Japan's unique heated tables may be the solution to winter outdoor dining for Chicago restaurants

Ellie Henderson adapted the traditional Japanese kotatsu for use in outdoor dining.
Courtesy Ellie Henderson
Across the country, restuarants have relied on outdoor dining to compensate for losses due to COVID-19, but the businesses face uncertainty as the weather turns cold. 
Chicago announced a design competition in August to find possible solutions.
One of the contest's winners took inspiration from an age-old Japanese design: the kotatsu, a special heated table.
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