Dec. 11--Charles Joly will be back behind the bar -- but just for a night. The celebrated former bar chief at The Aviary will host a charity event next Wednesday at Momotaro (820 W. Lake St., 312-733-4818) Boka group's new West Town Japanese restaurant.
Joly will be mixing cocktails -- including a special drink created for the event -- at Momotaro's basement-level Izakaya with a portion of the proceeds benefiting Un86'd, a local charity that helps service industry professionals with emergency health care needs.
"The idea came because my friend Simon Ford was making it a mission to raise funds for Un86'd," said Joly. Ford's spirits company, which produces Fords Gin, is donating 86 cents to the charity for each bottle of gin they sell in Chicago.
The event will run from 6 p.m.-9 p.m. on Dec. 17 and will feature head bartender Allie Kim's cocktail list as well. The list offers drinks such as the Spirited Away, a dark sipper that blends Japan's Akashi White Oak whiskey with a spiced pear liqueur and an Italian amaro ($12). The menu also includes 24 sakes and 15 Japanese whiskies.
Joly, emailing from Antigua where he headlined a training workshop for bartenders, didn't share what he was whipping up for the evening but assured a good time. "It should be a fun night behind the bar."
kmarlatt@tribpub.com
Twitter @kenneymarlatt
