Category: Food

Sometimes it’s relaxing just to wander about all by yourself. One Friday night I was wandering around lovely Forest Park, the city that boasts small town charm amidst a big city atmosphere. I wasn’t looking for anything in particular, but I stumbled across a few little treasures that revived my once-dead belief that the suburbs can be home to interesting places, too.

Not sure of what I’d find inside, I walked into Madison Street’s Priya Grocery. From the outside, it just looks like an old Mom and Pop corner store. But when you walk in, you see it’s much more than that. Priya Grocery stocks their shelves with Indian groceries, specialties and treats, as well as common staples to help you get through the week. In the cooler, you’ll find freshly made foods from local Indian restaurants. As you head farther back down the long, narrow aisles, the food becomes more and more authentic, and if you were going to prepare a delicious Indian meal, you’d probably want to stop here first.

As I approached the counter, I chatted with a young girl who was helping tend the cash register. She mentioned that she did Henna designs for $5.00. Thinking back to high school when my best friend and I would get elaborate Henna tattoos on our hands, I couldn’t resist the urge to take a few minutes and let her try her artistic skills out on me. She opened a tube of the dye and went right to work. The smell is so relaxing and it gives of such a soothing aroma. Having it done sort of has the same feel as getting your nails done, so I felt very pampered.

When she was done, I held my hand out and admired her artwork. It was the kind of spur-of-the-moment thing that you never could have planned. As my hand dried, I strolled through the store checking out the unique inventory.

The great thing about Priya is that it carries items you’d never find in say, Jewel or Dominick’s. I spotted a huge bag of loose tea and picked it up, holding it to my nose. The smell was terrific! Way in the back, in the freezer, there was all kinds of prepared foods that just needed heating up. I grabbed a few things from the freezer and from the cooler in the front. There was no way I was going to settle for McDonald’s tonight—I wanted to cook myself a real meal.

And as I stood in line to pay, my eyes wandered over the titles of hundreds of Indian movies, which the owners rent out as well. A grocery store and a video store all in one! Talk about dinner and a movie.

Chicagoland has tons of hidden treasures and I think I found one of my favorites. Keep your mind open and you might come across some rare gems yourself.

No longer a novelty only relished by the aristocratic types held in tucked away, European chalets, wine tasting is something no couple should live without experiencing. There is just something special about going to a quaint wine shop for a tasting that can really bring a couple together, and Provenance is certainly the place to go! And with the tastings at this location usually being complimentary, it sure does stretch the budget for opting for some wonderful gifts later on, of which Provenance is stocked and ready to accommodate.

What I like about this place is how special you feel as soon as you walk in the door. The wine and cheese selections are decent and perfectly priced, plenty under $10, with very caring, helpful and knowledgeable service who don't mind chatting over that passion for good food and drink. Beautiful gift baskets are also available, which are perfect for folks who are on their way to dinner parties and are unsure what to bring. And, since that wonderful Thai place practically next door, Sai Mail is BYOB, the location couldn't be any more convenient!

The other thing I really like, besides the fact you don't have to jump in the car to get a few needful things, is just how fresh and flavorful everything is! Hormones and other weird ingredients are relegated to the chain stores, though the prices are surprisingly fair. Goodies like chocolate truffles and scones are also available, as are bakery fresh breads, crackers and other tasty nibbles. They even offer a decent array of spices and pastas, which allows for the novices and experienced chefs alike to surprise their dates with a quick, home cooked meal that is truly gourmet. Nothing says romance than showing up with a small bag of groceries, preparing and then savoring culinary decadence you infused with your own creativity.

I personally believe they follow the “Kill 'em with Kindness” philosophy, because I have yet to meet anyone who hasn't left there grinning ear to ear – the happiness is just so infectious! Even the cute, paper shopping bags make me happy, turning a quick trip in the neighborhood into an enriching experience. And once you take in a visit, I'm sure you'll be stopping by again and again.

It seems that just about everyone is experimenting with a healthier lifestyle these days, even if it’s just sampling a few new menu ideas. The bets place downtown to do a little lunch time experimentation is at Kramer’s, where you can try a few new entrees and do a little shopping at the same time.

As you walk in, you’ll immediately pick up on the health nut vibe, from that distinctive vitamin and incense smell to the hippie and hipster types wandering around. So much to shop for and to check out! For the regulars, this place feels just so cozy and welcoming, but newcomers might already be feeling a little overwhelmed. For the latter, I suggest to head straight for the back and go up the stairs to the little café.

The overhead menu on the left shows off the vast concoction of fresh fruit and vegetable juices, and on the right are the lunch items. Go for a lentil soup or a lunch special, like the veggie burrito. If you’re not sure about liking vegetable juice, ask the guys behind the counter to exchange it for an apple juice instead - fresh squeezed apple juice is just so, so good and makes you feel like a kid again! Be sure to season your food at the counter before sitting, because there is absolutely none in it, but is fantastic after you put your personal touch to it! Just remember to pay downstairs when you leave.

Once you’ve finished, go back downstairs and explore. The staff is very helpful, and there is a wealth of information to be had. It’s a little more expensive than bigger stores that carry the same products, but when there’s a sale, it’s very worth it. And hey - students get a 10% discount! What’s also nice is there are many products at this store that are made locally and are otherwise hard to find. And what gal doesn’t love testing hand creams and smelling the shampoo bottles?

Also, across from the register is a prepackaged cooler that has some dangerously good “health food”. The Totally Vegan products are really good, especially the seitan barbecue and the “corned beef” sandwiches - almost identical to the real deal! Pick some of this stuff up and bring it back to the office for even more experimenting! It’s little wonder why all the hipster bike messengers congest this section! Just remember when you leave to grab a store flyer for your next visit, because you’ll definitely be coming back!

I’m not one to rave about grocery stores, so listen up! Like just about everyone else these days, I try to be a smart shopper and buy more organic and healthy food, but the cost of superior products can really be a daunting task. I really don’t care for the predominantly snooty and asinine clientele one tends to find at Whole Paychecks or the overall craziness typical with that Trader fellow‘s stores. So when this store rolled into town, I admit I was pretty skeptical but was lured in with the coupon I got in the mail. Wow! So, so happy here, and I am now a loyal customer!

The very first thing people are going to notice is just how darn easy it is to get a parking spot! There’s almost always a spot up front, without any Land Rovers hogging up doubles in the lot. If you drive in from Marcey Street instead of Clybourn, you don’t even have to deal with the traffic! Then when you walk inside, the first thing you see is the produce section. Not huge, but the fact that the crisper section stuff is kept in a walk in crisper is an absolute treasure, and you can pretty much find everything you need. And then comes the prices you notice on said produce - not bad at all! In fact, a lot of what I see here is priced even lower than conventional super market prices, and this stuff is organic!

The rest of the store just makes me happy. It’s all big, bright and inviting, and it’s never, ever crowded. The people who shop here are just as eclectic as the regular super market chains, and the store help are some of the absolute friendliest and most helpful I have ever encountered. Consistently. I don’t think I have ever had a bad shopping experience here, and I rather look forward to doing the grocery shopping! Who can say that?

For those shopping on a budget, they offer so many discounts on top of their great prices it’s unreal! Coupons galore, discounts for using your own bags, their reusable bags are only $0.99, and Thursdays and Fridays offer you an ADDITIONAL $5 off for reusing bags!

Now it’s true they don’t have a meat or deli department, so that next section you go through is almost all pre-packaged. Oh well - they at least make up for it with having lots of free snacky things to munch on while you go through the aisles. And what they do offer is pretty decent, so yes, you can definitely make a few meals from here. Also, the choices of bread and pastries are pretty non existent, but again, it’s not a one stop shop. Even so, it’s such a wonderful overall experience, and I hope they stick around for many years to come.

Most foodies I know, myself included, do more than just hop from one restaurant and eatery to another: they do an awful lot of cooking at home, especially when trying to mimic or even rehash a dish they recently enjoyed! When it comes to all things that is kitchen supply, there really is only one place to go. No, not the place you get tacky wicker furniture, bed sheets and candles; leave that for the amateurs! Go to the place where the chefs and restaurant owners go - Northwestern Cutlery! It’s a little out of the way, but trust me, it is so worth the drive. And hey - their prices are so reasonable they won‘t have you running to the food pantry afterwards!

Before you go, be sure to grab all of your knives to bring down there with you, no matter what you think their value is. If you have never had them professionally sharpened before, then they definitely need to be, because any pro will tell you a good, sharp knife makes all the difference in the world. And why not - it only costs a couple dollars to do so! When you arrive, hand them to the guy behind the register and have him give his opinion of what you own. While it’s true he will probably try to talk you into upgrading, he will for sure tell you if what you have is even worth saving, with an explanation behind his opinion.

While you are getting all sharpened up, check out the store and be prepared to go into culinary overload! There is just so many wonderful items, many of which are nearly impossible to find in a store. (Hello? A fish spatula? Surely you won’t find this specialty item at Tar Gét!) The person shopping next to you is probably a chef or at least a fellow foodie, so if he or she seems to be in an amicable mood, go ahead and ask their opinion of what it is you’re looking for. The wealth of knowledge one can find here is truly beyond belief: you‘ll walk out feeling like a pro!

Now parking around here can seem a little daunting, but it is really necessary to drive in, so circling for a spot is mandatory. The best time to go is on Thursday mornings in the middle of the month, where the parking is a little more feasible and the store owners have more time to talk to you in depth. The effort more than pays for itself.