Increased prices, a pasta sneak peek and Martha Stewart
SAVORY news for the week of Feb. 16, 2025
I hope you’re enjoying your Valentine’s Day weekend.
—Celebration: The second free event of Navy Pier’s 2025 Global Connection Series will celebrate International Carnivale on Saturday, March 1, 1- 5 p.m., in the Pier’s Aon Grand Ballroom.
Drawing on the unique traditions of cultures across the globe—from Brazil to Columbia, Greece and North America—the family-friendly event will capture the colorful revelry of Carnivale with live music, dance performances, elaborate costumes and interactive art-making activities. Emceed by Logan Lu, Navy Pier’s International Carnivale festivities will include performances by Chicago Samba, Four Star Brass Band, Orpheus Hellenic Folklore Society and Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center, among others.
And now on to culinary items…
—To shell and back: The price of eggs is affecting restaurants—and, in many cases, the patrons bear that financial increase in the form of higher menu costs.
I personally encountered this recently at a Thai restaurant when I was told my dish would cost a dollar more. But it’s not the only spot, according to WBEZ: The restaurant Cebu has raised the price of brunch items that contain eggs. Joel Nickson, chef and co-owner of Wishbone near Fulton Market, said that 15 dozen eggs now cost more than $100; a year ago, they were $31.
The rising prices are in part because bird flu (aka avian influenza or H5N1) has been spreading among poultry across the country, resulting in some stores—including Costco and Trader Joe’s—limiting the number of eggs customers can purchase.
—Beer and loathing: Also, President Trump’s newly announced tariffs—25% on all steel and aluminum imports—are expected to negatively affect the nation’s craft brewers by driving up the cost of critical materials used to brew, house and serve their beer, according to CNN. In early 2025 sales data, beer in aluminum cans accounted for approximately 75% of craft breweries’ packaged volume and revenue, according to data from the Brewers Association.
“Last time, we were hit with a 3% increase in pricing for cans, and that was when we bought American,” said Jason Klein, a co-founder of Chicago’s Spiteful Brewing. “That was the opposite of what was supposed to happen. It seems like no matter who you buy from, the prices are probably going to go up.” We’ll see what happens this time.
—Aussie highlights: Guzman y Gomez (GYG), one of the world’s fastest-growing fast-food businesses, announced the signing of a lease in Bucktown, marking its first-ever location within Chicago.
This flagship Chicago restaurant of the Mexican chain will be located at 1624 N. Damen Ave. and is slated to open in the summer.
Alongside this debut, GYG is also set to open in Evanston, at 1706 Sherman Ave., on March 11; and in Des Plaines, at 2777 Mannheim Rd,, this summer as well. According to a press release, “GYG serves real, authentic, made-to-order Mexican burritos, bowls, nachos, nacho fries, tacos and more using fresh whole produce and authentic ingredients across dine in, take away, app and web ordering, delivery and drive-thru.”
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