Hope and Soup.
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Hope.

As we prepare for the next week, we're taking a look at how things are going and what concerns us most. There are many stories of neighbors looking out for each other, starting online sewing circles for masks, supporting neighborhood businesses, or just standing outside and singing together. These are things that help with the loneliness of staying home. Will allow small businesses to restart at full force once we're through this time. They are activities that give us hope.

Concerns we have as a business are focused mainly on the unknowns:. How long will this whole process of getting things under control take? What will this do to our neighborhood cultures? Will we know anyone personally who is a victim of COVID-19? And what more can and should we be doing?

For now, we'll continue to try to send out daily emails with updates, recipes if we can, and ideas for how to get through this time. Today's recipe is our Minestrone from our first cookbook back in 2002. We're renaming it Hope Soup today for several reasons. It's nutritious, can use many items you may already have in your pantry, is one of those comfort foods that warms your hands when you hold the bowl, and just plain feels comforting. 

So let's get scrolling...

photo of Cajun Black Bean Burger
Caviar Delivery service daily, 12PM to 8PM until March 30.

Caviar has extended our delivery range up to 10-miles of our locations. Please check your app to see if you're within range. More delivery details are available on our website.

Also, Caviar is waiving delivery fees for us at this time but please don't forget to tip your drivers. They rely on tips the same way our wait staff does within our restaurants. 

Note about carryouts and curbside pickups.
Out of an abundance of caution for our staff, we are not offering carryouts or curbside pickups at this time. Thank you for your understanding.

carrots onion potatoes

Hope Soup (Minestrone)

There is no shortage of vegetables in our version of minestrone. You could easily swap out some of them. For instance, add green beans if you don't have a zucchini. Serving with a side of braised kale if you don't have fresh spinach.

Yield: 8–10 services

Ingredients:
½ cup dried navy beans, pre-soaked
½ cup dried red beans, pre-soaked
½ cup dried lima beans, pre-soaked
6 quarts water or vegetable stock
2 bay leaves
2 medium potatoes, diced
2 carrots, diced
1 large onion, diced
1½ cups thinly sliced cabbage
1 small zucchini, diced
2 stalks celery, diced
1 (15-ounce can) tomatoes
2 tablespoon minced garlic
2 tablespoons oregano
2 tablespoons basil
1 tablespoon salt
1 small bell pepper, diced
1 cup cooked pasta
2 cups chopped fresh spinach
 
Directions:

  1. In a very large pot, bring the pre-soaked beans to boil in the water (or vegetable stock) with the bay leaves. Reduce the heat and simmer about 1 hour.
  2. When the beans are almost tender, add the potatoes, carrots, and onion. Cook until tender.
  3. Add cabbage, zucchini, celery, tomatoes, and seasonings. Cover and simmer 30 minutes more.
  4. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  5. Add some cooked pasta and chopped spinach upon serving.

Baker's Note:
Soak the beans in plenty of plain water 8 hours or overnight before using.

If using salted vegetable stock, you may not need as much salt for seasoning. Taste before adding more salt.


Gift cards are a great way to help your favorite restaurants survive during this trouble time.

Gift cards, cookbooks, and t-shirts are available at our online store and are also a great way to help us survive this troubled time. We're including some of our recipes in the emails this week and next but many more are available in our cookbook.

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Reminder of staff GoFundMe pages.

Every effort is being made to keep as many of our beloved employees gainfully employed, with as much work as possible. We’ve not only increased hourly pay for our front of house staff, but have maintained hours for back of house and kitchen staff employees. For some of our employees, it is simply best to file for unemployment and we’ve connected them with all the resources to do so. Finally, we’re matching $5,000 to each GoFundMe page set up by employees of our locations at Logan Square and Halsted and encourage you to support them as well.

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3411 N Halsted St.
Chicago, IL 60657

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