Football season is upon us, which means that restaurants all around the city are starting to concoct special dishes to celebrate the sport and the team we all love, the Chicago Bears. But, this year, we've noticed a slightly new trend: Instead of creating culinary odes to the Bears, some eateries are actually working on specials inspired by the cities and teams that the Bears are playing against on any given week.
At The Gage in the Loop, for example, diners will get to indulge in dishes like the Nashville hot chicken sandwich or the Gage Coney dog (Detroit Lions!) during various Sundays in the fall.
"[The specials] will go head to head with the Bears Burger," reads an official press release, before describing the hometown dish in detail: A juicy brisket blend patty, pork belly, tangy BBQ sauce, crispy fried onion rings, bread and butter pickles, all on a soft challah bun.
Some already-announced dishes include the quesa birria tacos—made with slow-braised beef, guajillo, pickled onion and consomme—served on September 29 in honor of the Los Angeles Rams; New England Patriots-inspired lobster roll (chilled Maine lobster, dill herb aioli, crispy onions, charred lemon and buttered brioche) served on November 10; and the juicy Lucy burger, stuffed with American cheese and topped with caramelized onions, bread and butter pickles, an ode to the Minnesota Vikings that will be available on November 24.
But The Gage is not the only business getting inspired by the Bears' opposing teams: Block Club Chicago reports that Logan Square's Pizza Matta will offer special pizzas in limited quantities every Sunday, each one inspired by the Bears' opponents and prepared by social media viral cook Billy Zureikat.
Clearly, football season is an exciting time for multiple reasons!