Persona Pizzeria
Persona, a California chain, will add another option to the growing list of fast-casual pizzerias in Chicago when it hits the Loop in June, at a to-be-announced address. The build-your-own-pizza spot specializes in Neapolitan-style pies.
Start by choosing a base — marinara, margherita, pesto or bianca — and toppings, from a list of more than 30. The pizza is built to order, then baked at 800 degrees in a wood-fired oven imported from Italy.
Persona’s pizza dough is made daily with no sugar, salt or additives, CEO Glenn Cybulski says. The staff will make sausage and meatballs in house, and will source vegetables locally when possible. Gluten-free crust are also available, and the Chicago location is expected to offer stromboli and calzones.
Persona also serves made-to-order salads, and the restaurant will sell local beers and wines. www.personapizzeria.com.
Other openings:
The owners of Lincoln Park’s Taco Joint are now in the business of barbecue, too: BBQ Joint, also in Lincoln Park, opened this week. Dishes combine spicy Mexican flavors with smoky American barbecue, such as in a burrito with barbecued pork shoulder and guajillo chile barbecue sauce. The bar offers margaritas, mezcalitas and spiked iced teas. 1967 N. Halsted St., www.eatbbqjoint.com
Pastry chef Nancy Silver (Blackbird, Charlie Trotter’s) is partnering with Chris Pappas (The Winchester, Telegraph) to convert the former Birchwood Kitchen space in Wicker Park into a European-inspired concept. Scheduled to open in the spring, the as yet unnamed spot is expected to feature pastries and, at night, wine and other alcoholic drinks.
Signs have gone up at the corner at 3300 N. Broadway for a Stan’s Donuts, “coming soon.” We have a line out to the general manager of the store for what “soon” means; we’ll keep you posted. This will be Stan’s 5th location in the city; the chain, known for its Nutella pockets and Cap’n Crunch bismarcks, among other varieties, started in California.
In case you missed it:
Chef Cleetus Friedman, formerly of Fountainhead, has accepted a new position as executive chef at Caffe Baci, the 24-year-old Italian cafe.
North Shore Distillery, the first craft distillery to open in Illinois since Prohibition, is expanding to a larger location in April.
smcarpenter@tribpub.com
Twitter @sademichelle