A vibrant new café and bakery has taken root on the Bucktown-Wicker Park border, showcasing a delightful fusion of Filipino and Indian flavors.
Sarima Cafe, located at 1924 W. North Ave., celebrated its grand opening on Friday, marking the latest venture for local chef Zubair Mohajir.
Mohajir is already well-known in the area for his successful establishments, including Lilac Tiger and Coach House in Wicker Park, as well as Mirra in Bucktown.
Recently, he showcased his culinary skills on Bravo TV’s 22nd season of “Top Chef.”
In creating Sarima, Mohajir joined forces with chef de cuisine Jacob Dela Cruz, who also works at Lilac Tiger and Coach House.
Together, they enlisted the expertise of Reema Patel, a pastry chef known for her work at Mariscos San Pedro in Pilsen.
The collaborative effort has resulted in a menu packed with unique offerings, featuring sweet and savory items like ube crinkle cookies, chai leche flan doughnuts, breakfast dosa, and a breakfast sandwich with chicken bacon tocino accompanied by hashbrowns.
As Filipino culinary establishments gain popularity across Chicago, exemplified by hotspots such as Kanin and Del Sur Bakery in Ravenswood, Sarima Cafe aims to carve out its niche.
Mohajir expressed enthusiasm for becoming part of this culinary trend, emphasizing the blend of their Indian and Filipino heritages.
“With the recent kind of uptick in awesome Filipino bakeries coming through … it’s really cool for us to be like, ‘Hey, why don’t we add a little Indian kind of flair to this?’” said Mohajir.
The café also boasts a comprehensive coffee menu, featuring traditional espresso drinks, masala chai, and innovative signature lattes.
Among them is the Kaaju latte, made with cashew milk, dates, and chai spice, along with the Tropic Tonic, mixing sparkling water, espresso, and a blend of pineapple and soursop syrup.
Sarima shares its storefront with SALT Burgers and Fries, previously occupied by Beard Papa’s cream puff bakery.
Operating hours are set from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, with plans for extended hours in the near future, as well as the introduction of ice cream to the menu.
Looking to the future, Mohajir hinted at the potential for expanding Sarima Cafe to multiple locations, aiming to create a beautiful and accessible bakery featuring exceptional baked goods and breakfast options.
In another exciting development within the culinary scene, Semicolon Books is set to reopen permanently at 1355 W. Chicago Ave. in West Town, with a new coffee shop attached to the bookstore.
Owner Danielle Moore announced that Semicolon would officially open its doors at noon on Wednesday, emphasizing the need for a stable location after facing challenges in recent years.
The bookstore has established itself as a vital part of Chicago’s literary community over the past six years, although it has had to navigate some operational hurdles, including closing a brief location in the Wrigley Building.
Earlier this spring, Moore temporarily closed Semicolon’s West Town location while successfully raising over $30,000 in an online fundraiser to incorporate a cafe into the store’s offerings.
This café will spotlight local Black-owned coffee shops on a rotating basis, beginning with Muse Coffee Studio from 747 S. Western Ave.
In addition to a full coffee menu, the café will also feature specialty lattes such as a pound cake latte.
As Semicolon reopens, Moore intends to continue hosting events and pop-ups both at the bookstore and throughout the city.
The bookstore will also serve as a stop on the Color Factory tour art experience, further solidifying its role in the community.
In Bucktown, another intriguing culinary concept has emerged — Class Act, a 16-seat tasting menu restaurant that has opened on Damen Avenue, hiding its address until reservations are confirmed.
The innovative establishment, launched by executive chef Nicolai Mlodinow, includes a speakeasy named Nightcap, accessible to dinner guests and outside visitors via an alley entrance.
The inaugural menu at Class Act, termed ‘Growing Up,’ offers a distinctive experience, influenced by Mlodinow’s childhood dining experiences in California, ranging from dim sum restaurants to taco trucks and more.
The opening course features a delicate squash blossom filled with parmesan mousse and garnished with micro-flowers, exemplifying the chef’s creative approach.
Cocktails, wines, and spirit-free options will be available to enhance the dining experience, and reservations can be made online.
Meanwhile, Wicker Park is set to welcome another ice cream destination with the arrival of Van Leeuwen Ice Cream.
The New York-based chain plans to open in a storefront at 1555 N. Damen Ave., previously home to Byline Bank ATMs, conveniently located across from the Damen Blue Line station next to Foxtrot.
Van Leeuwen’s expansion also includes a forthcoming location in the Willis Tower Downtown.
Founded in 2008, Van Leeuwen is celebrated for its French-style ice cream, which utilizes double the amount of eggs compared to traditional recipes.
The brand is known for its adventurous flavor collaborations, including unique offerings like Hidden Valley Ranch and Kraft Macaroni & Cheese ice cream.
Last year, they even partnered with pop star Sabrina Carpenter to create an espresso-flavored ice cream inspired by her hit song.
The new Wicker Park location will open just a block away from Jeni’s Ice Cream, further enhancing the local dessert scene.
image source from：blockclubchicago
