Jan. 14--News and notes for the food world:
--One of the more highly anticipated restaurant openings in Chicago this winter season arrives Wednesday. Formento's, described as old-school, red sauce Italian modeled after Taylor Street joints, joins the ever-expanding Randolph restaurant row in the West Loop. It's being run by the restaurant group behind The Bristol, with chef Tony Quartaro at the helm. Dishes on its opening menu include half chicken parmesan, bucatini amatriciana, rabbit cacciatore and quail saltimbocca. Its sister operation, the sandwich shop Nonna's, opened for business Tuesday.
--In other highly anticipated openings: Lost Lake, the tiki bar helmed by former Three Dots and a Dash bartender Paul McGee, officially opened in Logan Square Tuesday.
--Congratulations to Qi Ai, a student from Kendall College, who was named winner of the Almost Famous Chef Regional Competition (Central Region) on Monday. Qi, who's also working under Carlos Gaytan at Mexique, now moves on to the finals in Napa Valley in March.
--Today, Jan. 14, is National Hot Pastrami Sandwich Day.
kpang@tribpub.com
Twitter @pang
