Former Momofuku, Schwa Chef Set To Open Offbeat Pastry & Coffee Shop In Roscoe Village

Jonathan Ory of Bad Wolf Coffee at Star Lounge Coffee Bar. (Photo: 312 Dining Diva)

In the late 1990s, there was a really cool coffeehouse in Roscoe Village called Kerouac Jack's, named after the famed novelist and poet. The colorful spot was popular for its regular poetry events and strong coffee, but unfortunately had some terrible pastries.

Coffee connoisseur Jonathan Ory doesn't remember Kerouac's, but he feels that the neighborhood is in desperate need of a good coffeehouse serving good pastries.

"You can get one or the other, but you cannot get both in this area and most parts in town," he says, adding, "That's why I want to open a coffeehouse."

When Ory opens Bad Wolf Coffee with wife Sarah in mid- to late-November a block away from the old Kerouac Jack's, his plan is to serve house-made pastries with coffee "the way it is supposed to be made."

The self-taught chef worked his way up from the bottom, taking jobs from busboy to dishwasher until he eventually found his way inside the kitchens of a number of highly regarded restaurants. He's had stints at the likes of the now-defunct, high-end Heat sushi restaurant, as well as Atlanta's Restaurant Eugene, Schwa, and most recently Momofuku Ko in New York.

A First Look at the Menu From New Leopold Chef

Leopold Executive Chef Michael Dean Reynolds. (Photos: Leopold)

By the time the smoked rabbit leg arrived to the table we were completely stuffed. We had already consumed 11 courses—and there were seven more to come!—but we couldn't resist this glistening piece of meat that was drizzled in rabbit reduction and sat atop rich layers of lentils, dandelion greens and mission figs.

For me it was the standout dish of the special media tasting from Michael Dean Reynolds, Leopold's new executive chef. It represented the type of hearty fare he cranked out when he was chef de cuisine at The Gage for five years.

And while The Gage is more formal with a downtown price tag, the Belgian-inspired Leopold is very neighborhood friendly with entrees not exceeding $23. Reynolds has also scaled down the menu from some of the heavier items (though he left the poutine and pierogi) and integrated his lighter style and approach to seasonal cuisine.

One of the biggest additions is the plats du jour, where he'll do daily specials such as braised short ribs on Wednesdays, a white bean cassoulet with duck confit and sausage on Thursdays, and a $30 three-course, prix-fixe mussels dinner on Sundays. Also, look for a Belgian-influenced brunch to start on Nov. 11.

Here are some of the highlights of the new fall menu:

Wicker Park's Late-Night Hang Rodan Goes Legit With New Chefs, Menus & Cocktails

Rodan's new Korean BBQ of marinated beef kalbi, hot rock, steamed rice and house-made kimchee. (Photos: Rodan)

It's been a few weeks now since Wicker Park's Rodan had a dramatic makeover under new owner, Eric Chaleff. The self-proclaimed heavy metal guitarist also curated the Asian-inspired beverage program and recruited a talented team to help him fulfill his dream of making the late-night hang a legit dining destination.

Corey Gillom (NoMI, Japonais, Longman & Eagle, The Slurping Turtle) and Michael Torto (Lockdown Bar & Grill) are behind the new menu with dishes that are contemporary and focused, yet remain neighborhood friendly. There's nothing above $15, with highlights ranging from the curry croquettes that come with a dill yogurt sauce to bao steamed buns filled with tofu, pulled pork or beer-battered fish.

What's certain to be a scene stealer will be the burgers—which have the influence from Torto's stellar days over at popular burger destination Lockdown. This time, they're dripping with Asian flavor, from the black bean burger with wasabi mayo to the Korean kimchee burger with pulled pork, chili aioli and a fried egg. He's also created a banh mi that comes with fried chicken, lemongrass tofu or pulled pork and topped with mushroom pate, pickled carrot, daikon and jalapeno.

Lite Bites: What Your Favorite Chefs Are Up To

Ryan Poli of Tavernita. (Photo: Ryan Poli)

Sixteen's Thomas Lents wants Michelin stars.

Ryan Poli of Tavernita fame has a hot new French-focused project in the Gold Coast.

Talented new Leopold chef Michael Dean Reynolds (formerly of The Gage) launches a rockin' Belgian brunch on Nov. 11.

Time Out's nine-step plan of how to get in a chef's pants. Seriously, if this is a man we're talking about, it should be only one step.

New York chef/restaurateur Joe Bastianich talks to Eater Chicago exclusively about Eataly coming to Chicago in 2013.

Lula Cafe's Jason Hammel has got an all-star lineup of chefs coming to his Logan Square restaurant in November.

John Manion's sexy South American-inspired La Sirena Clandestina is finally open in the Warehouse District.

15 Fresh Dishes On Avec's Menu Under New Chef

Avec chef Erling Wu-Bower (Photo via Star Chefs)

Bon Appetit Restaurant & Drinks Editor Andrew Knowlton recently caught up with new avec Chef de Cuisine Erling Wu-Bower on his high-profile position at one of the West Loop's hottest restaurants.

Here are the highlights, including some of the 15 fresh new dishes he's added to the menu:

Five Sweet Spots To Indulge On 'Sweetest Day'

These tasty treats from RM Champagne Salon would certainly pep up any "Sweetest Day" celebration. (Photo: RM Champagne Salon)

Sweetest Day is Oct. 20, but whether you have a significant other or not, there's no reason why you should miss out on these five decadent delights:

1. Fresh Biscuits at Bang Bang Pie Shop. You can have pie yes, but the other highlight is the delicious biscuit scene they've got going down. They're crunchy on the outside and super moist inside and available piping hot and fresh until about 1:30pm daily. Dress them up at the "biscuit topping bar" where you'll find black pepper honey butter, blueberry lavender jam, cherry chai or strawberry butter. The biscuits—and pies—are certain to go well with Bang Bang's signature roasted coffee.

2. Bistronomic's Baked Alaska. The old-school dessert feels modern at this trendy Gold Coast bistro helmed by chef Martial Noguier. And those confection-y layers of sponge cake, ice cream, meringue, caramel and almonds taste good right down to the last morsel with a bottle of bubbly.

The Chicago Cabaret Project Does 'The Rocky Horror Show' Upstairs At Hamburger Mary's

The ensemble cast of the Chicago Cabaret Project. (Photo: Chicago Cabaret Project)

Halloween comes early to Hamburger Mary's, the lively corner restaurant and tavern in Andersonville.

That's because the colorful cast of the Chicago Cabaret Project is doing limited performances of their rendition of The Rocky Horror Show in the upper level Mary's Attic.

Lobster Night Returns To Socca With WHOLE Butter-Poached Lobsters For $10!

The thought of a nice, juicy lobster in front of me sounds great any day of the week, but that can get costly.

So thank God for Socca's Roger Herring, who is once again going all out with Lobster Night for $10 a la carte of the decadent crustacean.

It's happening Oct. 24, so get on the phone NOW because this thing will sell out the moment the word gets out.