Winter Session

Doser: Winter Session

Founders: Tanya Fleisher and Roy Katz

Why we love them: Each and every item, handmade by Tanya and Roy in their dreamy Andersonville studio, is saturated with care, style and timeless utility. Sophisticated and rugged, Winter Session goods are true heirlooms.

Products: Slim leather cardholders, roomy waxed canvas totes, denim aprons and more — all made with carefully sourced new and upcycled materials from North America.

 

Posted by dose on September 14, 2012 · Leave a Comment 

House of KYM

Doser: House of KYM

Founders: Yana Frigelis and Mara Maddocks

Why we love them: With the belief that we all share intertwining histories, House of KYM seeks to build and strengthen those threads by reimagining vintage decor for the modern home. Think hutches painted brilliant turquoise and tassel-bedecked desks.

Products: Storied decor, spiffed-up and made new.

Posted by dose on July 25, 2012 · Leave a Comment 

Antique Taco

Doser: Antique Taco

Founder: Ashley and Rick Ortiz

Why we love them: This husband-wife dream team marries Ashley’s experience in event planning with Rick’s culinary background, and the result is the ideal taco experience. Johnny Cash on the stereo, hand-stamped toothpicks demarcating taco type, and unique antique plates: thoughtful details that make Antique Taco totally guapo.

Products: Mexican fare made with market-fresh Midwest ingredients: tacos, salads, the best horchata milkshake you’ll ever have y mas.

Posted by dose on July 20, 2012 · Leave a Comment 

Rebuilding Exchange

Doser: ReBuilding Exchange

Founder: The nonprofit Delta Institute

Why we love them: “RX” repurposes architectural salvage to create beautiful and functional pieces, ranging from tooled leather goods to custom dining tables. Infusing a second life into pre-existing materials only heightens the beauty and character of each hand-crafted item.

Products: Cutting boards, full-length mirrors, tables of all sizes…dream it up, and RX will build it. Or, if we’re in the market for, say, an entire bi-colored seating section straight from a bowling alley; a retro water fountain; or a church’s stained glass window, we know where to go.

Posted by dose on July 13, 2012 · Leave a Comment 

SMOKING GOOSE

Doser: Smoking Goose

Founder: Chris Eley

Why we love him:  From their Indianapolis meat locker, Eley makes both traditional and unique carnivorous concoctions including slow cured and smoked meats, salumi and fresh sausages.  They only cure and smoke the meat from healthy animals raised on independent Indiana farms by people who care as much about the well being of the animals and the land as they do their own families.

Products: Produce handcrafted, flavor packed protein treats.

Dose appearances: February 12 and counting.

Posted by dose on May 6, 2012 · Leave a Comment 

SENTEAMENTAL MOODS

Doser: Senteamental Moods

Founder: Lori Watts-Branch

Why we love her: Senteamental Moods presents high quality teas imported from the best gardens in Asia, Africa and South America. They also obtain fresh fruits and herbs from local farmers and dehydrate them to use in their own blends.

Products: Excellent tea products and accompaniments that will add to your appreciation of tea.

Dose appearances: February 12, April 15 and counting.

Posted by dose on May 6, 2012 · Leave a Comment 

Thank you, LBD!

Voila!

Posted by dose on April 25, 2012 · Leave a Comment 

The Rundown: April 15 Dose

April is known for showers, and our monthly installation of Dose was no exception. Crowds flooded the REAC, eager to fill their bellies and bags with a slew of new finds.

Aisles felt clearer thanks to the upper-level Dose Pantry, and warm weather allowed for meals along the Riverwalk.

Serving the strongest brew in Dose history: Metropolis. Chemex truly does wonders.

ReBuilding Exchange came with stunningly rustic tables, hand-turned cutting boards, and leatherwear.

Haberdash gave the boys something to squeal about — namely, kerchiefs, pocket squares, and scarves.

Speaking of squealing…porchetta muffalettas from Crumb/Coop Hot Sauce. (Too much? Nah.)

Good Hope Rusks stole the prize for prettiest table (and served tasty snacks, to boot).

Ladybug Vintage‘s colorful table spilled over with killer statement pieces.

Honey Butter Fried Chicken sold 550 legs in under four hours. That’s one for the Guinness Book.

Toki and Winifred Grace are like two peas in a pod; their design styles are different, but complementary.

And what’s a happy day at Dose without a family photo? (Thanks, Smilebooth!)

Impressed? Just wait ’til we’re back May 13. It’s Mother’s Day, so bring your mama and give her the gift of Dose! (Photos by the always impressive Nathan Michael.)

Posted by dose on April 19, 2012 · Leave a Comment 

Sugar Shocked

All this vegetable talk is making us hungry…for dessert. Get your glucose on at Dose this Sunday. Even your dentist will be there.

Lucila’s Homemade Alfajores
First things first: An alfajor is a traditional Argentine dessert — two crumbly cookies sandwiching creamy dulce de leche. An Argentinian native, Lucila Giagrande landed in Chicago at age 24 and hasn’t looked back. She dips her confections in white or dark Belgian chocolate, slathers them with coconut flakes, and also makes a plain (yet extraordinary) version. Try not to eat the whole box in one sitting.

Chocolate Twist
Quoted from the Chocolate Twist Facebook page: “We’re bringing the biggest, bad assiest box of caramels to this Sunday’s Dose Market. Espresso, Lavender, Black Licorice, Cocoa, Epic Sea Salt, Beer & Pretzel.” We couldn’t have said it better ourselves. Not only do we love her taste in adjectives — we love tasting her product. You will, too.

ByM Desserts
Pastry Chef Malika Ameen is one of the city’s best — but you won’t find her at a restaurant. Her sweets are mail-order-only, save for when she pops up at Dose. This weekend, she’s coming with her gorgeous cakes in tow. Score slices of Chocolate Smores cake (devil’s food cake with malted bittersweet ganache and toasted marshmallow fluff) and Meyer lemon-rhubarb-strawberry cake (vanilla buttermilk cake with Meyer lemon cream and fresh rhubarb-strawberry preserves). Swoon. These beauts will be joined on the table by wildflower-honey granola, fig-hazelnut biscotti and a spread of her knockout cookies.

Find your sweet spot at Dose on Sunday!

Posted by dose on April 12, 2012 · Leave a Comment 

Home on the Rearrange

Spring cleaning has so many meanings in Chicago: sloughing of winter-worn skin, wardrobe-revamping (goodbye puffy coat, hello spring cape) and general home design overhauling. This month at Dose we’re tackling the latter with a number of awesome vendors:

Start off looking for Blake at ReBuilding Exchange, a nonprofit organization that deals in reclaimed reusable building materials. The master carpenter promises to arrive with a few stray wood chips in his hair for an extra authentic touch in addition to bringing a sample of the company’s new furniture line RX Made. At Dose this Sunday, find a rustic dining table, a bench, wood-framed mirrors, adorable walnut cutting boards and more.

 

Then get inspired and sign up for a workshop. I did!

Detroit-based bed and breakfast Honor + Folly is hauling to Chicago for the day to hawk homegoods, baked goods and general Motor City love. Get messy in the kitchen or the garden (note the detachable pocket that doubles as a garden goods carrier and a pot holder) with linen aprons:

Or grab these handknitted potholders. They’ll double as sweet trivets on your RX Made dining table.

Look for Houndstooth Vintage, Unison (Lush pillows in four new color ways plus chambray sheets!), House of KYM and more to fill your home with spring goodness.

 

Posted by dose on April 12, 2012 · Leave a Comment 

No Meat? Yes, Please.

As the sole non meat-eating Dosette, it’s time I represented my people. And when I say people, I don’t just mean vegetarians; I mean vegetable-lovers.

Mana Food Bar has been feeding the masses since they opened in Wicker Park in 2008. Chef Jill Barron’s food crosses ethnic borders right and left, swirling through India, China, Japan, dipping into Central and South America and coming back to the U.S. In other words, the flavors are inspiring. Meat? What meat? It’s a distant memory at Mana.

On Sunday, Jill will be serving some of Mana’s most sought-after fare: addictive Mana sliders, hearty mushroom-and-brown rice-packed creations topped with spicy aioli and served on a cushy bun. They’re miniature. They’re delicious. You’ll love them.

Sesame noodles with peanut dressing are served cold, but spicy Sriracha brings the heat.

A quinoa salad with almonds, currants, mint, and tangerine adds crisp freshness where crisp freshness is due.

So: Vegetable lovers, go forth. Carnivores, commence. It’s veggie vehemence this month (Peeled is in the mix, too)!

Posted by dose on April 4, 2012 · 1 Comment 

MAMA’S NUTS

Doser: Mama’s Nuts

Founders: Adrienne Lo (one half of the dynamic duo behind another Dose Market favorite, X-marx)

Why we love them: Not content to rely on bottled versions, the vanilla extract used in Mama’s Nuts’ sweet offerings is made in-house using small-batch bourbon and Madagascar and Tahitian vanilla beans from their past Dose partner in crime, Rare Tea Cellar.

Products: Ridiculously addictive sweet nut brittles and spiced almonds and peanuts.

Dose appearances: World debut at the September 25, November 6, December 4, February 12, April 15, May 13 and counting.

 

Posted by dose on October 27, 2011 · 2 Comments