Commuters not left out of farmers market options
By the time your train pulls into the station, there's not enough time to make it to your local farmers market. Yet, if you work in the Loop, you don't have to miss out on farm-fresh produce, local cheeses and artisan breads.
The Chicago French Market on the lower level of Ogilvie Transportation features 25 vendors offering organic produce, fresh meats and seafood, breads and pastries, small-batch cheese and wines and then some. Pick up spring greens and heirloom tomatoes, a loaf of herbed focaccia, pasta salad and a steak for this evening's dinner. Grab a few bakery-fresh pastries and some fresh flowers and you have all the fixings for a nice meal at home.
In the morning, the market teems with suburbanites grabbing coffee and warm muffins to take to morning meetings and those grabbing pre-made sandwiches or prepared salads for lunch.
The market is open 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday to Friday; 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday.
Not too far away is the Downtown Farmstand, 66 E. Randolph St., a tight little storefront that boasts shelves and coolers filled with fruits, vegetables, chocolates, cookies, pasta, seasonings and other goods all grown or produced within 250 miles of Chicago.
Grab items like handmade pierogies, fresh eggs and honey collected from city hives.
From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesdays, you can watch cooking demos utilizing local products. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 26, meet some of the vendors and learn how and where they make their products.
If you're not a commuter but are planning an afternoon at Millennium Park with friends or family, the farmstand is just around the corner. Grab some fresh fruit or a nutty oatmeal cookie for the train ride home. Learn more at chicagofarmstand.org.
Cleveland rocks: If you've been toying with the idea of visiting the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum this summer, stop thinking and start planning your trip for Sunday, June 13.
On that evening, Cleveland's top chefs will be serving recipes inspired by their favorite musicians or bands in a unique culinary competition, the Maker's Mark Chef Challenge at Chef Jam 2010.
Sample themed dishes like Allman Brothers-inspired Grilled "Eat a Peach" peaches with cracked black pepper ice cream and balsamic reduction; "Dark Side of the Moon" pies a la Pink Floyd, George Thorogood and the Destroyers-esqe Watermelon "Bad to the Bone" ribs and Van Halen Cabo Wabo ice cream sandwiches. Did I mention that the chefs will not only prepare the food, but dress like the rock stars they're paying tribute to?
Tickets cost $50 and include food, beer and wine samples and tours of the museum. Get tickets through Ticketmaster. Proceeds from the event support the Rock Hall's education programs and a culinary scholarship to Cuyahoga Community College.
Farm feast: The Chicago Botanic Garden celebrates Midwest farmers, winemakers and brewers with a series of Farm Dinners this summer in the Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden at the Glencoe campus.
From 5 to 8 p.m. on June 23, July 28 and Aug. 25, chef Cleetus Friedman will prepare a family-style, multicourse meal featuring ingredients from local producers and the garden's own Green Youth Farm. The meals will also give diners a chance to meet the people responsible for growing and producing the ingredients.
Tickets for each dinner cost $200 a person and include a garden tour, cocktails, appetizers, dinner and dessert. Parking is free for ticketed guests.
Get tickets at chicagobotanic.org, (847) 835-5440 or at the Visitor Center Information Desk. The Chicago Botanic Garden is at 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe.
Cookin' with Peanut: Chicago Bears cornerback Charles "Peanut" Tillman moves from the gridiron to the kitchen for a cooking demonstration at 5 p.m. today, June 2, at Meijer, 400 S. Randall Road, Algonquin.
Tillman, Sports Illustrated's Rookie of the Year 2003, will show people how to create his signature BBQ Chicken Sandwich that boasts a spicy sauce cooled with ranch dressing. The demonstration will run 'til about 6 p.m. and Tillman will stick around until 7 p.m. to sign autographs. The first 150 people to arrive at 4 p.m. at the Algonquin store will receive a wristband that ensures an autograph from Tillman.