Category Archives: Chicago Farm Markets

Get info on Chicago farm markets and learn about the farm markets in your neighborhood, when they operate, and what they have.

Let The Outdoor Farmers Market Season Begin

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FarmFreshEggs6x24Today is April 27th here in Chicago land and for the first time this year I am sitting on my balcony wearing shorts while I write this. Granted I have on a long sleeve shirt and a hooded sweatshirt but I am in shorts! As every Chicagoan knows, this has been a long, cold and wet spring that has had only 8 days above 60 degrees this year. I sip a cup of coffee (Sumatra) from the Coffee and Tea Exchange in Lakeview knowing that this is sweater weather for most of the country.  I also sit here knowing that starting next week, May 4th, my Saturday routine will change for the better. That is because the Green City farmers market goes out doors into Lincoln Park.

Almost every Saturday in the late spring through the early fall, my dog and I walk to the bank and withdraw $40 and then head over to that stretch of Lincoln Park between North Ave and the Lincoln Park Zoo entrance. That is where local farmers have sprawled out onto a couple acres with just picked fruits, vegetables and herbs. It is where you can get specialty and artisanal Wisconsin cheese. Last year I bought a 4lb slab of pork belly from a 400 acre farm in Dubuque Iowa where the pigs roam free all day and eat organic corn, hay and grain. I was able to do this because Becker Lane farm is there every Saturday. Each week I buy at least 1 dozen farm fresh eggs and a baguette from Bennison’s Bakery for my breakfast when I get back home. I walk around and look, feel and smell the products. I plan out a couple of meals for the week based on what looks especially good and fresh.

After a few weeks of the outdoor season, familiar faces go from pleasant nods to spoken “hi’s”, “hello’s” and “how are you’s”. There is a Sesame Street “Who are the people in your neighborhood” vibe that brings a genuine sense of community to the market. Folks are smiling, kids are running around, dogs checking out other dogs. Even a few of the Florida snow birds are back and catch up with one another. This seasonal outdoor market is one of the things I love about my neighborhood and this great city of Chicago.

Confection Connection

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Chocolate from Katherine Anne's

These were just a few of the samples at a recent party at Katherine Anne Confections.

Two locals dabbling in the chocolate arts are making a splash with their confections.

We met Katherine Anne, of Katherine Anne Confections, last year at one or two of the farmers markets. Her truffles are wonderful — fresh ingredients and imaginative flavors combine for a delightful experience. And as much as we admired her wares, we had to admit being inspired by her business savvy, too.

The chocolate game isn’t easy — it’s expensive to make chocolate, and the market is competitive. But Katherine Anne is doing something right and every time we run into her she seems to have something new to offer.

Chocolate Party

We recently attended a chocolate party thrown at her shop way over near Western Avenue. The $20 entrance fee included tastings of more than 20 flavors of chocolate truffles, homemade marshmallows, and delicious caramel, as well as wine and sandwiches. The chocolates were fantastic, but our favorite of the evening was a bacon caramel.

bannana cream truffles

These truffles at Katherine Anne Confections had -- if memory serves -- a banana creme pie flavor.

This party had such charm — what could be happier than a room full of patrons sampling confections and sipping wine? But everyone there seemed to have a certain loyalty to Katherine, ordering up chocolates and swearing fidelity to the idea of always buying their gift chocolates and eating chocolates from her.

Next party is May 23rd, reserve a spot now.

Sweet Margy

After a party like Katherine Anne’s, we felt like picking up something healthy at Whole Foods, but sugar always finds you — and there was Margy pushing hand-made toffee on us. Sweet Margy is also known as the Confection Diva, and her toffee is light, buttery and good. We tried the toffee grahams, toffee covered with chocolate and graham crackers, and the Tofikomin toffee covered in matzo (not kosher, but Margie says she’s working on it.) Both were delicious.

Margy tells us she makes her toffee in small batches without using any preservatives or additives. Good luck to you, Margy!