![]() ![]() "Also has feta and cucumber and a lot of the same accoutrements but it's poured tableside, very, very vibrant not too spicy but it has a little tinge of spice," said Jacobson. Peppers and pickled radishes form the base - along with watermelon cubes - for a cool, refreshing soup. Dishes are sort of California in approach," he said. Our bread is kind of a mix between naan and pita I would say. "We have hummus, we have different spreads. Avocado and sweet pea contains jalapenos, lime and mint, perfect for scooping up with crunchy lettuces. Spreads are prominent, and hummus is a given, although it can be made improved with roasted Fresno and sweet chilies. "Ema is Mediterranean-inspired cuisine done by a guy from Orange County, California," said Chef CJ Jacobson. ![]() ![]() The bright, vibrant colors on the plate, combined with the revved-up group of diners beneath a vanilla-looking Hyatt Place, bring a much-needed jolt to this previously sleepy corner of River North. The Hungry Hound says even though that's a good guess, Lettuce's latest effort - a Mediterranean-by-way-of-California restaurant, offers some unique flavors for the neighborhood. "I'm with the right restaurant group to do that.CHICAGO (WLS) - You might think River North restaurants fit into one or two categories: steakhouses or something by Lettuce Entertain You. "I want to have a nice big, busy, bustling restaurant that people crave where I can serve delicious food," Jacobson says. Guests will also have the option of selecting rotisserie meats, salads, and housemade frozen Greek yogurt from a grab-and-go counter. The full-service restaurant will also have a full bar with beer, cocktails and a wine list that channels the Mediterranean. In addition to the healthy stuff, a rotisserie will spit out roast chicken and legs of lamb served with housemade bread that Jacobson describes as a cross between naan and a pita that is brushed with butter. Assorted small plates, or mezze, will feature unique spices and encourage sharing. He will bring the same dedication to fresh ingredients to Ēma by sourcing vibrant greens and seasonal vegetables from both local farmers as well as farmers in California. ![]() "I remember being blown away about how fresh everything was," he says. The 6-foot-8-inch chef lived in Israel during his time as a professional volleyball player, and that experience inspires the food at his restaurant. The Mediterranean small plates restaurant is named after the Hebrew word for "mother" and sits adjacent to another mother-inspired concept: Beatrix, which is named after Melman's mom. When asked about his decision to stay in Chicago, Jacobson says, "I want to be a restaurateur, I want to be a entrepreneur, and with Rich Melman mentoring me it would be foolish not to." Together, along with partner Marc Jacobs, they will open Ēma in the Hyatt Place at 74 W. The California-based chef was the first to take over the kitchen at Lettuce's chef-changing concept and is also the executive chef at Girasol in Los Angeles. It should open this summer on Illinois Street in River North. Jacobson is staying in Chicago and announcing plans for Ēma, his first restaurant under the Lettuce Entertain You umbrella. It seems their plan has worked, as chef and partner C.J. When Rich Melman opened Intro a year ago, his goal was not only to bring some of the best chefs in the country to Chicago for three-months stints, but also teach them the ins-and-out of restaurant ownership. ![]()
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