On Sunday, October 25, at 4:00 pm, the Albert at Hotel EMC2, Autograph Collection will welcome Little Diner’s Crew for a one-time dining experience that invites kids to explore Italian-American food through tasting, conversation and discovery with Chef David Danielson.
Presented during Italian-American Heritage Month, the event features a four-course menu created specifically for the occasion. Kids and adults will enjoy the same dishes, with portions adjusted accordingly. Young diners will sit at the Chef’s Table while parents enjoy their own experience at the adult table.
The event marks Little Diner’s Crew’s 98th hosted dining experience, continuing the Chicago-based kids dining club’s mission to expand kids palates beyond mac-n-cheese and chicken fingers.
“The best part of cooking for kids is seeing their curiosity take over,” said chef and dad David Danielson. “We can show them how a few ingredients become a pasta sauce, let them taste something unfamiliar and give them room to ask questions. This menu celebrates the Italian-American food we serve at the Albert, and we’re excited to share it with a new generation of diners.”
Danielson will introduce each course and explain its ingredients and preparation, including a tableside demonstration of how pasta water, cheese and pepper come together to create cacio e pepe. Little Diner’s Crew co-founders Alayna and D.C. Crenshaw will guide the children through culinary and cultural fun-facts while encouraging them to taste and rate each dish.
THE MENU
ANTIPASTO: Tomato + Burrata Heirloom tomato, creamy burrata, basil oil and grilled focaccia crisp The discovery: How mozzarella and burrata differ in texture and preparation.
PRIMO: Cacio e Pepe Fresh pasta, Pecorino Romano and cracked black pepper The discovery: A tableside look at how pasta water and cheese create a silky sauce without cream.
SECONDO: Crispy Chicken Saltimbocca Prosciutto, fontina, sage, lemon jus and Parmesan roasted potatoes The discovery: The savory layers behind saltimbocca, an Italian dish whose name means “jumps in the mouth.”
DOLCE: Cannoli Semifreddo Sweet ricotta, dark chocolate, pistachio, orange and crisp cannoli shell The discovery: The ingredients and flavors associated with Sicily’s classic cannoli.
“Ninety-eight dining experiences in, we still love the moment a child tries something new and decides they like it,” said D.C. Crenshaw, co-founder of Little Diner’s Crew. “Allowing kids to take ownership of their own dining experience changes how they approach food. Chef David has created a menu that help kids explore the tastes of Italy, and we’re thrilled to bring the Crew to the Albert.”
Little Diner’s Crew’s collaborations have included Kids Restaurant Week with Lettuce Entertain You, as well as immersive experiences with Starbucks and the Chicago Blackhawks.
EVENT DETAILS AND RESERVATIONS
Date: Sunday, October 25, 2026
Time: 4 pm – 6 pm
Location: the Albert at Hotel EMC2, 228 E. Ontario St., Chicago
Children: $40 per child for LDC members, $45 per child for non-members, includes the four-course menu, a mocktail, tax and gratuity
Adults: $85 per adult, including the four-course menu, one alcoholic beverage, tax and gratuity (additional beverages available à la carte)
Reservations: www.littledinerscrew.com
The event builds on Hotel EMC2’s offerings for families, from the Albert’s welcoming dining experience to the Bot Experience Package, which includes a special gift delivered by the hotel’s staff robots, Leo and Cleo. Upcoming holiday programming will also include a charitable book drive launching mid-November, giving families a way to give back together every time they dine together at the Albert.
What Stands Out
On Sunday, October 25, at 4:00 pm, the Albert at Hotel EMC2, Autograph Collection will welcome Little Diner’s Crew for a one-time dining experience that invites kids to explore Italian-American food through tasting, conversation and discovery with Chef David Danielson.
Presented during Italian-American Heritage Month, the event features a four-course menu created specifically for the occasion. Kids and adults will enjoy the same dishes, with portions adjusted accordingly. Young diners will sit at the Chef’s Table while parents enjoy their own experience at the adult table.
The event marks Little Diner’s Crew’s 98th hosted dining experience, continuing the Chicago-based kids dining club’s mission to expand kids palates beyond mac-n-cheese and chicken fingers.
“The best part of cooking for kids is seeing their curiosity take over,” said chef and dad David Danielson. “We can show them how a few ingredients become a pasta sauce, let them taste something unfamiliar and give them room to ask questions. This menu celebrates the Italian-American food we serve at the Albert, and we’re excited to share it with a new generation of diners.”
Danielson will introduce each course and explain its ingredients and preparation, including a tableside demonstration of how pasta water, cheese and pepper come together to create cacio e pepe. Little Diner’s Crew co-founders Alayna and D.C. Crenshaw will guide the children through culinary and cultural fun-facts while encouraging them to taste and rate each dish.
THE MENU
ANTIPASTO: Tomato + Burrata
Heirloom tomato, creamy burrata, basil oil and grilled focaccia crisp
The discovery: How mozzarella and burrata differ in texture and preparation.
PRIMO: Cacio e Pepe
Fresh pasta, Pecorino Romano and cracked black pepper
The discovery: A tableside look at how pasta water and cheese create a silky sauce without cream.
SECONDO: Crispy Chicken Saltimbocca
Prosciutto, fontina, sage, lemon jus and Parmesan roasted potatoes
The discovery: The savory layers behind saltimbocca, an Italian dish whose name means “jumps in the mouth.”
DOLCE: Cannoli Semifreddo
Sweet ricotta, dark chocolate, pistachio, orange and crisp cannoli shell
The discovery: The ingredients and flavors associated with Sicily’s classic cannoli.
“Ninety-eight dining experiences in, we still love the moment a child tries something new and decides they like it,” said D.C. Crenshaw, co-founder of Little Diner’s Crew. “Allowing kids to take ownership of their own dining experience changes how they approach food. Chef David has created a menu that help kids explore the tastes of Italy, and we’re thrilled to bring the Crew to the Albert.”
Little Diner’s Crew’s collaborations have included Kids Restaurant Week with Lettuce Entertain You, as well as immersive experiences with Starbucks and the Chicago Blackhawks.
EVENT DETAILS AND RESERVATIONS
The event builds on Hotel EMC2’s offerings for families, from the Albert’s welcoming dining experience to the Bot Experience Package, which includes a special gift delivered by the hotel’s staff robots, Leo and Cleo. Upcoming holiday programming will also include a charitable book drive launching mid-November, giving families a way to give back together every time they dine together at the Albert.
Explore This Topic
Location
228 E Ontario St Floor 1, Chicago, IL 60611
Comments
Be the first to comment.
Never miss an eat.
Sign up for breaking news from the Chicago food scene.
Follow Us