Former Boka Group Chef Takes Over Marisol at the MCA

The MCA’s acclaimed restaurant’s new chef is a Boka Group vet

Two months after James Beard Award nominee Sarah Rinkavage announced her exit from Marisol, the acclaimed restaurant at the Museum of Contemporary Art has a replacement from the Boka Restaurant Group. William “Bill” Walker, who was the opening chef at the Kennison in the Hotel Lincoln and also worked at Bellemore and Green Zebra, is Marisol’s new chef de cuisine under Jason Hammel, a rep says. Stay tuned for any menu changes at the MCA.

Chicago’s Michelin-starred brewpub is getting a new chef

In another major chef shuffle, Band of Bohemia — an Eater 38 restaurant and also the first Michelin-starred brewpub — will soon have a new chef. That’s because executive chef Ian Davis left the Ravenswood darling after service on New Year’s Eve, the Tribune reports. More news there should be announced later this week.

A fire hit a Northwest Side breakfast favorite

Northwest Side breakfast favorite Bryn Mawr Breakfast Club was hit with a fire last night and was closed for breakfast this morning, according to a post on the Six Corners Neighbors Facebook page. The fire reportedly was in the recently-opened bakery storefront and the restaurant portion is okay, but stay tuned for any updates as its phone line is temporarily disconnected. [UPDATE: Bryn Mawr Breakfast Club announced that it’s temporarily relocating down the street to Big Hill Restaurant at 3307 W. Bryn Mawr Avenue.]

Avec collaborates with acclaimed restaurants for 2019 brunch series

The lineup for the annual “Friends of Avec Brunch Series” is out, where a bunch of local favorites, some of whom don’t usually serve brunch, will on select Sundays from January until May at the West Loop icon. The series kicks off this Sunday, January 13 with Bad Hunter, which is temporarily closed from a fire. The lineup also includes Pretty Cool Ice Cream, Ludlow Liquors, a “surprise James Beard guest,” and more.

NFL commissioner surprised Lou Mitchell’s diners with Super Bowl tickets

And finally, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell was in town this weekend for the Bears playoff game and visited the legendary Lou Mitchell’s in the West Loop — where he surprised three veterans with Super Bowl tickets, the Los Angeles Times reports. Goodell also visited George Street Pub in Lakeview, which is a Ravens bar, to watch the Baltimore team play on Sunday afternoon and give out more Super Bowl tickets.