Video Feed

Video Feed: How Chicago Got Its First Poutine Restaurant, Badhappy

We admit we were skeptical when we heard that Chicago was getting an all-poutine restaurant. (Well, not all; they have hamburgers and even, amusingly, a salad on the menu too.) But Chef Tom Kern, who comes from a fine dining background (the Ritz-Carlton in Naples, where we’ve actually eaten) and even staged at Alinea once, thought it would be more fun to find a high-low comfort food niche, in the manner of pioneers like Hot Doug’s and Smoque, and he named the place Badhappy because of what poutine represents (bad for you, makes you happy). With his artisanal meat, make-everything-in-house approach, the prices wind up being a little higher than fast food— but that doesn’t seem to deter customers, especially late at night (you may have guessed that French fries covered in cheese and gravy has a certain appeal to those having recently tippled). We stopped in Badhappy Poutine Shop the other day to talk with Kern and learn more about how he came ; our 3-1/2 minute interview is below.

Video Feed: How Chicago Got Its First Poutine Restaurant, Badhappy