You are currently browsing the tag archive for the ‘locavore’ tag.
We want to know: Is there a restaurant in Chicago that you are dying to go to, but haven’t yet?
In case you were wondering, NAHA was that restaurant for me. Last summer when I started volunteering at Green City Market, I learned about Chef Carrie Nahabedian through new acquaintances. Everyone praised both her exciting, local, delicious food and her very sweet demeanor. Then people went on and on about NAHA, this restaurant that seemed to be on everyone’s “Favourites” list.
Standing, in the back: Chef Carrie Nahabedian on the left, Chef Rick Bayless on the right at Chefs Collaborative
When Chefs Collaborative came to Chicago for their National Summit last year, I had the pleasure to dine with them at Cafe Brauer at the Lincoln Park and taste Chef Nahabedian’s food for the first time. Needless to say, I was smitten.
When Restaurant Week was announced and NAHA was on the participant list, I decided I was tired of waiting. Restaurant Week or not, NAHA is a place you must, must go to if you want some of the best food in the city.
It is winter in Chicago which means the blueberry days of summer are long behind us and the first shoots of rhubarb seem forever away (sigh). So how does one satisfy their sweet tooth when it’s cold outside and produce is lacking?
Your local farmers to the rescue!
I whipped up this sweet, crumbly and tart dessert while dinner was being prepared, and it was a crowd pleaser! Made with almost all local ingredients, it was easy to make, fun to eat and helped support my local farmers! Three hoorays!
This past week was amazing. The weather? Amazing. My itinerary? Amazing! Chicagoans I spent the week with? Even more amazing. And with that, I will show you what exactly it was I did this week and why it was so … uhhh … amazing.
1. Locavore spiced pear pancakes.
Because pear season is coming to an end soon, I thought I would whip up a batch of pear pancakes using Mick Klug’s Bartlett pears, Burton’s maple syrup, Ellis Farm’s eggs, Ted’s whole wheat flour and Blue Marble milk. I made the batter as usual and then set it in the fridge while I prepared the pear. I cored a pear and then diced it (with the skin on!) into small cubes. Then I tossed the diced pear into a bowl with a heaping tablespoon of brown sugar and let it sit for about ten minutes. I heated up a frying pan with a tablespoon of butter and once the pan was good and hot, I sauteed the pear and brown sugar mix until they were nice and softened. Then they went into the batter and I cooked the pancakes as per usual.
They turned out heavenly!
2. I finally checked out the Tiffany Favrile Ceiling in the once Marshall Field’s department store
In 1907, Tiffany & Co. installed 1.6 million pieces of Tiffany Favrile glass in a domed ceiling on the fifth floor of the Marshall Fields on State Street. Over 100 years later not one piece has broken and it still remains as the largest example of glass mosaics of its kind. The mosaic is stunning. It glitters even in indirect sunlight and it is so intricate that it can rival even the most famous paintings in the Sistine Chapel.
Not gonna lie: I was ridiculously excited Wednesday about Green City Market’s Apple Fest, which featured over seven different uncommon varieties to taste as well as delicious prepared foods from well-known chefs in Chicago! But moreso than just apples, I was thrilled to find some unique products at the market that I am sure you will love!
1. Oscar’s Hairy Balls. I thought the name was a joke, too, but it isn’t. Oscar’s Hairy Balls are the catalogue name for the above seed pods on a stick that actually produce a lovely near-white bloom. Of course, once news broke of my discovery, many a joke was made.
2. Cherry preserves from Seedling Farms. Sweet and tangy with whole cherries in it. It’s like pie without the crust…on a croissant!
3. Peppers from Leaning Shed Farm. You can see Serrano, Jalapeno and Banana peppers in the picture above, as well as a big, shiny candy red onion! Cannot wait to fry it up! Mmmm-mmm!
4. Bosc pears, with a sweet, gritty flesh, from Mick Klug are just gorgeous. Honey Crisp apples are MASSIVE from Ellis Farms and the little red apples are a gift from Gabe, so I could make caramel covered apples with his perfect caramel sauce!
5. Hugging carrots and curly-q eggplant from Granor Farm. Jesse and Tim were kind enough to let me bring tons of little school children to their tent to show off their deep violet eggplants! Thanks, guys!
More to come…
Dev xx
I have BIG news for all of you Locavores looking for a coffee fix. No, the beans are not from Chicago, but at Metropolis Coffee Company, they are roasting small batches in the heart of Chicago! That is about as local as you can get when it comes to coffee and it is worth it!
Where can you get this coffee?
At Dollop Coffee and Tea in Uptown. What an underrated little gem! Located in a brownstone that juts out into the intersection of North Clarendon and West Gordon Terrace, Dollop welcomes you with soft, melodic indie music and exposed brick walls. The decor is not at all planned or even pretentiously mismatched. No, instead, this adorable coffee house looks organically designed with the wall art and antique furniture probably being added piece-by-piece by an owner who has a love for varied styles.
The barista was really patient with me and even let me try a “shot” of Metropolis’ French Roast coffee (I do not drink coffee, but I had to research it)! It was smoky, very fresh and had a sweet finish on the back of the palate.
I chose the iced chai as my first drink because a. it’s hot outside and b. I love chai! What a good choice! The milky, cinnamon-infused chai was gone before I knew it!
For breakfast I had a croissant (Bennison’s) with Stover’s jam. For a light lunch, I had a 2 egg scramble with goat cheese from Prairie Fruits Farm and Creamery. This is the ultimate light, airy and delicious lunch and the protein kept me going for hours! I am telling you guys, you HAVE to try the Prairie Dropseed Goat Cheese from Prairie Fruits Farm. For only $5, this round of goat cheese is versatile, has a creamy and crumbly texture that melts in your mouth and a rich flavour that is hard to find. Oh, and please do not make the rookie mistake of peeling off the mould covering: it adds to the flavour and is, indeed, edible. I PROMISE you won’t keel over and die. Believe me!
The best part of the day, though, besides the food and amazing coffee shop, was hanging out with Green City Market volunteer and new Chicago resident Ruthie! We met at Green City and had a lovely afternoon as I showed her Southport Ave. and its bounty of cool shops and restaurants like Candyality and Deleece. Man, I love Lakeview!
Stay tuned tomorrow for more Locavore fun and a restaurant review of … you’ll have to visit to find out! :-)
Dev xx
PS, 2 days until Green City Market Day!!!!!!!!!!
Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh!!!! I am SO excited for the kick off of Green City Market’s Locavore Challenge that I kind of went hog wild with the pictures, recipes and shopping!
Fresh produce at Iron Creek Farm's stand
If you are not in the know, let’s catch you up to speed. Green City Market is a farmers market located at Menomonee and Clark (around 1750 N. Clark) and gathers every Wednesday and Saturday 7am to 1pm. Why shop there? Well, first, as you will see (and as some of you already know) the selection of fresh, local and sustainable produce is hard to beat! You will be helping local farmers and the local economy and … did I mention how amazing everything tastes? If you want to feel like you are shopping in luxury (and to escape the rush-rush of city life), stop by, make friends with the farmers who ar growing your food and FINALLY eat like you deserve!
You also need to outfit yourself. May I suggest buying a beautiful and durable Bolga Market Basket? They are Fair Trade and come from Ghana. I always get comments on mine and the handle is comfy enough to not bite into my hand when carrying a boatload of fruit and veg back to my flat.
One of my sweet Bolga Market Baskets
Now, I have secrets for you. Since I volunteer at Green City I have some awesome news for those of you who have either already pledged to the Locavore Challenge or those of you who have yet to cross-your-heart-and-hope-to-die:
1. There are two new vendors ONLY in town for the next two weeks during the Challenge. They are King’s Hill Farm, supplying you with Certified Organic produce (including heirloom tomatoes, bell peppers and cauliflower) and Twin Garden Farms, making sure you get your fill of Mirai. Mi-what?! Mirai (pronounced Mee-Rye). It is a special, hybrid corn grown in Illinois that can be eaten right off the husk!
“Certainly not,” I hear you mumbling to yourself. But really, it can be! I tried it and it is sweet and juicy with plump kernels that bust under the weight of your bite. But don’t take my word for it – go get some at Green City!!
2. LOCAL FLOUR will be at Heritage Prairie Market & Farm THIS SATURDAY! Oh yeah, and you thought you would not be able to make a carrot cake with local ingredients! This weekend, HPMF will be selling three types of flour: Rye, Whole Wheat and Wheat berry. Also by next week, Green City will get local rice! Now, that is something to celebrate!
3. In addition to how fun GCM usually is, it is also important to remember that cool chefs do cool chef demonstrations every Wed. and Sat. To learn how to use all the food you buy, make sure you stop by this Sat. to watch James Gottwald from Rockit Bar and Grill show you a thing or two about how to cook. The best part? Samples, duh! :o)
The flowers I bought from Jerry at Stoney Run Fields
So I bet you are wondering exactly what it is I am having for dinner (and don’t forget dessert!) tonight. Well, if you click on the link below, you can read ALL about it on the next page.
Go ahead, you know you want to! :o)
