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A pair of Chicago-area bars and a restaurant want diners to know about a little "indy" film called "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" coming out later this month. That responsibility to remind the public has motivated chefs and mixologists to host these Star Wars-themed events to celebrate the Dec. 18 release of this promising rom-com.
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[Photo: The Whistler]
The Whistler will transform its Logan Square space into the alien bar featured in the first "Star Wars," the bar that nerd purists know and love as Mos Eisley Cantina. They're still working out the full drink menu, but one of their cocktails they'll serve on Dec. 16 is called "Blue Milk," a beverage made to look like the "presumable lactose-based drink procured from the female Bantha creature." It's mixed with apple brandy, rum, amaro, milk, cream, cinnamon, nutmeg and angostura bitters. The event's first come, first serve, and The Whistler urges guests to check their lightsabers and blasters at the door.
Over at Table, Donkey and Stick, they've assembled quite a band of rebels for a special six-course menu on Dec. 16. The alliance consists of Caleb Trahan (Bread and Wine), Lawrence Latrero (Sable), Chip Davies (Homestead) and Nate Sears (The Radler). Their menu includes Thai Fighting XO Wings, Tauntaun Soup Dumplings, JarJarBisque, Smoked Vadervan Pork and Obi-Wan Pierogi. Pray they don't alter the menu any further. Reservations can be had at (773) 486-8525 for $48 per person.
Not to be outdone, Evanston's World of Beer is holding a "Star Wars" beer-themed night on Dec. 17, and beers such as Firestone Walker's Wookey Jack will be tapped. Even Jimmy Fallon and Harrison Ford got in on the fun with cocktails on "The Tonight Show" on Tuesday night. Get used to this, as Disney plans on releasing one new "Star Wars" film almost every year, so the hype surrounding the movies could continue indefinitely, with more events popping up.
Knowing this, perhaps before it gets out of hand, everyone should take a deep breath and check out this list of Star Wars-inspired items that no restaurant in any galaxy has—and probably shouldn't add—to its menu:
1) The Prawn Solo. This would be a very dashing, yet lonely "shrimp" cocktail.
2) Dry-Aged Wookiee Steaks. No thank you, especially if they are chewy or flash frozen in carbonite.
3) Any Thai/TIE Fighter puns. TIE, the ships most commonly used by the villainous Empire, stands for twin-ion engines and just happens to rhyme with Thai, so let's pass on any sort of curries, noodles or even a Mai-TIE. Note: Table, Donkey and Stick folks just revealed that their probably delicious TIE wings will be on their menu.
4) Leia's Lentils. Everything in this dish would be organic, just like Princess Organa would want it.
5) Colt .45 or any malt liquor. Billy Dee Williams (Lando Calrissian) did some funny stuff with malt liquor in the 1980s.
6) E-Wok stir-fry. Those cuddly Ewoks singing "yub-nub" don't necessarily equate to "nom-nom."
7) Death Star Bar Bites. No one wants their stomach to explode like the Empire's space station.
8) Aunt Beru's barramundi. This fish from Luke Skywalker's aunt would be prepped charred, of course, and moistened with diners' tears. Too soon? Come on, it happened a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away.
That being written, let us know about any other Star Wars-themed food events going on around town in the comments.
UPDATE: Here's more movie-related specials that didn't get caught in our tractor beam.
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[Photo: The Barrelhouse Flat]
The Barrelhouse Flat is also flying to Mos Isley with its controversial Cantina Brawl. The drink is actually two shots, designed to be consumed in succession: Han Shot First (Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Cynar, lemon juice, salt, egg white) and Greedo Shot Second (green Chartreuse, egg yolk). In your face, special edition edits!
DMK Burger Bar's tapping into the Dark Side for its Sith Burger (grass-fed beef, chorizo, caramelized onions, jalapeños, Jack cheese, roasted red-pepper mayo).