Results tagged: Randy Zweiban

By Jane Lopes

Randy Zweiban, formerly the executive chef at Nacional 27, has opened his own place in the already great-for-dining River West area, within blocks of Avec, Blackbird, and Sepia. Province, as in "a general place or region" (says the chef), serves American food with Spanish, Central American, and South American influences.

The menu is split up into seven sections: bites, raw, soups/salad, small, big, bigger, and vegetables (with two sizes available for many dishes), encouraging guests to nosh and share. Dishes include a "bite" of Cuban Pork Bocadillo, Melted Spanish Blue Cheese Fondue with smoked onions and herbed crisps, Gunthorp Farms Rabbit Confit with marcona almond emulsion, and a Ten Hour Braised Lamb with eggplant, chorizo and cornbread.

Province has also created enticing beverage menus: exotic cocktails by Jeff Donahue (formerly of Nacional 27 as well), with ingredients like Del Maguey Mezcal, Bosc Pear-Infused Woodford Reserve, and Farigoule Thyme Liqueur. The affordable wine list is eclectic and international with choices like Moschofilero from Greece and Carmenere from Chile, as well as "reserve vertical flights" of high-end wines from Rioja and California. Beer choices are limited, but available.

One of the most notable features of Province is its commitment to being eco-friendly. The restaurant is housed in The Chicago Transit Authority building, which was awarded Gold LEED-EB certification by the U.S. Green Building Council- the first building in Illinois to earn such an honor. The interior of the restaurant is "green" as well: regenerated cotton sheers hang in the windows, sustainably-harvested cork lines the floor, and painted white trees hang dramatically from the ceiling; guests take their seats in recycled leather chairs and eat off cork and recycled wood tables.

Chef Pedigree:
•    In the summer of 1998, was recruited by Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, Inc. to open Nacional 27, which was named "Best New Restaurant" by Chicago Magazine.
•    Took a year hiatus to work as Executive Chef at The Gate, an exclusive supper club in Los Angeles.
•    Owned catering companies in New York City and Miami before becoming involved with celebrated chef Norman Van Aken in Miami. Zweiban worked first at a mano and then at Norman's, where he was Chef de Cuisine and partner.
•    Attended The Institute of Culinary Education in New York City.

Province

Location: 161 N. Jefferson between Randolph and Lake
Hours: Mon-Thu, 11:30am-10:30pm; Fri, 11:30am-11:30pm; Sat, 5-11:30pm
Reservations: Call 312-669-9900 or book on OpenTable.

View the Province listing on Savory Cities.