Mercat a la Planxa to open in early 2008

Hello!
Wanted to let you know about a new restaurant opening in early 2008 in the Blackstone Hotel.
Jennie


RESTAURATEUR PETER KARPINSKI AND CHEF JOSE GARCES
TO OPEN MERCAT A LA PLANXA

CHICAGO, IL – In early 2008, restaurateur Peter Karpinski, of the Denver-based Sage Restaurant Group and highly acclaimed Executive Chef Jose Garces, Chicago native and owner of two of the country’s most talked about Spanish restaurants, Amada and Tinto in Philadelphia, will introduce Mercat a la Planxa, a modern Catalan tapas restaurant and bar at the historic Blackstone Hotel, 638 South Michigan Avenue (at the corner of East Balbo Avenue).

“Opening Mercat in Chicago’s South Loop is a dream for us,” says Karpinski, who leads Sage Restaurant Group, one of the country’s hottest hospitality upstarts which specializes in creating innovative restaurants in distinctive landmark properties.

Mercat a la Planxa will feature an extraordinary selection of tapas dishes from cut-to-order charcuterie and cheeses to fresh seafood, steaks and chops, all inspired by Barcelona and Spain’s Catalan region. The impressive menu will include an emphasis on meats and seafood served a la planxa or grilled-to-order, like the restaurants Garces visited during his recent culinary tour of Barcelona.

“I’m excited to return to my hometown,” says Garces, a versatile chef who has become an acknowledged master of cuisines from the Spanish speaking world. “It’s a thrill for me to join the city’s vibrant restaurant scene.”

For a casual dinner, guests can mix and share the restaurant’s small plates with friends over drinks, or combine them to create a full meal. Some of the enticing dishes will include: Pulpo con Patatas, Spanish octopus, confit potato and smoked paprika; Confit de Bacalao, black cod confit, haricot vert salad, morcilla-potatoes, orange-saffron emulsion; Mar i Muntanya, slowed cooked short ribs and diver scallops, shaved Parmesan artichokes; Atun en Escabeche, crispy bluefin tuna, arbequina olive-Serrano ham escabeche, smoked potato puree; and Buitfarra con Judias, Catalan sausage with rosemary-thyme white beans and carrot escabeche.

Guests will have more than 20 different a la planxa choices, including: Bluefin Tuna; Prawns; American Prime Ribeye; and Organic Uraguayan Filet Mignon.

At the bar, a tempting array of seasonally inspired sangrias, Spanish-styled cocktails and martinis will be available. Guests can also choose from Mercat’s extensive collection of Spanish cavas, wines, ciders and beer. The carefully selected wine list will feature 40 Spanish wines available by the bottle or by the glass.

To create Mercat’s stunning atmosphere, Karpinski brought together the collaborative team of award-winning architect David Ashen of d-ash design and Denise Korn of Korn Design, a nationally recognized brand design and strategy firm. Ashen named “One of 10 Designers to Watch” by New York Magazine, has gained recognition for his one-of-a-kind hospitality and retail projects, including Food Gang in Miami and Avalon and XL in Manhattan.

For Mercat, Ashen draws from modern Spanish aesthetics to create a vibrant ambience reminiscent of Barcelona’s bustling markets. An iconic hexagonal motif, derivative of architect Antoni Gaudi’s colorful mosaic tiles, giant illustrations of vibrant street life and bare lightbulbs that dangle from above will give guests the feeling of being transported to a hip Barcelonian neighborhood. From the dining room’s giant glass windows, guests will enjoy views of Grant Park and Lake Michigan. A focal point will be two handcrafted community tables, which Karpinski commissioned from famed Los Angeles-based artist Jorge Pardo, who has made custom designs for celebrities such as Madonna and Elton John.
The space will feature a large open kitchen, a winding central staircase and a mezzanine with a private dining room. A three story sculptural screen, upholstery with fuchsia and vibrant green accents, and natural porcelain slab floors, will contrast the restaurant’s modern elements against the hotel’s classic edifice.

To oversee the day to day kitchen operations, Karpinski and Garces chose Michael Fiorello as chef de cuisine. Fiorello, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, has worked in several notable restaurants in Philadelphia, including Amada, Lacroix and Savona. The General Manager will be Steven Serdar, a 20 year veteran of the Chicago restaurant industry.

Mercat a La Planxa is the latest restaurant from one of the country’s fastest growing and most dynamic hospitality organizations, Sage Restaurant Group, which Karpinski launched in 2005. An energetic entrepreneur, Karpinski focuses his time on concept development, design and ongoing operations for new and existing restaurants in the Sage portfolio. Prior to Sage, Karpinski worked as Director of Operations for Starr Restaurant Organization where he met and worked closely with Garces. He also ran restaurant operations at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, which included the acclaimed restaurants Bradley Ogden and Mesa Grill.

At age 35, Garces, known for his innovative approach to classic Ecuadorian, Peruvian, Mexican, Cuban and Spanish cuisines, has fast become one of the country’s most distinguished chefs. In 2008, he will be featured in an upcoming episode of the hit Food Network program Iron Chef America and will debut his first cookbook Latin Evolution (Lake Isle Press) in 2008. A protégé of Chef Douglas Rodriguez, the oft cited godfather of Nuevo Latino cuisine, Garces spent several years working alongside the famous chef, prior to being chosen as executive chef of Starr’s Alma de Cuba and El Vez in Philadelphia, which he oversaw simultaneously.

In 2005, Garces opened his first restaurant Amada, an Andalusian tapas bar that received rave reviews from local and national media. His second venture Tinto, a wine bar inspired by Spain’s Basque Country, which opened in 2007, has proven equally successful. His restaurants have been featured in New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Wine Spectator, Food & Wine, USA Today, Washington Post, Gourmet and Bon Appetit. Locally, Philadelphia Magazine and Philadelphia Style honored Amada with their “Best New Restaurant” awards. Philadelphia Inquirer awarded both restaurants with prestigious “Three Bell” reviews. Philadelphia Inquirer called Tinto, “[one of] the city's most thrilling eating adventures,” while Philadelphia Magazine remarked, “Jose Garces … has exceeded the very high expectations raised by his brilliantly conceived first restaurant, Amada.”

Sage Restaurant Group currently operates The Corner Office, a retro-style restaurant and bar with global comfort food and scintillating cocktails, in Denver, CO, and Temple Downtown, a modern American bistro in a former Masonic hall, in Providence, RI. Along with Mercat, Sage will launch Second Home in Denver, and Departure, Urban Farmer and Dinerant in Portland, OR in 2008.

For more information about Mercat a la Planxa and Sage Restaurant Group, visit www.sagerestaurantgroup.com or www.mercatchicago.com.
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I saw a blurb about this place today in the January Food & Wine. Is there a grand opening date yet? I have enjoyed Chef Garces cuisine at Tinto in Philly. I hope his new place is as warm and inviting as Tinto

Looks like a late February, early March opening. As soon as we know a firmer opening date, I'll make sure to post Glad to hear you liked Tinto!
J

Looks like it has opened up for breakfast.

Menupages entry.

Anybody try it yet?

We went last night, will review in the eating in chicago forum