A Beard Award Winner to Open a Burger Pop-Up at a Popular Downtown Food Hall

James Beard Award winner Mindy Segal (Mindy’s Hot Chocolate) isn’t just about dessert, and the renowned pastry chef wants to show downtown Chicago that she can make a mean burger. Segal will start a pop-up — Mindy’s Burgers (And a Shake) — next week at Revival Food Hall featuring variants of her signature burger that’s served at her Bucktown restaurant. The seven-month pop-up starts on Monday at the Loop food hall.

Segal’s sweets and bagels from her Hot Chocolate Bakery have been a fixture at Revival since the food hall opened in 2016. Her hot chocolate has brought smiles to many a Loop worker on a cold winter day. She’s remained ambitious, and now has an opportunity to serve a thick Slagel Family Farm ground beef patty with aged cheddar on a fresh-baked sesame bun.

Mindy’s Burgers will also offer a monthly burger special and a ground turkey option with a flavor profile that matches Chicago’s beloved Italian beef. It comes topped with giardiniera, provolone, and turkey jus. The veggie option features a patty made with quinoa, farro, mushrooms, and beets. It comes topped with Taleggio (vegans can omit the cheese to keep dairy off their food) and pickled beets. The veggie burger is served on a toasted hemp seed brioche bun. The pop-up will also offer macaroni and cheese, as well as salads. Burgers (which can be made without buns into lettuce wraps) come with cottage fries.

Segal won the 2012 Beard Award for Outstanding Pastry Chef and Hot Chocolate remains the premier dessert bar in Chicago. Segal’s signature hot chocolate is also getting a warm weather makeover at the pop-up. It will be served frozen from a soft-serve ice cream machine. The Hot Chocolate affogato is a spin on the Italian dessert that mixes frozen hot chocolate, hot fudge, and whipped cream. Fans of Irish stouts will get a kick out of the beer float made with hot chocolate soft serve and beer.

Revival Food Hall [Official Photo]

The burger pop-up replaces Petit Bouchon, the collaboration between Osteria Langhe and Le Bouchon that started in May. Revival has had a few burgers rotate through the hall. Another pastry chef, Sarah Jordan (Johnny’s Grill), served burgers at Graze Kitchenette. Pub Royale offered its brand of beef last year.

Revival Food Hall (operated by restaurant group 16” on Center) kicked off the trend of upscale food courts downtown with mini-versions of reputable Chicago restaurants including Smoque BBQ, Fat Shallot, and Antique Taco. Wells Street Market and Forum 55 have since followed. More food halls are on the way downtown. The West Loop/Fulton Market area already has three, with Time Out Market arriving late this fall.

Chicago magazine first reported the Mindy’s Burgers news.