All Together Now

Reasons to love the Dill Pickle Food Co-op

For a source-conscious, local-market-loving city, Chicago was dreadfully behind on the food co-op train. (The city's one and only--the 75-year-old Hyde Park co-op--closed in...

Better With Age

Gepperth's is 103--and still the best source for holiday meats

When serious, carnivorous cooks want game, stocks, rendered fats--and some old-school butcher-shop charm--they go to Gepperth's. This cozy Lincoln Park market turned 103 this...

Spice Trade

Three alternative flavors to spice up your holiday routine

'Tis the season for warm spices. But there's a world beyond the basics, and often all a dish needs to go from good to grand is a simple but surprising addition. Start by swapping...

Dinner Party Dreamland

Gene's makes an international fête easy as (sausage) pie

The stunning array of sausages--raw, cured, smoked and beyond--is an obvious focal point at Gene's Sausage Shop. But this new Lincoln Square market is more than a meat emporium....

Sweets With Wanderlust

A Jefferson Park favorite comes to Old Town

For a decade, Jefferson Park's Delightful Pastries has been a neighborhood favorite for its eclectic, international array of pastries. The hodgepodge of styles is inspired by the...

Here, Truffle Truffle

A new local confectioner puts serious savory into her sweets

Salt is an essential component of pastry. Anything beyond that--say, hand-blended curry powder, roasted pumpkin, or truffle shavings--is just a fun perk. It's savory elements like...