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2 Chicago Pastry Chefs Try To Beat Bobby Flay, Buzz Coffee Moving To Logan, More Intel

Plus, Nonnina’s chef exits and Chop Shop’s donating to CPS

The Gage, Acanto, and The Dawson pastry chef Kymberli DeLost
Nicole Ess

— Although celebrity chef and Food Network star Bobby Flay really loves cats, he still hosts reality cooking shows too. Tomorrow night’s episode of "Beat Bobby Flay" will pit two of Chicago’s best pastry chefs — Kymberli DeLost (The Gage, Acanto, The Dawson) and Chris Teixeira (Steadfast, Homestead, The Fifty/50 Group) in a televised battle to defeat Flay at making desserts. The episode, titled "Sweet But Sour," airs at 9 p.m. on Food Network.

— One of Chicago’s best coffee shops is moving from Bucktown to Logan Square. Buzz: Killer Espresso, which currently resides at 1644 N. Damen Ave., is moving to 2779 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Logan at yet-to-be-determined date, DNAinfo reports. The move coincides with the current building’s slated demolition as well as Buzz’s expansion, which will reportedly involve a separate roastery and commercial kitchen on the northwest side.

— There’s a new/old chef at Piccolo Sogno’s sister restaurant Nonnina in River North — chef/owner Tony Priolo. Chef Chris Macchia, a veteran of top local Italian spots Coco Pazzo, The Florentine, and Stella Barra, who executed the food portion of the revamp of Piccolo Sogno Due at 340 N. Clark St., resigned on Saturday for a new opportunity that he’s not yet ready to reveal. "Tony and I have been friends for a long time and opening Nonnina was a great experience," he says, "but I was given a new opportunity that makes more sense for my family and I." Priolo, meanwhile, is now running the kitchen at both of his restaurants and is "super excited."

— Chance The Rapper isn’t the only one donating needed money to Chicago Public Schools. Chop Shop, Wicker Park’s restaurant/bar/concert venue/butcher shop/sandwich shop, is also doing good work by donating $1 to CPS for every sandwich sold this week.

— Those interested in checking out Good Food Festival, the annual conference and festival that brings together notable chefs and artisans including Rick Bayless to benefit FamilyFarmed, have little reason not to check it out this year — because the main event is now free. That portion happens on Saturday, March 18 beginning at 10 a.m., while other events (March 16-18) include trade and policy sessions, a reception, and an urban farm tour. More information is right here.

— In other intriguing festival news, Bad Hunter is hosting a natural wine fair named Third Coast Soif on March 19 in the West Loop. A $20 ticket buys tastes of around 150 wines, plus snacks, coffee, and beer. For more information on natural wine, check out this deep dive in the Tribune.

— And finally, you’ve probably drank Malort many times — but have you ever tried it in a pie? Hoosier Mama Pie Company is the first spot to try to put the local favorite notoriously-bitter wormwood liquor in a pie, in a new concoction named the "Chicago Sunrise," according to Zagat, which quotes its kitchen manager calling it "basically the most Chicago pie ever." It combines Malort with grapefruit custard before filling a pie crust with it and topping with whipped cream.

Piccolo Sogno

464 North Halsted Street, , IL 60642 (312) 421-0077 Visit Website

Hoosier Mama Pie Co.

1618 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60622 (312) 243-4846 Visit Website

Bad Hunter

802 West Randolph Street, , IL 60607 (312) 265-1745 Visit Website

Hoosier Mama Pie Company / Dollop Coffee & Tea

749 Chicago Ave, Evanston, IL 60202 (847) 868-8863 Visit Website

Nonnina

340 North Clark Street, , IL 60654 (312) 822-0077 Visit Website

Steadfast

120 W Monroe St, Chicago, IL 60603 (773) 489-5050 Visit Website

Buzz: Killer Espresso

1644 N Damen Ave, Chicago, IL 60647 (773) 366-8377 Visit Website

The Gage

24 South Michigan Avenue, , IL 60603 (312) 372-4243 Visit Website

The Fifty/50

2047 West Division Street, , IL 60622 (773) 489-5050 Visit Website

The Dawson

730 West Grand Avenue, , IL 60654 (312) 243-8955 Visit Website

Acanto

18 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60603

Chop Shop

2033 West North Avenue, , IL 60647 (773) 537-4440 Visit Website