Brace yourselves, Chicago dessert lovers: Two of the city’s most inventive culinary minds have teamed up for something you’ll want to race out for. Chef Grant Achatz (Alinea and Next) and Christina Tosi (Milk Bar) have dropped a limited-time sundae collab that’s equal parts cosmos and comfort.
The joint creation, dubbed the Next: Space Quantum Reach Sundae, riffs on Next’s space-themed fall menu, which already includes an Intergalactic Cherry Cheesecake dessert. How does that translate to an ice cream sundae? Picture Milk Bar’s signature cereal milk soft serve dressed up with yuzu curd, cherry sauce, freeze-dried ice cream and juicy cherries. It’s sweet, tangy, crunchy and totally cosmic.
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You can only get it at Milk Bar Chicago (208 N Green St.) now through Tuesday, September 30, for $11. That’s a slim window to grab what might be the most playful dessert collab of the season.
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What makes this sundae worth the calendar alert? For one, it’s rare to see such heady talent pairing up outside of elaborate tasting menus. Achatz is famous for pushing boundaries and creating theatrical dining experiences, while Tosi’s playful but precise dessert philosophy has made Milk Bar a cultural staple. Together, they’ve landed on something that manages to be whimsical and exacting all at once; a dessert you’ll photograph immediately, then actually enjoy bite by bite.
The flavors themselves do the heavy lifting. Cereal milk soft serve channels childhood nostalgia, but the addition of bright yuzu curd and crunchy freeze-dried elements launches it straight into new territory. Cherry sauce ties it back to earth, and the fresh cherries lend a texture that keeps each spoonful interesting. It’s indulgent but layered, familiar but futuristic.
And let’s be real: Part of the thrill is that it’s not forever. Limited-time desserts always hit differently, and this one doubles as an edible event. It turns dessert into the reason you go out, not just an afterthought. The ritual of showing up, grabbing a sundae that feels more like a performance than a snack and sharing it with friends (or your followers) is half the fun.
So go sooner rather than later. Bring your crew or treat yourself to a solo sugar high; either way, this sundae demands attention.