“Are you guys chefs or something?” It’s a question Oliver Poilevey, Marcos Ascencio and Alex Martinez get asked a lot when they tailgate at Bears home games. They hear it while setting up their butane burners and putting the blue-and-white tablecloths on their folding tables. They hear it when doing prep work. And they definitely hear it once the various dishes — seafood paella, truffle-topped soft scrambled eggs and brioche French toast with foie gras, for example — are ready and shared with those fortunate to be nearby. No surprise then that the answer is a resounding yes. Poilevey is chef/partner at Le Bouchon, Obelix, Mariscos San Pedro and Taqueria Chingon; Ascencio is chef/partner at Mariscos and Chingon; and Martinez is chef/partner at Mariscos. ( Taqueria Chingon ‘s last day in Wicker Park is Nov. 26, but the search for a new location is underway.) Season ticket holders for the last three years, the trio regularly bring their A-game to their tailgating at the 31st Street parking lot near Soldier Field — even if the Bears don’t bring theirs. Of the three, Poilevey is the biggest Bears fan and gets the most heartbroken over the team’s losses, while Ascencio and Martinez have learned to roll with the inevitable punches. Whether they’re doing a crawfish boil, steakhouse-style fare, or whatever the three conjure up, the menu planning often begins at the previous tailgate. “We’re constantly like, ‘Hey, what should we do next week?’” says Ascencio of the informal planning, which is sometimes influenced by the team the Bears are playing, or more often by what they have on hand at the restaurants. Poilevey admits having top-notch ingredients at their fingertips is a major advantage. For a recent tailgate, the plan was to do dishes that represented all their restaurants. At the end of one Saturday night’s service, the chefs gathered last-minute ingredients for the next day’s tailgate. A large plastic bin was stocked with steaks, duck breasts, caviar, cheese, butter and chorizo. Containers of various sauces, their names and dates clearly marked on blue masking tape, went into the bin too. “You don’t want to save too much of that stuff for the day of, especially if it’s a noon game,” Poilevey says. “You’re waking up at 7 a.m. after working the night before and you will forget something.” Aiding in the preparation process is a ready-to-go kit that includes the basics — dubbed “the Bear essentials” — such as towels, knives, seasonings, wipes, cutting boards and utensils. Post-game, the kit goes back to one of the restaurants where items are cleaned and replaced as needed. An avid camper, Ascencio takes charge of the kit. Ideally, everything goes back in the box, except for that time when the salt didn’t (don’t ask). On game day, Ascencio typically arrives first as his SUV is packed with the equipment, kit and coolers. The unpacking of it resembles those circus clown cars with item after item endlessly coming out. Setup, on the other hand, looks like a race car pit change with each chef quickly organizing their respective stations. Conversation isn’t needed as they know exactly what to do. Ascencio lights the charcoal for the small Japanese grill and sets up the paella propane cooker, while Poilevey readies the snacks, such as freshly shucked oysters, pate en croute and raw tuna topped with salsa negra. “We like to have something to eat as we work,” says Poilevey, who’s also in charge of caviar bumps. “This man never leaves the house without caviar,” quips his girlfriend, Sonia Balzak. Freshly baked croissants and doughnuts grabbed from Obelix that morning are unboxed. Meanwhile, Martinez is warming up duck consommé, which will be paired with maitake mushrooms that Poilevey has thinly sliced and placed into cups for easy serving. Chicken stock for paella is warmed up on a second butane burner. Once it’s done, Martinez will get started on the soft scrambled eggs prepared in a bain-marie. Their handiwork hasn’t gone unnoticed. “You guys are fun to watch,” says Clarence Boot of Naperville, who, along with two friends, has been eyeing the chefs from their neighboring spot. “You guys are doing it right,” adds Dick Patton, also from Naperville. After the duck consommé is served — a paper cup is MacGyvered as a ladle as they forgot to bring one — Martinez gets to work on the torre de mariscos, think a multi-layered cake but with tuna, octopus, shrimp and scallops. The fish tower rests on a bed of red and green salsas and is topped with sliced avocado. Poilevey steps away from his station to help man the grill and lightly sears Wagyu steak, octopus and duck breasts. Those are topped simply with salt and sliced, making for tasty finger food. “Typically, we’re not trying to put together really complex dishes with a bunch of ingredients,” Poilevey says. “It’s more about really great product, cooked well and seasoned right.” Little by little friends and co-workers arrive, as do the Champagne splits, bottles of wine and beer. The tequila comes out later. “They all know we tailgate for home games and are invited,” Martinez says. Ascencio is now in full paella mode, methodically adding each ingredient to the large pan. There’s chorizo, mussels, shrimp, calamari and squid in addition to the rice. Chicken stock is added in waves. At 10:30 a.m., the finished product is topped with peas and drizzled with a spicy crema before being handed out to anyone who asks, including some who have gotten to know the trio from previous tailgates and search them out. “If you’re making something nice, bring enough to share,” Ascensio says. “Spreading love is what food and hospitality is about.” “Oh, paella, holy s−−−,” shouts a guy walking by. “That’s a work of art.” At the parking spot next door, Robert McClendon of Crown Point, Indiana, has been watching closely, sampling dishes here and there. Initially, he wasn’t so sure about the paella, but after trying it, he comes back for a heaping plate to bring home to his wife. “I’m glad we got parked next to them,” he says. Sharing their culinary knowledge is a big part of the chefs’ tailgating experience. “It’s not only about cooking and enjoying that but also educating too,” Martinez says. “We like to show people what we do and introduce them to new stuff.” An added bonus: Some of those folks end up visiting the restaurants. By 11 a.m. attention turns to cleanup. There is, after all, a Bears game to go to in case you forgot. Like other aspects of their tailgating, that has a system too. Early on, Ascencio sourced out where still-warm coals and garbage can be discarded, a process that’s been ongoing. Another tip? “I always tell people when they tailgate to clean as you go,” he says. Similar to setup, the breakdown is equally disciplined, although now those co-workers and friends help. Soon the only evidence of their tailgating is a small piece of octopus on the ground. Then they start their 30-minute trek to Soldier Field. So why would these chefs want to spend their day off once again cooking for others? “We don’t turn this off. It’s in our blood,” Poilevey says. “We’re chefs for a living because we love to cook and host and that carries over to all other aspects of our lives.” Lisa Shames is a freelance writer.West Ham show support for hospitalized Antonio before Premier League match
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NoneMr Choi Sang-mok discounted the idea that investors will look to avoid South Korea going forward due to the political instability. SEOUL - South Korea’s finance minister says fears the nation will slide into a recession in 2025 are “excessive”, as he played down the view that this week’s bungled martial law decree will have a lasting impact on the economy or markets. “Recent emergency measures were quickly lifted in accordance with the constitution and the law, so I think the impact on the market was very limited,” Mr Choi Sang-mok said in an exclusive interview with Bloomberg on Dec 5. Mr Choi also discounted the idea that investors will look to avoid South Korea going forward due to the political instability, while insisting the government will continue to push ahead with efforts to revise legislation to make sure companies give shareholders more consideration. The finance minister’s comments build on repeated reassurances from government and central bank officials that President Yoon Suk Yeol’s shock attempt to take direct political control will not damage the economy or investors’ confidence in South Korea. Still, doubts remain about the ability of Mr Yoon’s administration to restore faith in the political process and to move forward with any major policy initiatives when he faces an impeachment vote, gridlock in Parliament and opposition from within his own party. The domestic political crisis comes at a sensitive time for South Korea with authorities bracing for US President-elect Donald Trump’s second term and his vow to slap tariffs on trading partners. That has made export-reliant countries such as South Korea vulnerable to protectionism. A Bloomberg survey conducted after Mr Yoon’s move showed economists see a 33 per cent chance of recession in South Korea in the next 12 months. Mr Choi disagrees. He cited International Monetary Fund and Bank of Korea forecasts for 2025 showing growth at or near the economy’s potential level. The central bank sees growth of 1.9 per cent in 2025, a figure it lowered out of concern over the potential impact of protectionist policies on global trade. Only 18 per cent of those surveyed said they would revise their growth forecasts due to the current political turmoil. “Foreign investors’ investment in Korea is affected by fundamentals of the nation’s economy,” Mr Choi said. “Because the country’s system is working well, the impact of the non-economic-related situation on the Korean economy has been very limited and well managed.” Mr Choi reiterated that the government will act swiftly if volatility in financial market rises. He avoided mentioning specific levels for the currency. The finance minister already promised on Dec 4 to use all available measures to stabilize financial and foreign-exchange markets if needed, with “unlimited liquidity” on the table. The political upheaval has also raised concerns about the government’s ability to push through its so-called corporate value-up plan to tackle the nation’s low stock valuations. “Recently there have been some cases where shareholder protection has become an issue,” Mr Choi said. “Therefore the most important thing is to revise the capital market act to make effective improvements to these areas.” Proposed changes to the act would beef up M&A rules to better protect shareholders while limiting the requirements to listed firms to avoid burdening smaller businesses. The opposition Democratic Party, including party leader Lee Jae-myung, argues that the commercial code should be revised instead. The party wants directors to have a legal duty to act in the interests of shareholders. “It is difficult to agree with the claim that revising the capital market act is insufficient to protect shareholders, and that amending the commercial code will strengthen shareholder protection,” Mr Choi said. BLOOMBERG Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you. Read 3 articles and stand to win rewards Spin the wheel nowDuring an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, quarterback Aaron Rodgers said that while his future is still up in the air for next season, the New York Jets would be the future hall of famer’s “first option” in 2025, according to ESPN’s Rich Cimini . “I haven’t told anybody in my life that I want to play in 2025 and not on the Jets,” Rodgers said. “I don’t even know if I want to play yet, but New York would be my first option.” Aaron Rodgers says that he would want to play with the New York Jets in 2025 if he doesn’t retire after this season. The Athletic had previously reported that Rodgers wanted to play for a different team next season, but Rodgers refuted those claims, saying they were “100% false.” Through 11 games, Rodgers has completed 63.4% of his passes for 2,442 passing yards, 17 touchdowns and seven interceptions. On top of that, he has been sacked 26 times and has four fumbles. The Future Is Blurry For Rodgers Aaron Rodgers has been playing in the NFL for a long time, so he knows what to say to dispel any rumors that might affect his team midseason. For a guy who has had a lot of controversy surrounding him during the 2024-25 campaign, at least he’s saying the right things now. Regardless of what he says publicly, Rodgers’ choice to make the Jets his top option to play for in 2025 poses an interesting question: why? Aaron Rodgers’ body language and the New York Jets as a whole both seem desperate for a fresh start. The New York Jets put their head coach, general manager, and – let’s face it – dignity on the line this season to make Aaron Rodgers happy. But, instead of wins, it has blown up in owner Woody Johnson’s face, and the whole football world is laughing at the Jets. Well, at least they’re laughing even more than they usually do. There is some logic behind Rodgers not wanting to leave New York, but it could be self-motivated (like most things Rodgers has done since being traded from Green Bay). The Jets may be his top choice because he is older and doesn’t want to learn a new system. Then again, it’s possible he wants to right the ship in 2025 and repair the damage that he has done to his legacy this season. What Should the Jets Do? If the decision comes down to the New York Jets, then they should move on. They tried their absolute best to make Rodgers as comfortable and happy as possible in New York, and that has only resulted in three wins through 12 weeks. The Jets need to nail down their GM-head coach-quarterback combination this off-season. There aren’t many times in the NFL when franchises can make those three decisions in the same year. It would be foolish to hire a new GM and head coach just to pair them with a quarterback they may not have any interest in working with or vice versa. Furthermore, the Jets will likely be looking for a new quarterback in 2026, regardless of 2025’s results. It would make more sense for the team to get a head start on that process and find their franchise quarterback now while they still have a top-ten draft pick rather than play themselves into a mediocre draft position in 2026. Where Should Rodgers Go? Aaron Rodgers needs a change of scenery. Several teams could use even this flawed 2024 version of Rodgers. The Tennessee Titans , Las Vegas Raiders and New Orleans Saints could all benefit from having Aaron Rodgers on their team. The door also hasn’t closed on the Minnesota Vikings . Sam Darnold is only under contract for this season, and rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy was forced to undergo another surgery earlier this month after he experienced swelling in the knee he’s rehabbing. With Darnold likely to get a big contract from a middle-of-the-road team this off-season, the Vikings will need a bridge quarterback at the helm while McCarthy continues to recover. That could be the perfect situation for Rodgers. This could be a waste of breath, though. At the end of the day, if Rodgers decides to retire, then this was all for naught. This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission.