica's thought bubble: I tried the combo at a press preview and was blown away by how well they pair. But, as a longtime fan of Bahena's black mole, I'd ask for an extra dipping bowl of this sauce on the side. If you go: The pop up starts tonight at 5pm. A four-slice pizza costs $25.
Axios
19-12-2024
- Axios
The best 5 things Monica ate this year
I've eaten a lot of good stuff over the last 12 months trying to keep up with new eateries and dining trends. So it was tough coming up with just five of my favorite bites this year, but here they are. Turmeric mushroom soup from Herb in Edgewater (as part of a $128, 19-course tasting menu): Thai-born chef Patty Neumsom came to Chicago as a business student but has wowed the city with her innovative Thai-influenced fare including this silky blend of mushrooms, herbs and coconut milk. Dobladas in black mole ($21) from Manchamanteles in Logan Square: Chicago's mole master Geno Bahena took over the giant Lazo's Tacos building this year and has been cooking up his signature sauces including a rich, complex, sweet and spicy black mole served over chicken or enchilada-like dobladas. Don't be surprised if you find yourself licking the plate clean like I did. Gnocchi Parisian ($24) at Gavroche in Old Town: This dish features crispy pillows of dough in a rich lemon truffle cream topped with smoked trout roe from chef Mitchell Acuña and restaurateur Jason Chan. Sourdough chili crisp crackers ($10.99) from The Chinese Mom Kitchen pop ups and online shop: These crisp, tangy and spicy crackers, made by Chicago food journalist turned baker Laura Yee, have thoroughly bewitched my family to the point where we must keep them on hand at all times. Think of them as a healthier artisanal version of Flamin' Hot Cheetos. Pot roast and jalapeño cheese grits ($26) from Dawn in Hyde Park: Chicago winters are no match for this rib-sticking bowl of rich, spicy, cheesy Southern grits topped with pot roast that melts in your mouth and makes you wonder why mom's was so dry.
