Sip or slurp? Ramen lattes are now trending in Chicago’s Wicker Park—seriously. Those oddball brews come courtesy Milwaukee's award-winning experimental coffee concept, Discourse Coffee, which is partnering with Cornerstone Restaurant Group for a three-month java residency at Urbanbelly.
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Launching on Saturday, June 14 with a grand opening party from 10am to 1pm, the collaboration will show off Discourse's cutting-edge coffee creations for a Midwest mash-up of bold flavors and beverage innovation. Author of The New Art of Coffee Ryan Castelaz and Discourse Coffee partner Sean Liu are masters at coffee origination—now the pair will work alongside Chef Bill Kim at Urbanbelly to bring their creations to life at a dedicated coffee counter on Thursdays and Fridays from 7am to 2pm, and Saturdays and Sundays from 8am to 4pm.
The menu will include Discourse’s "Core 4" beverages, each known for their inventive flavor combinations like the "Channel Orange" (made with espresso, milk, smoked-and-oaked orange vanilla syrup, blackstrap bitters, orange powder and black lava salt), the "Moonwater" (a blend of espresso, milk, honey, cinnamon, Tellicherry black pepper and applewood smoked sea salt), the "Motorhead" (which combines espresso, milk, pork fat and apple caramel, root beer bitters, apple powder and smoked salt), and the "Parisian," a refreshing mix of matcha, milk, four-tea syrup lime and blackberry.
Beyond the "Core 4," there are two exclusive-to-Urbanbelly beverages on cheeky offer: a "Ramen Latte" and a "Coconut Curry Latte," offering playful nods to Chef Bill Kim’s favored signature dishes.
“The moment Ryan and Discourse came across my radar, I was floored. I remember thinking right away, ‘We have to work with this insanely talented kid, no question.,’” said Danny McGowan, President and COO of Cornerstone Restaurant Group. “Partnering with Discourse reflects our passion for championing creativity, fostering collaboration, and continuously finding new ways to innovate.”
Register here for Urbanbelly’s grand opening kickoff party in Wicker Park on Saturday, June 14.
