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Mama Delia recently opened a restaurant, sherry bar and u l t r a m a r i n o (gourmet market) in the former Black Bull space at 1721 W. Division St. in Chicago.

Amazon is planning to open a new grocery store at 16 E. Golf Rd. in Schaumburg, Ill.

Chef Ryan McCaskey announced a new chapter with Acadia as he opens the restaurant’s first-ever patio as well as a walk-up window for togo cocktails, wine and a new full take-out menu. The South Loop restaurant shifted at the beginning of the pandemic to offer takeout and cocktail kits.

Drivers on the Illinois Tollway system are required to pay tolls as indicated by signs posted at collection plazas. Customers who pay cash may find themselves in an unattended toll plaza lane or in an I-PASS or Pay Online lane. If this happens, continue driving. Make note of your location by identifying the toll plaza name or number or the nearest milepost and pay online.

EggLifeFoods Inc., the Chicago-based food brand that uses cage-free eggs, not flour, to reimagine carbohydrateheavy foods, announced that it is expanding its distribution with Angelo Caputo’s Fresh Markets. The expansion will include all seven Caputo’s locations in the Chicago area.

Facebook recently announced that the company’s newest worldwide data center will be built in DeKalb, Ill., bringing an investment of more than $800 million. The Facebook DeKalb Data Center will be among the most advanced, energy-and-water-efficient data center facilities in the world.

Following a three-month closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bottleneck Management announced the reopening of its Chicago restau

rants, including Old Town Pour House, Sweetwater Tavern & Grille and South Branch Tavern & Grille. Bottleneck restaurants focus on classic American food and an expansive beer and beverage list.

Located in the northeastern corner of Illinois in McHenry and Lake counties, the Chain O’ Lakes State Park is 60 miles northwest of Chicago. With nearly 6,500 acres of water and 488 miles of shoreline, Chain O’ Lakes State Park is the heart of a water wonderland. It features six miles of relatively easy hiking and biking trails.

Motif FoodWorks, the ingredient innovation company making plant-based food better tasting and more nutritious, announced partnerships with leading universities in chemical and mechanical engineering— the University of Illinois in Chicago and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign—to study the rheological properties of plant-based foods.

Mugshots Sports Bar & Grill is planning to open at 13031 W. 143rd. St. in Homer Glen, Ill.

North Branch Fried Chicken restaurant recently opened at 5481 N. Northwest Hwy. in Chicago.

Oda Mediterranean Cuisine, in Chicago’s Andersonville, has added cocktails to their carryout and delivery menu. Cocktails may be ordered individually or in larger batch formats.

Travelle at The Langham, 330 N. Wabash in Chicago, recently announced their reopening. Chef Jeff Vucko and team welcomed guests back into the seasonally inspired restaurant’s dining room. Propane Pete offers your business a full service solution for all your patio and propane needs. SERVICES Rentals • Sales Service & Repair Trade Ins EQUIPMENT TYPES Glass Tube Effectors Heaters Mosquito Zapper Fire Tables Smoker Stations TANK DELIVERY We offer direct delivery service to your business.

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Actor Bill Murray and Family Get into the Vodka Game

Ever walk into a bar and ask, “what kind of vodkas do you have?” A lot of times the bartender will throw out a number and complain the bar has too many. The Murray brothers—actors Bill, Brian Doyle and Joel, along with John, Edward and chef Andy—wanted to change the myth that all vodkas were the same.

After meeting with several producers and distillers, and drinking endless amounts of vodka, the Murrays finally teamed up with Cello Via to make the perfect vodka.

Murray Bros. Caddyshack Vodka is handmade from local Midwestern corn, distilled five times, and filtered 12 times, presenting a clean, crisp aroma with a hint of grain sweetness. As Andy Murray has said, “This vodka is so smooth, you can drink it straight.”

Most fans of the Murrays know they grew up in Wilmette. In 2018, Andy Murray and Mac Haskell opened a Murray Bros. Caddyshack restaurant in Rosemont.

The most popular cocktail there is the 19th Hole. A perfect mix of Murray vodka, along with peach schnapps and Aperol, it is the perfect summer time drink to enjoy after a round of golf or hanging at the bar with friends. The staff at Murray Bros. Caddyshack believes that once you master vodka, life gets much easier. Stop by soon to try a drink. 9546 Balmoral Ave., Rosemont.

Zero-ABV Tequila Setting a Trend

Nonalcoholic spirit brand Ritual Beverage Company has unveiled a zero-ABV tequila, which it describes as more than just a tequila with the alcohol removed. The drink, created by blending an array of botanicals that evoke the flavors of tequila, “features a grassy aroma and notes of guava, green pepper and Mexican lime,” cofounder Marcus Sakey said, and retails for $25 per bottle. - Source: Forbes Consumers’ Food Habits Have Changed

More than four out of five consumers say the coronavirus pandemic has changed their food habits, driving them to cook, eat, shop and think about food differently, according to the annual Food & Health Survey from the International Food Information Council.

A total of 85% said they were doing something differently, with about 60% cooking at home more, the survey results said. The other changes are more varied and not quite as universal, with about a third saying they are snacking more and washing produce more.

Aside from more snacking, the pandemic has changed what people are eating, Ali Webster, IFIC’s director of research and nutrition communications, said at a virtual press conference announcing the survey results.

“A higher percentage of people said that they were eating healthier than they usually do as a result of the pandemic. And this was compared to a lower percentage of people who said that they were eating less healthy than usual, as related to COVID-19,” Webster said. “So I think people were really taking the opportunity to be thinking more about what they were eating, perhaps. Cooking more at home tends to be a little bit more healthy than choices ... when eating out.” -Source: fooddive.com

Push yourself, because no one else is going to do it for you.

Support Your Immune Health with Summer Foods

Dietitians include ginger, garlic, citrus, spinach, sunflower seeds and red bell peppers among summertime foods that support the immune system. Registered dietitian Sylvia White says garlic can help the body remove harmful toxins, stimulate immune responses and reduce inflammation; while registered dietitian Shena Jaramillo says ginger is full of vitamins and may aid digestion. -Adapted from U.S. News & World Report

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Rebates and Portion-Control Packets at Texas Pete

Your businesses’ reaction to government and public concerns related to COVID-19 is vitally important. The food-service team at Texas Pete and the Garner family, who own and operate our company, are with you as we react to the current situation.

To help in your recovery from the virus, Texas Pete is offering rebates on all of its food-service products up to $1,000. The rebate doubles the rebate on portion-control cases and bottles of Texas Pete products.

With the eat-in business down, your plan must include adding value to your curbside, delivery and drive-thru business. Texas Pete portion control (PC) products can help. Here’s why: n Texas Pete is the fastest-growing hot sauce among the top five brands in retail. The brand stands for flavor, and it’s the fastestgrowing brand in both dollar and unit sales in grocery stores. Our PCs are served by top national chains, so you know we’re ready with a consistent supply. We’re committed to assuring our partners that Texas Pete is a brand that will add value to your customers orders. n We’ve got options to fit any cuisine. Sure, our Texas Pete Original Hot Sauce is No. 1 among our PCs, but we also offer Cha! by Texas Pete Sriracha Sauce and ¡Sabor! by Texas Pete Mexican-Style Hot Sauce that are ready for your curbside, delivery, take out or drive thru. n Our 1.69 oz. Texas Pete plastic resealable bottle is a value addition. For promoting limited-time offers or family meal deals, there is nothing like offering a bottle of our “go anywhere” plastic resealable bottle. n Your customers want to customize their flavor for the road. The PCs inside their order enables the customer to adjust the flavor to their satisfaction.

To help you stabilize your business during the COVID-19 crisis, you can make smart decisions on when and how you serve up the great food on your menu. Our PCs are here to help. If you would like to speak to a Garner Foods regional sales manager about a customized solution for your contingency plan, go to www.texaspetefoodservice. com/contact-your-sales-rep/ for more information.

Risk Mitigation Gives Way to Job Creation

Risk mitigation has been the theme for weeks, giving rise to new operational roles at the unit level and within technologically enhanced ordering systems.

New roles, such as concierges whose job is to act as a greeter, bouncer and traffic cop, have been created to control the flow of foot traffic and queuing systems o ensure social distancing guidelines are met. Enhanced janitorial duties have also been introduced, where a sanitation specialist

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