Himal Chuli reborn, a Willy Street bar update and theater worth driving for | Entertainment

Editor’s note: Below is the Thursday, Jan. 29 edition of the Food & Culture newsletter. If you want to receive it in your email inbox every Thursday (it’s free!), subscribe at captimes.com/newsletters.

How to have more fun in Madison 💃

By Lindsay Christians, food and culture editor

Hello! Welcome to the new Food & Culture newsletter. I’m Lindsay, and I am delighted you’re here. 

Each week, this newsletter will highlight fun events going on around Madison — expect a lot of theater, since that’s my first love — and keep you up to date on the restaurant scene in and around the city. 

Find recommendations for what to read, watch, listen and eat. We have a “dine out for $20” series, written by features reporter Ashley Rodriguez (an exclusive for newsletter readers). We’ll also have mini restaurant reviews, starting next week.

Do you need ideas for what to do this weekend? Would you like to find your new favorite restaurant, bar or bakery? Find the answers here. 

What I’m watching: Epic bioplays and epic adventures. Last weekend I drove four hours to catch first “The Lehman Trilogy,” a fascinating 3 1/2 -hour drama about the founders of the investment banking company at Milwaukee Rep. What a story, and what a feat for three actors! Later that night, I gripped my spiked cocoa at Slowpoke Lounge & Cabaret in Spring Green. Two Crows Theatre’s harrowing Lovecraft-based premiere, “Before the Mountains of Madness,” takes a journey into the Antarctic. (Mild spoiler/warning: yes.) 

After a powerful reading this week at Winter Words, I hope American Players Theatre takes Brendan Pelsue’s adaptation of “A Tale of Two Cities” to a wider stage. It so fits the times we’re in. “The assembly are lawyers and judges, rich men who delude themselves they are the people. What does a constitution matter when there is no bread?” one character says.  Also: “The law is about what you can make people believe.” (Shudder.)

Finally, I loved playwright Martyna Majok’s “Sanctuary City” and “Cost of Living,” so I’m excited to review Forward Theater’s “Ironbound” this weekend. Get a crash course on Forward’s production with Victoria Davis’ preview.

What we’re reading

Weekly reading recommendations from Lindsay Christians and Beck Henreckson

My first impression of Madison 20 years ago came from Ann Packer’s exceptional 2002 novel of love and betrayal, “The Dive From Clausen’s Pier.” Her latest, “Some Bright Nowhere,” has similar themes. Claire, dying of cancer, makes a request of her husband, Eliot, that feels inexplicable and cruel after 40 years of marriage. Packer follows Eliot in his confusion and anger as he examines, maybe for the first time, what he can and cannot be for the person he loves most. — Lindsay

I know “1984” would be a relevant read right now, but my first venture into George Orwell’s writing is nonfiction, with “A Collection of Essays.” The topics range from Dickens to Ghandi to the author’s reminiscences from his school days. Regardless of my familiarity going in, each one is enthralling. — Beck

Restaurant news

Elena Terry (above) will be the executive chef at Tall Grass, a new restaurant opening at 227 State St. in the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art. Terry said Tall Grass will begin as a café and bar starting in early summer and eventually add dinner service. 

After a challenging year, Kavanaugh’s Esquire Club on the north side has closed for good. Owner John Kavanaugh, whose parents bought the restaurant in 1947, passed away two weeks ago. The restaurant changed hands in 2024 and reverted to Kavanaugh again in 2025. “We’ve been a part of the community forever … but unfortunately, with everything, it’s just time for us to go,” said “Little John” Kavanaugh, who owns LJ’s Sports Tavern & Grill.

Madison’s best thick-crust pizza now offers delivery! Molten Monkey is working with DoorDash. Get the Avo Maria or keep it simple with the What Up Dough — that cup pepperoni is the best. 

Himal Chuli closed Dec. 31 at 318 State St. The State Journal reports this week that a new Nepalese restaurant, Himali Chulo, will take its place, run by the grandson of the previous owners. According to that story, “Ashim Malla, 39, who owns two other restaurants (The Globe, Ashirwad) and a convenience store (Triangle Market) nearby, said he hopes to have the former Himal Chuli reopened in about a month.”

Ba Lao, the highly anticipated bar from the owners of Ahan, is set to open in February at 811 Williamson St., the former location of Taco Local and Underground Butcher. Follow along at @balao.madison.  

Miss A Pig in a Fur Coat? Chef Dan Bonanno resurrects dishes from the Willy Street fine dining restaurant this weekend at Seven Acre Dairy Co. 

Recent obsessions

Recent obsessions was a feature in our former arts and entertainment publication 77 Square that ran from 2008-2013. I’m bringing it back.

I want all my winter socks to be Solmates. Made in Portland, Oregon, these delightful mismatched recycled cotton socks are super cute and warm without making my feet sweat. Look for them at Little Luxuries on State Street.

The new season of “Bridgerton” starts this week on Netflix. This season is a Cinderella story with upstairs/downstairs vibes. Gentle reader, I am ready.

I love the dark chocolate sorbetto from Baron’s Gelato in Sheboygan, and I believe you can find it by the pint at Alimentari on Monroe. (NB: Owner Dan Bonnano said the deli does still plan to return to the east side, to the Pig in a Fur Coat building. Timeline tbd).