Pizza news
The kitchen known for its New Haven, Connecticut-style pizzas that has been a Downtown staple for nearly two decades is moving. But fear not, Basic Bar & Pizza en 410 10th St. isn’t wandering away too far.
Owner Jon Mangini is bidding fond adieu to Basic’s original, warehouse digs because the building’s landlord wasn’t willing to renegotiate the lease. So the restaurant will spring over to nearby 100 Park Plaza, where it will occupy retail space at the new Park 12 apartment complex. We’re told the menu will remain the same and that the move will occur in about eight months.
Mangini also owns Pizza a carbón URBN in North Park, where consumers will also find the company’s popular pizzas topped with mashed potatoes and bacon, meatballs and ricotta, and sausage with cherry peppers. barbasic.com.
Lights out!
Based on personal experience with this type of event, it is true that eating in pitch darkness heightens the taste buds, despite the sheer clumsiness of forking around your plate to locate various meal courses.
Dining in the Dark por Verbena Kitchen is returning with this most unique dinner experience at 7 p.m., May 21, at the Adams Avenue Theater in Normal Heights. Guests will be served a three-course dinner while blindfolded as they navigate their way through the meal using only their senses of taste, smell and feel.
The cost is $72 per person, which doesn’t include drinks and tip. Reservations are required. 3325 Adams Ave., feverup.com/m/144096.
Pass the Coquilles Saint Jacques, please
Outside the circles of French food buffs, few would guess that May 16 is National Coquilles Saint Jacques Day. Then again, how many even know that Coquilles Saint Jacques is a classic scallop dish in France?
Bleu Boheme is here to show us as it also celebrates other French meals throughout the month of May by matching them to various fine wines served in quarter liters.
For the scallops, which are bathed in cream sauce and topped with Gruyere-kissed bread crumbs, the dish will also feature saffron-lobster risotto and Portuguese linguica. It comes with Moillard Bourgogne Chardonnay. The cost is $60.
On May 24, which is National Escargot Day, the restaurant will pair Henry Fessy Julienas Beaujolais to the petite snails. They’re served in a bath of Pernod, garlic, shallots, and herbs. The cost is $30.
Then on May 29, on National Coq Au Vin Day, the famous wine-braised chicken is paired with Baileyanna Firepeak Pinot Noir for $45. Reservations are recommended on the days of all three specials. 4090 Adams Ave., 619-255-4167, bleuboheme.com.
Mexican dining for a heartfelt cause
If you’re looking for a furry addition to your household, perhaps you will find one while enjoying blood orange margaritas and assorted tacos at Barrio Star in Bankers Hill.
The restaurant is once again hosting an adoption event in partnership with Paws4Thought Animal Rescue from noon to 3 p.m., May 11. Several pooches looking for permanent homes will be present in the restaurant’s open-air dining section, giving customers a chance to meet and greet with them. Barrio’s previous adoption events in the last year have been a hit as nearly all of the dogs became adopted. 2706 Fifth Ave., 619-501-7827, barriostar.com.
Goodbye Mr. Trustee, hello Wild Child
Get your groove-on in Mission Hills at the re-branded window that is now called Wild Child Ice Cream. The business adjoins the Italian-style chophouse, Cardillino, both of which are owned by the Trust Restaurant Group. The company also launched a Wild Child food truck that is available for private events.
Instead of soft-serve that dominated the menu when the concept operated as Sr. fideicomisario, this newest hippie-esque iteration sells only ice cream and sherbet—and in a small variety of flavors such as lemon meringue pie made with marshmallow whip; honey-vanilla; salted cookie dough; and tie-dye sherbet offering swirls of orange, raspberry and pineapple. Everything is available in scoops, cones and pints. 4033 Goldfinch St., 619-259-5544, wildchildic.com.
