Sweet Street

There's eating your way through Pilsen, and then there's eating Pilsen--in caramel form, that is.

City Caramels are exactly that: butter- and sugar-based odes to Chicago neighborhoods.

Made by a former Hershey's marketing manager who loves caramels (and Chicago), the candies are unrefined in the best ways: The simple flavors look handmade and have a satisfying sugary graininess.

The Lincoln Square variety uses toasted hazelnuts to channel the neighborhood's European heritage. Pilsen's caramel contains Abuelita Mexican drinking chocolate, ancho chili, cinnamon and pepitas (toasted pumpkin seeds).

The Old Town confection, with plain caramel swaddling a pretzel, references historic St. Michael's, a Bavarian-style church. The neighborhood connection--Bavaria and pretzels--may be tenuous, but the result is delectable.

For Bucktown, there's coffee-infused caramel with chocolate-covered espresso beans--an apt flavor, considering the neighborhood's string of coffee-shop openings.

Pick up three-packs ($1.50) of each flavor at Chicago's Downtown Farmstand, Drew's Eatery, Provenance Food and Wine, and Southport Grocery. Or order half-pound bags ($12) via Etsy.

Owner Julie Brown says the next caramels will be dedicated to Wrigleyville and Beverly, the Irish-American hub on the far Southwest side. She hasn't started developing them yet, but we'll bet there will be Guinness involved.