Celebrating a Decade of Ema in River North
Chef Partner CJ Jacobson shares his must-try mezze favorites for Ema's 10th Anniversary!
In June 2016, Chef Partner CJ Jacobson, California native and winner of Top Chef Duels, teamed up with Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants to create a restaurant serving Mediterranean cuisine with a California influence. Ten years later, Ema‘s mezze-style menu with a coastal touch has led to two more locations (Glenview, IL and Austin, TX), beloved grab-and-go Rotisserie Ema, and four locations of sibling restaurant Aba (Chicago, IL, Austin, TX, and Nashville, TN, with Dallas, TX—coming soon!). The core menu remains focused on highlighting local and seasonal ingredients with its house-made hummus and spreads, salads, hot and cold mezze, kebabs and, of course, its signature Frozen Greek Yogurt.
In honor of a decade serving shareable favorites under the twinkling ivy on the corner of Illinois St. and Clark St., Ema – River North invites you to enjoy Classic Hummus for $10, plus tax, and to check out Chef CJ’s Top 10 favorites from June 28 – July 8. Read on to start curating your chef-inspired spread!
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1 – Sweet Corn Hummus
Chef CJ, who joined Lettuce as the first chef-in-residence of incubator concept Intro, calls this a very “Ema” twist on hummus topped with aleppo, chive and black lime that hits all the right notes: Creamy, craveable, layered and fitting for every season. Best for dipping with warm house bread, dusted with za’atar!
2 – Toasted Almond & Garlic Spread
Straight from Chef CJ, this spread “Is just the best!” Juicy Castelvetrano olives, toasted almonds and fresh garlic are emulsified together for a perfectly textured and dynamic dip that’s been on the menu since opening. Pro tip: Scoop up this spread with the house-made gluten-free rosemary crackers.
3 – House-Made Stracciatella
Another original from the early days, this dish best encapsulates Ema’s “Mediterranean with a California twist” ethos, featuring Chef CJ’s self-taught, house-made Stracciatella (similar to the inside of burrata), with local tomatoes, croutons, sherry shallot vinaigrette and torn basil. Aim to get a bite with a little bit of everything!
4 – Green Falafel
Chef CJ recommends this one for vegetarians and gluten-free diners, paired with a unique beet tzatziki for a cool and creamy element, and tahini and lemon zest.
5 – Bhel Hummus
Inspired after trying bhel on a night out with his wife on Devon Street, Chef CJ instantly knew he wanted to find a way to integrate the popular Indian street food into Ema’s menu. Pineapple, avocado, pomegranate, tamarind, crispy rice and mint chutney are tossed and layered on top of a smooth hummus base, offering the familiar chickpea element in a refreshed version of the dish.
6 – Chicken Kefta Kebab
Available for lunch, dinner and weekend brunch, this signature is ideal for sharing or enjoying as your main all on your own. Dig into house-made “meatballs” of ground chicken, zucchini, garlic, cilantro, cayenne, turmeric and herbs hand-chosen by Chef CJ, grilled to juicy perfection and drizzled with souvlaki vinaigrette. Plus, the lemon dill basmati rice on the side with a little fresh lemon? The best part.
7 – Pan-Roasted Romanesque Cauliflower
What goes better with a kebab than a refreshing veggie-based dish to balance out the table? Inspired by Chef CJ’s lighter, California-style of cooking, this simple yet satisfying mezze staple has remained largely the same as opening day, featuring oh-so-gently roasted cauliflower served with house yogurt and local honey.
8 – Mushroom Escargot
A newer – yet instant favorite – addition to the menu, this vegetarian ‘escargot’ delights all your senses upon delivery to the table. The sizzling escargot pan straight out of the oven boasts garlic-y, melt-in-your-mouth mushrooms topped with fragrant Calabrian chili breadcrumb and parmesan, hiding a secret ingredient Chef CJ is ready to share: The compound butter utilizes lime pickle, an Indian condiment, to provide that umami depth. He highly suggests you soak it all up with house bread!
9 – Hot Honey Halloumi
Move aside, saganaki—there’s a hot new cheese in town. As Chef CJ himself declares, “This one is plain yummy. And who could argue given it’s cheese, hot honey and crispy garlic dukkah? What more is there to say?”
Get the recipe for Ema’s Hot Honey Halloumi
10 – Lamb Ragu Hummus
Those who love Ema, or self-identifying “meat-and-potatoes” people who find themselves at Ema, love the Lamb Ragu Hummus. Creamy hummus topped with slow-braised lamb and spicy harissa rounds out this Top 10 List as Chef CJ’s absolute must-order, especially during the 10th Anniversary celebration! (Pro tip: Try the Lamb Ragu Shakshouka during weekend brunch, too.)
An Extra Treat – Blueberry Claufoutis
An honorable mention for those visiting over Fourth of July weekend? You’ll find the Blueberry Clafoutis included in Chef CJ’s Top 10 during weekend brunch starting at 11:00 AM on Saturday and Sunday.
Thank you to all of the guests for your support over the last decade of mezze, memories, global wines, and special moments – we look forward to welcoming you for another 10 years and beyond!
Make a reservation at Ema – River North | Order carryout and delivery from Ema – River North | Order summer catering from Ema – River North | View the menu at Ema – River North
