Aug. 27--Jeff "Sandwich King" Mauro will open Pork Mindy's, a casual, sandwich-focused restaurant featuring local art and music, in the former Red Hen Bread space (1623 N. Milwaukee Ave.) in Bucktown.
Pork Mindy's (gotta love that name) won't open until late 2015, but you'll be able to get a sample of the goodies to come at this weekend's Bucktown Art Fest (2200 N. Oakley Ave.); Mauro will be on hand from 12:30-2:30 p.m. Saturday, and a food tent will offer tastes from the Pork Mindy's menu on Saturday and Sunday.
Mauro, known for his star turns on The Food Network, has had myriad opportunities to launch a restaurant, but this is the first offer he accepted.
"I've had meetings, but I never pulled the trigger until (co-founder) Kevin (Corsello), someone I've known 12-plus years, brought it to me," Mauro said. "The name made me laugh instantly. I'm all about humor; it makes people smile and instantly let their guard down."
The playful name notwithstanding, Mauro intends Pork Mindy's to offer serious food.
"I'm a Chicagoan," he said. "I'm not a Kansas City guy; I'm not a Texan. I can't get away with a longhorn and smoking six-shooter (logo). Pork Mindy's, that I can pull off."
Among the menu items will be slow-smoked Bao to the Pork sandwiches, pulled chicken smoked over mulberry wood, a Pig Candy (super-crispy bacon) BLT and pulled lamb. There will be a chicken on waffle-bun sandwich.
"I've never had a chicken-waffle sandwich that had good (flavor) ratios," Mauro said. "We're going to hit that ratio.
"My philosophy on sandwiches, and I've made a career of showcasing them, is simplicity," Mauro said. "There are too many sloppy sandwiches out there; my flavors are complex, but there will be no more than three or four ingredients.
"We'll be smoking bone-in legs of lamb, whole chuck roasts rubbed and marinated overnight," Mauro said. "These things will differentiate us from other fast-casual places."
The restaurant also will feature Mauro's signature sauces, which already are big sellers in local Mariano's grocery stores.
"I've never had such a response," Mauro said about his sauces. "I can't walk into a Mariano's any more -- which is a problem, because that's where I shop. I've gotten Emmy nominations, TV shows and it turns out all I had to do was put my face on a bottle of Sweet Heat."
A community-painted canvas, being created during Bucktown Arts Fest, will hang on the Pork Mindy's wall, Mauro said. The restaurant will be a big supporter of local art, hanging for-sale works on the walls, and will include a music program of playlists created by local DJs.
The ultimate goal is to replicate the concept around the country.
"We want to open a lot of these," Mauro said. "This is the flagship, the seed; we've already had people inquire about franchise opportunities."
Phil Vettel is a Tribune critic.
