South Side Community Rallies to Help Beloved Burglarized Restaurant Reopen

— Beloved three-decades-old South Side soul food restaurant Capt’s Hard Time Dining had to close earlier this week after a burglar was caught on camera stealing more than $10,000 in copper wiring, according to multiple reports. But following community support, money donations to its GoFundMe page, and a local union’s donation of materials and labor, the restaurant reopened this morning at 436 E. 79th Street. The restaurant also nearly closed in December 2015 when ownership called a press conference to address sagging business and area violence.

— Noted industry publication StarChefs has bestowed 19 locals with its culinary rising stars awards in the categories of chefs, artisans, sommeliers, pastry chefs, bartenders, plus a community chef, a restaurateur, and a concept. The winners, which include Jimmy Papadopoulos, Noah Sandoval, and Leigh Omilinsky, will be honored at an awards ceremony and gala on June 12 at the Lincoln Park Zoo. Tickets and the full list of award winners are available here. Chicago magazine first reported the award winners.

— The forthcoming Logan Square restaurant from the Bombay Breakdown popup pair and Lula Cafe owner Jason Hammel is listed as On The Fly LLC on permits, which is interestingly the same name as restaurateur Ryan O’Donnell’s new restaurant group — On The Fly Hospitality — formed by the folks behind Gemini, Coda Di Volpe, and the forthcoming Walton Street Kitchen & Bar in the Gold Coast. But it turns out that O’Donnell changed the name of his group to Ballyhoo Hospitality once he found out about the naming coincidence “to avoid any confusion,” his rep writes, and that there are “no hard feelings among either party.”

— Free (suggested donation) tickets are now available through June 18 for the second annual Taste of Black Chicago, which will happen on August 18 at 7351 S. Stony Island Avenue. Head to its Facebook page for more info.

— Prolific Peruvian chef Gaston Acurio, who runs Tanta here in Chicago, has been honored with the Diners Club Lifetime Achievement Award, which is part of the Worlds 50 Best Restaurants 2018, taking place June 19 in Spain.

— And finally, head to Wrigleyville on Saturday for free Detroit-style pizza when Union Pizza will give out 200 complimentary ¹⁄₄ pies starting at noon from its truck next to the Wheelhouse Hotel at 3473 N. Clark Street. Union will open a restaurant and bar in the hotel soon in addition to its existing locations in Evanston and Revival Food Hall in the Loop.