Scofflaw, one of Logan Square’s most beloved bars located at 3201 West Armitage Avenue, has been closed for a while due to the pandemic guidelines for indoor dining. However, you can still enjoy their delicious offerings for pick up and delivery as we wait for restaurants and bars to fully open in Chicago. And suppose you’re weary of stepping back out into restaurants amid the pandemic? In that case, this is a perfect chance to enjoy Scofflaw’s menu in the comfort of home.

Chin Up, Buttercup! , Scofflaw’s comfort kitchen for pickup and delivery orders, has a well-rounded menu of items created by chef Matty Lehto that are sure to warm up our taste buds and take the bite out of the snowy, frigid Windy City weather we have all been dealing with lately. 

The “Better than Ikea” Swedish meatballs served over hot buttered noodles are an excellent dinner to warm you up as the temperature drops. Likewise, their Caroline’s roast pork served with maple glazed Brussels, and bacon lardons is a fantastic entree bursting with flavor. Classics you can’t go wrong with include their take on meatloaf served with broccoli sautéed with garlic and chili flake, the cheesy baked rigatoni, and the open-faced turkey Manhattan featuring house-roasted turkey breast on white bread with mashed potatoes and gravy. Each of these entrees is priced at under $14.

Sometimes, a smorgasbord of sides is what we need to hit the spot. Chin Up, Buttercup! has you covered with a range of options sure to please anyone having a hard time figuring out what to eat. You don’t need to wait around for next Thanksgiving to enjoy the buttery mashed potatoes with beef gravy. However, you would be wise to grab two orders as you can never have too much of a good thing. On that same note, their mac n’ cheese with white cheddar and smoked Gouda topped with crunchy garlic breadcrumbs is a side worth having an extra order of. Your taste buds will thank you. The split pea soup with Smoking Goose ham and potato leek soup with fresh chive are surefire ways to combat the frosty nightmare known as a Chicago winter. 

Give your sweet tooth some TLC with Chin Up, Buttercups! delectable banana cream icebox cake. The dish features bananas, whipped cream, banana pudding, and Nilla wafers. This dessert’s ingredients are enough to make that spot in our stomachs reserved for sweets demand that you order this dish immediately. 

While we wait for full openings of our favorite spots in Chicago, you can still order beer and wines from Scofflaw via Chin Up, Buttercup! with offerings like Metro Fly Pils, a German-style pilsner, and bottles of Le Machin Pinot Noir and Pulpe Fiction Muscadet.

Chin Up, Buttercup! is open daily from 5 pm to 9 pm in the same location as the closed Scofflaw in Logan Square. While we wait for our world to slowly get back to normal, we must keep our chin up, and sometimes the best way to do so is with some classic comforting cuisine. 

ERIC KAPLAN AND DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO

As we head into the last weekend of January 2021 with chilly temperatures and more snow on the way, there’s still plenty to look forward to. Plus, Chicago is beginning to slowly reopen indoor events!

Chicago is now in Phase Four of its reopening plan! The goal of this phase is to continue cautiously reopening while ensuring the safety of its residents and visitors. Therefore, social distancing and face coverings are still required whenever possible. Here are a few of the new guidelines that are allowed, with some additional mitigations (click the link for more details):

• Social gatherings are temporarily limited to 25 people or 25% room capacity.
• Indoor dining in restaurants is allowed for the first time since November.
• Gyms are allowed to hold fitness classes and resume operations.
• Indoor museums, cultural institutions, and performance arts centers are currently open as well.

However, advanced ticketing/reservations are encouraged whenever possible due to capacity limits.

Here’s something to get you out of the house! The MLK Roller Skating & Bowling Public Sessions are now open at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Park and Family Entertainment Center (1219 W. 76th St.). You will need to purchase tickets in advance to guarantee your spot due to limited capacity (click link for full schedule). Admission is $10 per person (kids & adults); however, if you need to rent skates/shoes, the admission is $14 per person. Also, non-skating adults must pay the admission price to enter, and all tickets are non-refundable. Again, all guests must wear masks at all times, even while roller skating or bowling.

Catch a movie from the comfort of your own car at ChiTown Movies Presents: Drive-In Theatre (2343 S. Throop St.) in the Pilsen neighborhood. Outside food and drink are not permitted, but you will have the option to purchase popcorn, tacos, wings, frozen mangos, and more delivered right to your car as you enjoy the movie! This weekend’s movies include — Saturday (Incredibles 2, 5 p.m.; Caddyshack, 7:30 p.m.; Scream, 9:30 p.m.) and Sunday (Finding Dory, 5 p.m.; Jurassic Park, 7:30 p.m.)!!

If you still prefer staying indoors at home, tune in to a virtual improvised set broadcast from one of Chicago’s Best Jazz Clubs, or you may like to attend a virtual Gin Tasting Session organized by local distillery KOVAL this Saturday (6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.).

Here’s a reminder for those who participated in the Plunge Where You Are! I wrote about in my January 8th blog. Don’t forget to join their virtual event this Saturday, which includes recognition of all those who helped fundraise to support this year’s Chicago families, an update on the families supported, virtual high fives, and raffle prizes! Hope your plunge was a success!!

With Valentine’s Day approaching, why not make the most thoughtful gift for your Valentine this year at the virtual Valentine’s Chocolate Strawberries – Free Workshop this Sunday (1 p.m.-1:30 p.m.). It may sound like a daunting task, but your host picked out a few simple treats that are fun and easy to make. Get your free ticket to receive the recipe before the workshop since it will not be possible to request the recipe once the registration is closed. Click the link for steps to join the Live on Facebook, or you can join by Instagram. Make a few extras for yourself while you’re at it!!

Sue Moss and Dean’s Team Chicago

Chicagoans looking for something other than the typical deep dish and delivery pizzas will want to check out the Detroit-style pies coming out of Chef Bill Kim’s Pizza & Parm Shop. The Oak Brook-based restaurant has expanded with a new home opening on Wednesday, February 3, in Wicker Park.

Located at Chef Kim’s other spot, Urbanbelly (1542 North Damen Avenue), this pizza pop-up serves Detroit-style pizza in all its glory. Fans of Chicago deep dish and thin crust pizza will find lots to love with Kim’s pies serving as a delicious balance between the two Windy City favorites. 

The Wicker Park menu features three different Detroit-style pan pizzas, including double-smoked pork and pineapple, ricotta and arugula, and Korean BBQ ground beef with kimchi, which is right in line with the amazing Asian fare served up at Urbanbelly. Chef Bill Kim’s Pizza & Parm Shop is just what you have been searching for those looking for truly unique flavor blends. 

Of course, customers can select from more traditional toppings such as pepperoni, mushrooms, and sausage, as well as build their own pizza with a mixture of toppings. Whichever you choose, you can be sure it will result in a tasty, rectangular pie with a thick caramelized crust that is pure ecstasy for the taste buds.

If you’re not in the mood for pizza, you can’t go wrong with the other part of the title in this Wicker Park spot: the chicken parm. Served with melted brick cheese and dipped in marinara, each bite melts in the mouth in a symphony of flavor. Likewise, the cauliflower parm sandwich set to be on the menu brings the same burst of flavor. Fans of chicken wings will delight in the cauliflower wings offered as a fresh and savory alternative to this classic bar food. 

Chef Bill Kim was born in South Korea and moved to the northside of Chicago as a young child. Here his fondness for Italian food was born, and he continued his culinary pursuits at Kendall College. Kim opened the Asian-inspired Urbanbelly in 2008. Other restaurants Kim opened include Belly Shack and BellyQ before they closed. His flair for combining flavor combos are a reflection of the great diversity of populations that make up Chicago, resulting in a fresh take on familiar favorites. 

Chef Bill Kim’s Pizza & Parm Shop opens February 3 for takeout exclusively through DoorDash. The pop-ups hours of operation are Wednesday through Sunday from 11 am to 9 pm. 

ERIC KAPLAN AND DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO

You’ve seen the label ‘organic’ for years now, but what does this really mean and what are the benefits to you and your family?

According to the Mayo Clinic, the word ‘organic’ references the way farmers grow and process agricultural products. Organic farming practices are designed to address several factors, such as pest and weed control, usage of additives, animal habitats and treatment, pollution, and more.

For produce to be certified as organic, it must have been grown on soil that has been free of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides for at least 3 years. For meat to carry the organic certification, the animals must be raised in living conditions that allow them to continue their natural behaviors, fed natural, GMO-free foods, and cannot be given hormones or antibiotics. Finally, when it comes to processed organic foods, they must be free of artificial preservatives, food coloring, or flavors.

Over the years, research has shown potential health benefits of eating organic, such as an increase in nutrients, like Vitamin C, iron, and magnesium, in produce and an increase in omega-3 fatty acids in organic meat due to feeding requirements for the animal. Additionally, crops grown organically have shown lower levels of pesticide residue due to fertilization practices and lower levels of cadmium, a toxic heavy metal that can affect the liver and kidneys.

Generally, organic foods are more expensive than traditional foods, which is a factor that hinders many from opting to go fully organic. However, depending on your family’s financial situation or health requirements, it may be worth the additional cost.