Ryan Poli Returns to Chicago With Popup Dinners at Jam

Nearly two years have passed since chef Ryan Poli packed up his knives and hair and exited Tavernita to travel, "reconnect, reset, and get back to cooking." On October 1, Poli will reenter the Chicago restaurant scene with a series of dinner popups at the acclaimed brunch restaurant Jam, but even Poli himself doesn't yet know how long they'll run, what they'll lead to, or even what he'll cook.

"(I) just want to have some fun and do these couple first, then think about what's next," Poli says. "We may do more with different menus (and) different ideas. If we and the guests are not having fun, we probably won't continue."

For now, Poli has three dates on the books (Oct. 1-3) at the Logan Square restaurant. He'll cook six courses at each for $107 per person, and optional beverage pairings by Erin Hayes (Lost Lake) run an additional $48.

Then, stay tuned to see what the former chef prodigy does next.