Bao as a Chicago dog & Philly cheesesteak

From the chefs behind Malört grilled cheese. [View this email in your browser]( [READER Logo]( [Food & Drink]( | July 12, 2024 “It's not very often that you find a business that will match your freak, as it were.” That would be Rafa Esparza—co-chef of the lysergic pop-up FAFO—who was not talking shit about Moneygun, the West Loop cocktail bar where he and coconspirator Anthony Baier set up shop in April to sling Malört grilled cheese, bacon fat popcorn, and wild Thai banana pudding. That was after a short stint at Little Evette’s where, somehow, the Lincoln Park stroller mafia wasn’t beckoned by the call of churro frites, green chorizo Japanese egg salad, or edible ants on blue matcha deviled eggs. It’s different at Moneygun, where the duo have been grinding six nights a week, and where Near West Side weirdos have fucked around and found out en masse just how madcap Chinese-style lotus leaf bread (荷叶饼) can be. Of course, it was last November when they let their freak flag fly for the very first time at a certain weekly chef pop-up, hosted by a certain weekly newspaper, itself free and freaky since 1971. In the words of [the Giant]( “It is happening. Again.” On the cusp of major changes at Moneygun—a menu revamp, brunch, patio puppy parties—the [Evette’s]( and Kimski vets are taking a spa day on July 15 at the half-century-old wellness center known as [Frank and Mary’s Tavern]( for the next [Monday Night Foodball](. This time, Esparza and Baier are slinging all bao, most of the time, debuting two new stuffed, steamed buns: a Philly cheesesteak bao with molten cheese sauce, and a pressed Cubano bao with pulled pork, prosciutto, Swiss, mustard, and pickle. And they’ll be slinging two established downtown favorites as well: a Chicago dog bao with Vienna minis dragged through every part of the garden (except the pickle patch), and Esparza’s favorite, the fried brussels sprouts bao with shallots and Mae Ploy chili sauce. Strange? Delicious? Deliciously strange? F*€k around and find out starting at 6 PM this Monday, July 15, at 2905 N. Elston in abnormal Avondale. Just a reminder, chums. Foodball is a party, not a pick-up joint. Stay. Have a drink. Have a bite. Have a laugh. Food (and booze) is dine-in only. Meantime, have a look at the ongoing Foodball schedule. A new one drops soon. [Take a bao with FAFO at the next Monday Night Foodball]( F*€k around and find out when Rafa Esparza and Anthony Baier return to the Reader’s weekly chef pop-up at Frank and Mary’s Tavern in Avondale. by [Mike Sula]( | [Read more]( → [Reader Bites]( celebrates dishes, drinks, and atmospheres from the Chicagoland food scene. Have you had a recent food or drink experience that you can’t stop thinking about? Share it with us at [fooddrink@chicagoreader.com](mailto:fooddrink@chicagoreader.com?subject=Reader%20Bites&body=). [Duck fat corn dogs at Ramova Grill and Taproom]( As a sucker for junk food staples reimagined in an elevated setting, curiosity gets the best of my taste buds when I see something like three corn dogs for $12 on a restaurant menu. Turns out, the duck fat corn dogs at the Ramova Grill and Taproom, housed within the recently renovated and reopened Ramova Theatre in Bridgeport, ranks among the best dishes I’ve eaten this year. — Miles MacClure [a watercolor illustration of food on skewers with dipping sauce]( [The Art of the Bonbon]( November 2010 | Les Nomades chef Chris Nugent crafts his chocolates brush in hand. by [Anne Spiselman]( | [Read more]( → [The Chop Shop keeps it simple]( November 2013 | Wicker Park’s multidisciplinary butcher/bar/restaurant/ performance space does a lot—and does a lot with a little. by [Mike Sula]( | [Read more]( → [two trays of food with fried fish and mac and cheese on a table]( [Fish ‘n’ faith]( April 2019 | Lenten fish fries are a delicious and ubiquitous part of the Catholic midwest. by [Brittany Sowacke]( | [Read more]( → Get the latest issue of the Chicago Reader Thursday, July 11, 2024 [READ ONLINE: VOL. 53, NO. 23]( [VIEW/DOWNLOAD ISSUE (PDF)]( [Donate to the Chicago Reader.]( [Facebook icon]( [Instagram icon]( [Twitter icon]( [LinkedIn icon]( [YouTube icon]( [Website icon]( [Logo] You received this email because you signed up for newsletters from the Chicago Reader. Want fewer emails from us? [Click here to choose what you want us to send you](. Or, [unsubscribe from all Reader emails](. We’ll miss you! [Sign up for emails from the Chicago Reader]( | [Forward this e-mail to a friend]( © 2024 Chicago Reader. All rights reserved. Chicago Reader, 2930 S. Michigan Ave., Suite 102, Chicago, IL 60616