Stu’s Sour

Doser: Stu’s Sour

Founder: Stu Waters

Why we love them: Produce prince Stu and his party animal business partner Rudi Schmidt have joined forces to capture the best fresh flavors of Midwest produce in spicy, crisp pickles and mouth-tingling bloody mary mix. Gorgeous glass bottles and a hilarious collection of pickle-faces on their website complete the package.

Products: Stu’s keeps it simple, with the two ingredients essential to Chicago’s culinary culture: our Chicago hot dogs and our ultimate brunch beverage. Who said eating our veggies wasn’t fun?

Posted by dose on September 27, 2012 · Leave a Comment 

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 

Dose Cause: Project Onward

Doser: Project Onward

Why we love them: Championing the efforts of local creatives, Project Onward’s mission aligns closely with the drive behind Dose Market.

Service:  The nonprofit provides a shared studio space in downtown Chicago’s Cultural Center for artists, and represents them in curating both formal shows and informal displays throughout the city. Portrait Slams bring together Project Onward artists and the public: thirty-minute portrait sittings give all involved an opportunity to connect with someone they might not meet otherwise in a meaningful, lasting exchange.

Posted by dose on August 1, 2012 · Leave a Comment 

Food for Thought

Doser: Food for Thought

Founder: Timothy Young

Why we love them: Combine organic ingredients sourced from Michigan farms with a talented and socially conscious chef, and you’ve got yourself a premier preserve-maker. Even better, Food for Thought purchases help contribute to a healthier economy and planet.

Products: A cornucopia of multi-dimensional preserved produce: strawberry-basil, berry salsa and cherry honey mustard, to name a few.

Posted by dose on July 31, 2012 · Leave a Comment 

Kaveli

Doser: Kaveli

Founder: Elizabeth Chawla

Why we love them: Respecting and celebrating the nuanced traditions and complexities of Indian cooking, Chawla translates for the uninitiated: her cooking kits empower anyone to make authentic Indian food. And she learned from the best — her mother-in-law.

Products: Complete kits provide the exact quantities of the often hard-to-find ingredients for treats like spinach pakora and besan shortbread, plus clear directions and helpful tips.

Posted by dose on July 31, 2012 · Leave a Comment 

Bake

Doser: bake

Founders: Eric and Jennifer Estrella

Why we love them: As the name suggests, this husband and wife team keep it simple. Their lofty goal? Create the finest iterations of classic American desserts. Achieved? You bet.

Products: Chocolate chip orange breakfast bread, caramel apple pie, raspberry cream cheese brownies… tell us more!

Posted by dose on July 23, 2012 · 1 Comment 

A VERY MERRY BIRTHDAY

To all of the Dosers and market-goers who turned out in style to help us celebrate our first birthday:

Thank you! We had a very merry day, indeed.

Dose Cause Project Onward set the tone with a glitter birthday cake by artist Sereno Wilson…

And we twinkled all the way down to our toes in SDK‘s lush jewel-toned slippers.

We had no trouble choosing our mood (play!) from Lifetherapy…

Only which breakfast sandwich to choose from Bagel on Damen.

Spicebox Whisky and Jo Snow Syrups teamed up to keep the (cocktail) party going…

While Oneka helped us pick out wrist candy from her exclusive King Onye Label.

Our bellies celebrated, too, with smokey treats from Lillie’s Q,

And sweet samples from Mayana chocolate.

Everyone left a-glow thanks to special beauty goodies from Revlon, ELLE and Katy J,  

(And we were careful to watch out for zombies on our way home!)

Check out the full album on Facebook.

Dose photos by Nathan Michael

Posted by dose on July 3, 2012 · 1 Comment 

Wandawega Camp Store brick and mortar debut

Just over a year ago, I spent a weekend in Elkhorn, Wisconsin on a story assignment writing about the newly open-to- the-public Camp Wandawega. It not only proved to be one of the most idyllic vacation spots I’ve been to just an hour and a half outside of Chicago, it was also an amazing hotbed of creative energy.

It was that weekend that Emily Fiffer and I met our talented photographer Nathan Michael and had our first adventure with the husband-and-wife camp owners Tereasa Surratt and David Hernandez. Since then, Wandawega has held a special place in my heart, so it couldn’t be more perfect that Camp Wandawega is coming to Dose this Sunday to help us celebrate our one-year anniversary.

So what is Camp Wandawega? Dating back to the twenties, the camp has changed hands a number of times (from Latvian retreat to a brothel, among other things), but today, the couple has restored the property to resemble its original state, with a few creative additions. Every teepee, treehouse, Boy Scout tent, cabin and “hotel” room bears a theme played out with vintage Americana that Surratt collects thanks to her habitual thrifting and flea market trips. A first visit to Wandawega promises complete sensory overload: Choose between flying from a rope swing into the lake, testing your precision in the archery range, plowing through the 20 acres of woods on the RV, lounging in the hammock or perfecting the art of s’more-making at the bonfire pit.

It’s the kind of place you want to take something home with you as memorabilia, which is why I was thrilled to learn that Surratt was opening a souvenir store last month.  Which brings us back to Dose. If you’re so lucky to make it to Wandawega for a visit, you can browse the selection in person; everyone else can shop online. This Sunday, however, the Wandawega Camp Store comes to life at Dose with vintage-style canteens, local syrup, compasses, percolators, whistles, arrows, even charm necklaces.

As if this wasn’t enough American charm for one market, the shop is sharing a booth with Buckshot Sonny’s Sporting Goods, where you’ll find everything from beautiful handmade baseballs and Nakona gloves to denim ball caps, Horween leather watch bands, army green tanks (ladies, they put your favorite American Apparel tank to shame) and made-to-order linen dress shirts for the fellas. Perfectly timed, BSSG is also debuting its limited edition Kamp Kit, a classic waxed canvas dopp kitt made in collaboration with Winter Session, who will be selling their own wares right across the aisle.

So tie on your friendship bracelet and pack your bag for Camp Dose.

Posted by dose on June 22, 2012 · Leave a Comment 

Peanut Butter Jelly Time

One of the best parts about Dose? Discovering myriad Midwest producers.

We’ve been hooked on Madison-based Yumbutter‘s artisan peanut butter since they debuted at Dose last year. This Sunday, they’re back with a new nut butter (Ethical Elvis — bananas and bacon ground into roasted peanuts) and gluten-free bread in tow.

Every peanut butter sandwich needs a jelly counterpart. This month, we welcome Food for Thought, an organic preserves producer out of Honor, Michigan. We’re fiends for their tart cherry, strawberry-basil, and blackberry-shiraz concoctions, to name a few.

In addition to selling jars of peanut butter and preserves, Yumbutter and Food for Thought will serve delicious, nutritious sandwiches on Sunday. Turns out PB+J isn’t just for kids.

On the Menu

The Bread: Choose between Madison Sourdough’s country wheat or Yumbutter’s homemade, gluten-free Real Food Mayhem toast, a seriously satisfying combination of carrots, apples, oranges, kale, ginger, spinach, lemon, cucumber, beets, coconut, sea salt, and cranberries, lightly roasted at low temperature. Wowsa.

The Butters:

Uno: Asian Jazz Yumbutter, Michigan pear preserves, cucumber

Dos(e): Ethical Elvis Yumbutter, tomato, spring greens, feta cheese

Tres: Dark Chocolate D’lishe Yumbutter, organic banana, ABC Crunch Cereal Revolution, Azteca spice (cinnamon, ginger, cayenne)

Butter is definitely better.

Posted by dose on June 21, 2012 · Leave a Comment 

Stay cool, look hot at Dose

In the words of Nelly, ‘It’s getting hot in here, so take off all your clothes,” but you can leave your jewelry on. Here, a sampling of some of the statement-making pieces you’ll find at this weekend’s Dose:

The sweetest vintage charms and bow-shaped rhinestone brooches from Colifichet.

Vintage gold and West African and Eastern Asian trade bead door knockers from King Onye Label.

The debut of Laura Lombardi’s limited edition capsule collection, putting the sass in the brass.

Organic one-of-a-kinds from rock artist Mineralogy.

 And that’s just the beginning.

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

Three Cheers for Spicebox Whisky

This Sunday, raise not one, but two glasses to Spicebox Whisky, one of our birthday bash alcohol sponsors.

The Canadian spirit starts with a blend of bourbon barrel-aged whiskies. Some vanilla here, some spices there, and bam: A peppery, fruity beverage is born.

Spicebox mixologist Jacyara de Oliveira will pour two delicious cocktails — available exclusively at Dose — using Jo Snow syrups. Try them both, preferably not in rapid succession.

After the market, pick up a bottle of Spicebox at Binny’s and try your hand at slinging the drinks at home.

The Companion

Ingredients
1.5 oz Spicebox Whisky
.5 oz Aperol
.5 oz Jo Snow cardamom rose syrup
.75 oz fresh lemon luice
Fresh basil leaves
Sparkling wine

Method: Shake and strain into half a glass of sparkling wine.

The Perception Filter

Ingredients
1.5 oz Spicebox Whisky
.75 oz Jo Snow ginger ale syrup
.75 oz fresh lime juice
Fresh mint leaves
Coconut flavored soda water

Method: Shake and top with coconut flavored soda water.

Here’s to Spicebox’s unending generosity. Cheers!

 

 

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

Chill Out

We can’t lie: It’s hot as hell.

Cool off this Sunday at Dose’s birthday bash with some of the city’s finest chilly treats.

Jo Snow Snow Cones
You may have sampled her icy delicacies or artisan syrups at a past Dose Market. This month, Melissa Yen returns with a slew of delicious new snow cone flavors, plus boozy snow cone samples (courtesy of Dose alcohol sponsor, Spicebox Whisky).

On the menu:
The Breakfast Cone: Crop to Cup espresso, cafe de olla syrup, and sweetened condensed milk.
a.k.a. The perfect way to start your day. (Crop to Cup will also be serving hot and iced coffee, as well as iced horchata lattes.)
The Gola: An Eastern take on the cone, with ginger syrup and Co-op Hot Sauce garam masala.
a.k.a. A midday pick-you-up.
The Traditional: Tangerine lavender honey.
a.k.a. For the lightweight.
The Traditional (and then some): Add sweetened condensed milk and voila! It tastes like a creamsicle.
a.k.a. For the daredevil.

Ice Cream Floats: Snookelfritz + Seasons Soda
Dose veteran Nancy Silver of Snookelfritz teams up with new-to-the-scene soda slinger, Bobby Chang, for ice cream floats, sodas, and scoops, artisan-style.

On the menu:
Strawberry Ice Cream Float: Snookelfritz roasted strawberry brown sugar ice cream plus Seasons Soda strawberry and mint soda.
a.k.a. The best ice cream float of your life
Raspberry, Apple-Mint, and Strawberry-Mint Soda
a.k.a. Refreshing, never-too-sweet artisan sodas made from fresh, local produce.

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