The Bear’s Will Poulter Joins Chef Santiago Lastra at Mr. Beef. One-Day Chicago Pop-Up
Chicago, IL. Michelin-Starred Chef Santiago Lastra and The Bear Star Will Poulter come together for a one-day pop-up event in Chicago.
On Sunday 25th October, 2026, Michelin-Starred Chef Santiago Lastra and The Bear actor Will Poulter will join forces at Mr. Beef in River North for an exclusive, one-day pop-up.
Celebrating the intersection of Mexican Gastronomy, Chicago Food Culture and one of television’s most talked about culinary worlds.
Hosted at the real-life sandwich shop that inspired the fictional Original Beef of Chicagoland. The event promises a fresh interpretation of a beloved local classic.
Bringing together Lastra’s inventive approach to Mexican cuisine and Poulter’s connection to the Emmy-winning series.
The collaboration offers food lovers a rare opportunity to experience a dish that bridges restaurant innovation with pop culture appeal.
Where Chicago’s Italian Beef Meet Mexican Culinary Creativity
At the heart of the pop-up is a bold Mexican-inspired reimagining of the Italian beef sandwich,
Rather than creating the traditional Chicago staple, Lastra brings in a combination of textures, flavours and familiarity.
The exclusive creation features sliced beef, caramelised mozzarella, picked jalapenos, sliced avocado, refried beans and chopped Mexican chorizo.
Rich, savoury ingredients that meet bright acidity, spice and creamy textures.
Creating a sandwich that pays tribute to Chicago’s culinary identity while drawing the flavours and traditions of Mexico.
An ambitious pairing of two food cultures, rooted in the idea that a classic can remain recognisable while making room for something unexpected.
For Chicagoans, Italian beef is more than a sandwich. It is a defining part of the city’s food heritage, associated with neighbourhood institutions and family traditions.
Santiago Lastra: A Global Perspective on Mexican Cuisine
Lastra has built an international reputation for reinterpreting Mexican cuisine through a contemporary basis.
The chef-patron of KOL in London, which earned its Michelin star in 2022, is known for combining Mexican traditions with carefully sourced, British ingredients.
His cooking places cultural identity and innovation into the conversation. Exploring how the essence of cuisine can be preserved while the ingredients and techniques evolve.
The Chicago collaboration arrives alongside the launch of his debut cookbook, Mexican Soul, which brings his culinary philosophy to a wider audience.
The Mr.Beef pop-up is part of a broader series of US-collaborations, celebrating the book and takes Lastra beyond the formal restaurant setting and into the everyday food culture of American cities.
Will Poulter and The Cultural Phenomenon of The Bear – The Bear Chicago Restaurant
The event also carries a special connection to television.
Will Poulter, who plays Copenhagen-trained pastry chef Luca in FX’s The Bear, will join Lastra for the one-day collaboration.
The multi-award-winning series has captivated audiences with its intense portrayal of restaurant kitchens, the emotional complexity of hospitality and the pressure and pride that shape professional cooking,
Its influence goes beyond the screen helping to bring renewed national attention to Chicago’s restaurants traditions and independent food businesses.
Mr. Beef occupies a significant place in the story. The River North Sandwich shop served as inspiration for the show’s fictional Original Beef of Chicagoland, making it a natural meeting point for the collaboration.
Joining Lastra and Poulter will be Mr. Beef owner Chris Zucchero and Courtney Storer, the series’ co-executive and culinary producer.
Their involvement connects the event with creative ambitions, including the people and place behind the show’s food-world authenticity.
For fans, the pop-up offers a chance to experience that connection, first-hand.
For food enthusiasts, it is an opportunity to see how a globally recognised chef approaches one of America’s most distinctive regional sandwiches.
A Sweet Finale Inspired by Mexican Soul
The experience will extend beyond the savoury menu.
Chicago’s Pretty Cool Ice Cream, based in Logan Square, has created an exclusive ice cream sandwich inspired by Mexican Soul – adding a playful dessert element to the collaboration.
The special creation brings a local favourite into the wilder culinary conversation, reinforcing the pop-up’s emphasis on collaboration, creativity and the meeting of different food traditions.
Together, the limited-edition sandwich and dessert make the event more than a celebrity appearance: they create a one-day menu that is shaped specifically around Lastra’s cookbook, Chicago’s culinary heritage and the cultural reach of The Bear.
How To Experience The One-Day Pop-Up
The Santiago Lastra and Will Poulter collaboration will take place at Mr. Beef in Chicago’s River North neighbourhood on Sunday, October 25th, 2026.
The event will start at 1pm and continues until the food sells out.
Admission is free.
Walk-ins are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
Reservations are not available and quantities are limited so arriving early is advisable for anyone hoping the enjoy and taste the exclusive menu.
Event Details – Santiago Lastra Will Poulter Chicago Pop-up
- What: Santiago Lastra x Will Poulter at Mr. Beef.
- When: Sunday, October 25, 2026 from 1pm – until sold out.
- Where: Mr. Beef, 666 N. Orleans Street, Chicago, Illinois 60654.
- Neighbourhood: River North.
- Menu Highlight: Mexican-Inspired Italian Beef, Caramelised Mozzarella, Pickled Jalapeño, Avocado, Refried Beans and Mexican Chorizo.
- Dessert: Exclusive Pretty Cool Ice Cream sandwich inspired by Mexican Soul.
- Admission: Free. Walk-in only, first come, first served.
A Chicago Classic, Reimagined for a New Audience
The appeal of this collaboration lies in its meeting of worlds.
Lastra brings in an internationally acclaimed culinary perspective.
Poulter connects the events to a television series that has helped make the realities of restaurant life the subject of mainstream fascination.
Celebrating the idea that culinary innovation doesn’t always require a formal dining room or elaborate tasting menu.
Combining familiar dishes with a willingness to see what happens when different traditions meet.
Some Additional Details
Chef Santiago Lastra, Chef-Patron of KOL. The critically acclaimed London restaurant holding a Michelin star and featured on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants List.
His latest cookbook, Mexican Soul, was created to make authentic Mexican cuisine accessible to home cooks globally – with a focus on locally sourced ingredients.
Will Poulter, award-winning actor, widely recognised for his guest-starring role as the meticulous pastry chef Luca in the hit series, The Bear.
CosmoLuxe Magazine celebrates the people, places and ideas shaping contemporary food and lifestyle culture.
