Last weekend, as strong winds battered the Bay of Biscay in San Sebastián, the Zurich Maratón San Sebastián was canceled. However, the cancellation did not affect the nightly wine and pintxo-fueled bar crawl through the city’s old town, which continued as usual. Chef Jeremy Leven, known for his work at mfk. and Mama Delia, is set to open Gilda, a northern Spanish tavern inspired by Basque culture.
Leven, who has a history of pop-up events, will offer a preview of Gilda at the Monday Night Foodball event at Frank and Mary’s Tavern. The menu will feature a variety of Basque-style tapas, including the classic gilda (anchovy, piparra pepper, and olive skewered on a toothpick) and other creative dishes such as chistorra sausages, Iberico jamón on fresh yeasted donuts, and blistered shishitos with koji crema.
Additionally, the event will showcase Roman’s crackly cristal bread with tomato conserva and boquerones, as well as unique twists on Basque classics like the deviled crab tartlet and the tortilla española. The evening will conclude with Michigan apples compressed with cider and a selection of bite-size cakes from Lil Baddies bakery.
If you want to get a taste of Gilda before it officially opens as a brick-and-mortar restaurant, be sure to attend the Monday Night Foodball event on December 2 at 2905 N. Elston in Avondale. The pintxos will be served starting at 6 PM until they sell out.
In addition to this exciting culinary event, other food-related activities are happening in Chicago. Laura Yee’s pop-up experiment, The Chinese Mom Kitchen, offers new challenges for the food journalist-turned-business owner. A recent workshop at the Rogers Park Seed Library taught Chicagoans how to save seeds for future use, while Justyna Haluch is making a name for herself as the zapiekanka queen of Schiller Woods.
The kitchen witches at Loaves & Witches in Edgewater cater to spiritual, sober, and queer communities, creating a welcoming space for all. RICE, a monthly meal series and art collective, is building community through South Asian cuisine. These diverse and innovative food experiences showcase the rich culinary landscape of Chicago.
Mike Sula, a senior writer and food reporter at the Chicago Reader, curates the Monday Night Foodball event, bringing together underground and up-and-coming chefs in the city. His passion for food and storytelling shines through in his work, which has been featured in various publications. Sula’s dedication to highlighting Chicago’s vibrant food scene contributes to the city’s reputation as a culinary hub.
Overall, the Gilda preview at Monday Night Foodball promises to be a delicious and exciting evening, showcasing the creativity and talent of Chef Jeremy Leven and his team. Don’t miss this opportunity to experience a taste of northern Spanish tavern culture in the heart of Chicago.
