Store Thu Mar 19 2009

Local Flavors Featured at Downtown Farmstand

We were quite excited when Chicago's Downtown Farmstand opened last year. Now, after the winter closure, it's back open again, and it seems like they've been doing some background work while in hybernation. They just announced a spiffy new program called "Local Flavors."

Each month, the Farmstand will showcase one ethnic neighborhood of Chicago, by way of featuring locally made products from an ethnic grocery or a market. This month, Middle East Bakery & Grocery in Andersonville has been the featured partner. This happens to be one of my favorite middle eastern bakeries in the city--if I worked close to the Farmstand, I'd be right there three times a week for the eggplant pie and some kibbi balls. (Alas, I don't.)

In April, Polish folks will be represented by Delightful Pastries in Northwest side. If you've had their paczki, either from their Lawrence Avenue store or from their stand in Green City Market, you know how addictive that thing is. (That probably means that it's a good thing I don't work anywhere near the Farmstand.) On Friday, March 27 from noon to 2 pm, there'll be a lunchtime demo and tasting for a "sneak preview" of what's to come with Delightful Pastries.

Other ethnicities in the city, from African American to South Asian, will be featured in the coming months. What a great way to open the visitor's eyes to the tasty diversity of Chicago!

Chicago's Downtown Farmstand
66 E. Randolph Street
11am - 7pm: Tuesday to Friday
11am - 4pm: Saturday
Closed on Sunday & Monday

— Yu Kizawa / Comments (1)