Eat. Watch. Do. — Chicago’s Michelin stars, ‘POTUS’ review

It’s Thursday, Chicago.

A few Chicago restaurants achieved one of the dining world’s highest honors this week. The latest additions to the city’s Michelin-lauded restaurants were announced Tuesday and Indienne and Atelier earned their first stars, while Smyth was awarded its third star — the second restaurant in Chicago to have three stars, after Alinea.

In theater news, “POTUS” at Steppenwolf Theatre is among the first regional productions of the play that is set in a fictional White House with a Trumpian president. Tribune critic Chris Jones has a review here.

Finally, Sawa’s Old Warsaw, a 50-year-old restaurant in Broadview, is probably the last place you’d think would have gone viral this fall. The restaurant offers up a buffet of hearty Polish classics, such as stuffed cabbage, potato pancakes, multiple kinds of pierogi ― and its own take on tacos. Tribune critic Nick Kindelsperger has the scoop on how you can sample the limited-time offer.

Enjoy the weekend, we’ll see you next week.

— Lauryn Azu, deputy senior editor

The James Beard-nominated chef and owner of Justice of the Pies opened her debut bakery in the Avalon Park neighborhood with sweets, savories and strength. Tribune critic Louisa Kung Liu Chu profiles the chef here.

“POTUS” comes with a feminist sensibility and a lot of great roles for comedically inclined women, according to Tribune critic Chris Jones. Read his review here.

The unlikely combination showcases Chicago’s rich Polish and Mexican heritages. Read Tribune critic Nick Kindelsperger’s story here.

Eat. Watch. Do.

Weekly

What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life … now.

“Despite Stallone’s engaging presence, it’s less a documentary than a career retrospective along the lines of A&E’s ‘Biography,’” Tribune critic Nina Metz writes. Read the rest of her review here.

Chicago restaurants Smyth, Atelier and Indienne were awarded Michelin stars at the 2023 Michelin Guide ceremony in New York City Tuesday night. Daisies was also awarded a star for sustainability. Read more about the winning restaurants and chefs here.

Netflix’s “The Killer” is “an assassin’s-revenge lark starring Michael Fassbender as the killer with no name,” writes Tribune critic Michael Phillips. But the movie represents Netflix’s penchant for producing “junk,” he says in his review here.

Tenor Lawrence Brownlee’s encore isn’t the only surprising first in this production. Read Hannah Edgar’s review of the performance here.

Chicago musician Squirrel Flower released “Tomorrow’s Fire” in October. Tribune critic Britt Julious writes that it “is a sharp evolution for an artist who is not afraid to experiment in genre and scope.” Read the rest of her review here.

Batavia resident Priscilla Sarmiento-Gupana has found a way to relieve stress and unleash her artistic side by producing fabulously decorated cookies that have gotten her some national attention. Read about her here.

The fabled paranormal powers of Chicago bellhop Ted Serios have recaptured interest. Serios’ “thoughtography” has been part of exhibitions at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and Maison Europeenne de la Photographie in Paris. This month, there’s even a book coming out. Read more about Serios here.