Real Kitchen
Doser: Real Kitchen Founders: Nick Schmuck and Shannon Dudas Why we love them: After spending years creating “art on a plate” for diners, Real Kitchen’s chefs decided to go back to their roots and begin cooking the real food that real people eat every day. (And we’re thankful they did.) Products: Everything from soups, salads, snacks, and sandwiches to complete meals to reheat at home. Read More
Sweet Cakes
Doser: Sweet Cakes Why we love them: Mini cupcakes, inventive flavors, and vegan options galore mean there’s something for everyone at Sweet Cakes. Products: As the name suggests, you’ll find no shortage of cakes at this Ukrainian Village storefront. Sweet Cakes ovens are hot with other sweet (cookies and muffins are pretty much a given) and savory treats, like beautiful quiche, croissants, and the occasional cheesy calzone. Read More
Heritage Prairie Farm
Doser: Heritage Prairie Farm Founders: Bronwyn Weaver and Bob Archibald Why we love them: This farm’s got it all: sprawling acreage to stock their on-site farmer’s market, historic architecture and bucolic vistas perfect for special events, and a talented chef to bring it all together. Products: Bron’s Bee Company Raw Prairie Honey, golden and glowing in keepsake glass jars with Arts and Crafts-style labels. It was love at... Read More
Sweet Sensations Pastry
Doser: Sweet Sensations Pastry Founder: Sharin Nathan Why we love her: Chef Sharin (former pastry chef at Charlie Trotter’s) takes all-American dessert classics to new heights. She wooed us with her chocolate chunk cookie, then killed us softly with crumbly currant scones and almond cherry bars. Products: An amazing selection of cakes, tarts, cookies, cupcakes, candies and a rotating selection of pastries. Read More
Alaskan Salmon
Doser: Alaskan Salmon Founders: John Each Why we love them: A teacher by day, John Each moonlights as a fisherman. Every summer, he decamps from his hometown, Minneapolis, to Alaska to fish for salmon and enjoy the wilderness. Lucky for us city folk, he makes the drive to Chicago to share his catch. Products: Fresh, smoked and frozen Wild Alaskan Sockeye salmon. Read More
Rich Chocolates & Candies
Doser: Rich Chocolates & Candies Founder: Lauren Pett Why we love her: Lauren has a way with chocolate. She understands the importance of quality ingredients, sourcing locally whenever possible. And, dang, do her candies taste good. Products: Hand-dipped truffles, chocolate barks, toffee, caramel corn, turtles, caramels and very sweet chocolate-dipped animal crackers. Update: Rich Chocolates & Candies closed its virtual doors in May 2012. Read More
Bleeding Heart Bakery & Cafe
Doser: Bleeding Heart Bakery & Cafe Founders: Husband and wife team Vinny and Michelle Garcia Why we love them: BRB doesn’t just make a chocolate chip cookie. They don’t just make a brownie. They put their expertise, creativity, and inspiration into every single thing they bake. Sure, they’re eager to please—but they’re also out to change perceptions of traditional baking. Products: Get cakes and pastries with a punk-rock... Read More
UrbanBelly / Belly Shack
Doser: UrbanBelly / Belly Shack Founder: Chef Bill Kim Why we love him: Everything Chef Kim touches seems to turn delicious. With a background in French cooking and roots in South Korean, everything on the menu at his two Asian-influenced restaurants is at once comforting and exciting. Products: For a sophisticated take on noodles and dumplings, check out UrbanBelly in Avondale. If you’re in the mood for casual BYOB with a Latin twist, check... Read More
240Sweet
Doser:240Sweet Founder: Alexa Lemley and Samantha Aulick Why we love her: Chef Alexa Lemley uses Michigan beet sugar, Ohio glucose and Indiana cornstarch in place of nasty stabilizers, resulting in chewy but not tacky, sweet but not syrupy marshmallows. Products: 240Sweet has more than 70 (yeah, that’s not a typo) gourmet marshmallow flavors, ranging from classic (salty caramel, chocolate hazelnut, Hoosier strawberry) to jazzed up versions... Read More
Das Foods
Doser: Das Foods Founder: Katie Das She’s salty: Unlike many sweet peddlers, Das Foods was founded out of love for salt, not sugar. Katie’s original vision was to introduce others to wonderful gourmet salts that she has located all over the world. Why we love her: All Das Foods caramels use only natural and sustainable ingredients such as Midwestern cream, butter and honey all procured from small farmers. Katie also donates 10% of profits... Read More
Floriole Cafe and Bakery
Doser: Floriole Cafe and Bakery Founders: Chef Sandra Hol and her husband, Mathieu Local roots: Floriole began as a stand at Chicago’s famed Green City Market, where for nearly 5 years they sold rustic, French pastries in a 10-by-10 tent. Why we love them: Chef Hol’s scrumptious pastries and breads are as good we’ve had anywhere in the U.S. (and France, for that matter), and Floriole’s elegant, airy Lincoln Park storefront is... Read More
Quarter Circle Seven Ranch
Doser: Quarter Circle Seven Ranch Founder: Frank Morgan Why we love him: In these days of big agro, it’s nice to find an old fashioned rancher with modern, sustainable values. All of Morgan’s livestock are sustainably raised, which is better for the consumers’ health, animals’ health and the health of the land they’re raised on. Products: All-natural, grass-fed, antibiotic-free beef raised right here in Illinois. Order... Read More
