Eating about interior design at Appetite for Design at Ruxbin: Photos
"Green is bullshit," stated Davide Nanni, interior designer of cozy, West Town Ruxbin.
The charming, attitude-throwing interior designer was speaking at Ruxbin for Tuesday night's installment of the Appetite for Design series. The Chicago Architecture Foundation’s monthly dinner discussion elaborates on how restaurant chefs and interior designers collaborate to create a one-of-a-kind menu—which, naturally, we sampled—and space.
Ruxbin chef and co-owner Edward Kim and Nanni, owner of design shop AlterEgo, began the informal evening by explaining to 20 or so dinner guests the concept behind the intimate and sustainable (regardless of Nanni's dislike of the term "green") spot, formerly an Italian Beef stand. The chat revealed unlikely origins of the resto’s thick, glass panel (a sheet from the old Sonothéque nightclub deejay booth), wall-to-wall bench seating (junked church pew) and bright orange piping (broken shelving units from Home Depot).
After the talk, we helped ourselves to a four-course dinner: carrot, ginger and lemongrass soup, pork belly arugula salad, steak, kimchee potatoes, kale and a strawberry shortcake dessert.
Long after the red ran out, patrons lingered behind gawking over the food, especially the kale (drool) and checking out a must-see time-capsule-style restroom. The diners agreed on one thing: They'll be in attendance for upcoming Appetite for Design dinners at Sixteen at Trump Tower (June 21) and Girl and the Goat (July 16).
For more information on upcoming Appetite for Design events or to recommend restaurants, visit architecture.org/appetitefordesign.
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