by Rock ‘n Roll Ghost
Restaurateur Amy Morton (Mirador, Blue Room) recently announced plans to open her latest venture, Found, in Evanston after trying to secure a spot in Andersonville for nearly a year. Found, which will feature decor of found furniture to evoke a vibe that spans the 1920s through the 1950s, had always planned to feature a menu consisting of locally-sourced ingredients, but now that Morton has hired her Executive Chef that menu is only just beginning to take shape.
Nicole Pederson, Executive Chef at Found, opening sometime in October in Evanston, IL
Nicole Pederson, formerly the Executive Chef at C-House (she left that position about a month-and-a-half ago), will continue to utilize the contacts with local farmers she cultivated at her former position, but expects to branch out from the Midwestern influenced food she served there. Talking to Eater Chicago, Pederson stated, “At the core my food will always come from my Midwestern past, but I’m a Francophile deep down inside. I don’t want to pigeonhole (Found) right now.”
The interior of Found will also feature a “library area toward the back with books where people can hang out,” and will hold about 90 patrons in the main dining room and lounge, while a private dining space will make room for 50 to 60 extra.
For her part, Morton wants to distinguish Found from other restaurants by giving back to the community in any way she can. Speaking to Chicago magazine, Morton said, “My personal mission is to make a difference. We are working with Connections for the Homeless and with Inspirations Café, making a massive commitment to hiring entry-level positions from that community. On first Mondays, we will open at cost or just above for not-for-profits to use as a space for fundraisers, meetings, et cetera. We are creating more than a restaurant—a culture and how that extends to the community.”
Joining Pederson to the Found family is Simon Lamb (Gioco, Red Light, Marche), who was just announced as the restaurant’s General Manager. Both Lamb and Found made the announcement last night on their respective Facebook pages, with Found‘s page promising that “Very exciting things are in the works…”
You can try all of the food Pederson has in store and help make Morton realize her vision when Found opens in October. Their address is 1631 Chicago Ave., Evanston, IL 60201. Look for more coverage on Found leading up to the opening right here on Rock ‘n Roll Ghost.
Official Found Website
