Chicago’s Hottest Pop-Up — Burgers & Bourgogne

Well, maybe not brand new, but definitely fresh! This was another exciting event by Ilixr — the same crew behind that unforgettable champagne dinner I attended earlier with the owner of Akahoshi Ramen and the chef from Kasama. The Ilixr chef has worked at both Alinea and Roister, so you know the quality is top-tier. ✨ This time, the pop-up was held at Verve Wine, focusing on New American cuisine — which naturally means burgers took center stage! 🍔 🥐 Mini Croissants with Caviar & Gruyère These tiny croissants were unbelievably flaky — practically crumbling at the touch. They sat on a crispy, savory Gruyère cheese crust (like the bottom of a pan-fried bao!) and were served with lemon ramps butter (likely preserved from spring). A word of advice: choose between the butter and the caviar — together they can get a bit too salty. 🍔 The Star: Wagyu Burger The flavors here were on point — juicy Wagyu patty, rich melted cheese… all the essentials of a great American burger. My only gripe? The texture was slightly uneven, with occasional chewy bits that disrupted the melt-in-your-mouth experience. 🍦 I had planned to try the special peach ice cream, but after that hearty burger, I was too full to remember! 😅 Before leaving, I even spotted the chef from SKY in the crowd — proof of Ilixr’s strong pull in Chicago’s food scene! If you’re curious whether they’ll host another Burgers & Bourgogne event this summer, keep an eye on their IG: #ChicagoFood #ChicagoPopUp #IlixrCreative #BurgersAndBourbon #NewAmerican #WagyuBurger