Esmé in Lincoln Park commemorates Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept 15 - Oct 15) with a series of events intended to amplify Hispanic American voices in the Chicago community. Esmé chef Jenner Tomaska, partner Katrina Bravo, and operations & beverage director Tia Barrett will host the events in conjunction with Alexis Belton of Johnnie Walker. The celebrations will also function as a predecessor to Esmé’s forthcoming Latin American-inspired menu, debuting in January 2023 with an experience that draws from Bravo’s background growing up in Miami to parents from Cuba and Honduras.
Más Allá: Bueno Days x Esmé x Johnnie Walker
At Bar Esmé, Esmé's dedicated bar and lounge, the team collaborates with Bueno Days founders Alma and Cristóbal Mora for Más Allá ("beyond"), a three-part series that invites guests to join for an exploration of Mexican coffee from seed to cup.
Hosted on September 29, October 13 and October 20, Más Allá uncovers the How, the Where, and the Why of Mexican coffee through story-telling that showcases the methodology and process, as well as the people behind the industry. Alma and Cristóbal will reveal the intention behind Bueno Days to uplift what Mexican farmers, producers and roasters have nurtured through a coffee experience that’s also an expression of Mexican-American duality.
In addition to sipping Bueno Days coffee from the Chiapas region of Mexico, guests will be offered a three-course selection of bites from Esmé Chef Jenner Tomaska, along with Johnnie Walker cocktail offerings from former Aviary Bar Director Alexis Belton-Tinoco. Reservations for Más Allá are available on Resy for $115 per person (per session). Guests can book sessions individually at either 5:30pm or 7:30pm each night of the series.
Chef Oscar Samayoa's “Chapín, the life and times of a boy from Chicago”
On October 5 and October 6, Chef Oscar Samayoa, a first generation Guatemalan-American chef, television personality, and restaurateur, pops up at Esmé for a seven-course dinner highlighting his journey as a chef with limited resources in Chicago. Named after notable experiences throughout his childhood, each course is an ode to what inspires Samayoa’s work: 90’s nostalgia, Midwest seasonality, and Central American staples. Sample dishes include: "It's a beautiful day on the block" (Chirmol featuring tomates, tostada hecho a mano, queso fresco), "Tata taught me" (Aguachile featuring sea bass, tigre de leche, corn), and "Memories of mom" (Ejotes featuring green bean, egg, rice).
Having hosted his experimental culinary pop-ups, Birria Tatatacos and La Ofrenda, Samayoa cut his teeth in kitchens that include Mi Tocaya, Longman and Eagle, Chichetti and Scofflaw. A portion of proceeds from the dinners will benefit the restaurant development center, which provides funding and education to restaurants. Reservations for “Chapín, the life and times of a boy from Chicago” are available on Resy for $185 per person.
Esmé in Lincoln Park commemorates Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept 15 - Oct 15) with a series of events intended to amplify Hispanic American voices in the Chicago community. Esmé chef Jenner Tomaska, partner Katrina Bravo, and operations & beverage director Tia Barrett will host the events in conjunction with Alexis Belton of Johnnie Walker. The celebrations will also function as a predecessor to Esmé’s forthcoming Latin American-inspired menu, debuting in January 2023 with an experience that draws from Bravo’s background growing up in Miami to parents from Cuba and Honduras.
Más Allá: Bueno Days x Esmé x Johnnie Walker
At Bar Esmé, Esmé's dedicated bar and lounge, the team collaborates with Bueno Days founders Alma and Cristóbal Mora for Más Allá ("beyond"), a three-part series that invites guests to join for an exploration of Mexican coffee from seed to cup.
Hosted on September 29, October 13 and October 20, Más Allá uncovers the How, the Where, and the Why of Mexican coffee through story-telling that showcases the methodology and process, as well as the people behind the industry. Alma and Cristóbal will reveal the intention behind Bueno Days to uplift what Mexican farmers, producers and roasters have nurtured through a coffee experience that’s also an expression of Mexican-American duality.
In addition to sipping Bueno Days coffee from the Chiapas region of Mexico, guests will be offered a three-course selection of bites from Esmé Chef Jenner Tomaska, along with Johnnie Walker cocktail offerings from former Aviary Bar Director Alexis Belton-Tinoco. Reservations for Más Allá are available on Resy for $115 per person (per session). Guests can book sessions individually at either 5:30pm or 7:30pm each night of the series.
Chef Oscar Samayoa's “Chapín, the life and times of a boy from Chicago”
On October 5 and October 6, Chef Oscar Samayoa, a first generation Guatemalan-American chef, television personality, and restaurateur, pops up at Esmé for a seven-course dinner highlighting his journey as a chef with limited resources in Chicago. Named after notable experiences throughout his childhood, each course is an ode to what inspires Samayoa’s work: 90’s nostalgia, Midwest seasonality, and Central American staples. Sample dishes include: "It's a beautiful day on the block" (Chirmol featuring tomates, tostada hecho a mano, queso fresco), "Tata taught me" (Aguachile featuring sea bass, tigre de leche, corn), and "Memories of mom" (Ejotes featuring green bean, egg, rice).
Having hosted his experimental culinary pop-ups, Birria Tatatacos and La Ofrenda, Samayoa cut his teeth in kitchens that include Mi Tocaya, Longman and Eagle, Chichetti and Scofflaw. A portion of proceeds from the dinners will benefit the restaurant development center, which provides funding and education to restaurants. Reservations for “Chapín, the life and times of a boy from Chicago” are available on Resy for $185 per person.
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