69 replies to this topic

[guajolote]

My wife is going to Red Hen bakery today. I can hardly wait for dinner.

Here's a review

I think Sam's wines sells Red Hen bread in their market?

1623 N. MIlwaukee Ave.
Chicago, IL 60647
773-342-6823

[Aurora]

If you ever get the chance, check out Breadsmith Inc. on N. Wells.

Breadsmith Inc.

[guajolote]

If you ever get the chance, check out Breadsmith Inc. on N. Wells.

Breadsmith Inc.

I've driven by the one in Skokie - never stopped.

Next time I will.

[maggiethecat]

My wife is going to Red Hen bakery today. I can hardly wait for dinner.

Here's a review

I think Sam's wines sells Red Hen bread in their market?

1623 N. MIlwaukee Ave.
Chicago, IL 60647
773-342-6823

My daughter used to live around the corner from Red Hen...nice little luxury to grab a loaf or two when we visited. It's been a couple of years, but I remember outstanding product and very nice people.

Aurora: Thanks for the tip about Breadsmith.

[elfin]

Roadfood.com-what a cool site to use with Metromix! Thanks. I think that great bread is hard to find in Chicago. The best rye bread is at Kaufmans Bakery/Deli on Dempster (next to the Swift) in Skokie. They bake it fresh daily and it contains no preservatives so it does spoil quickly. But for under$ 1.80 for a one pound loaf of bliss it is worth it. They have other baked goods that look yummy (rugulah, bagels and coffee cakes) but we go just for the bread (and the best corned beef ).

[cmantuano]

I think that Fox and Obel has great bread.

[guajolote]

The baguette from Red Hen lived up to the expectations. The inside was light and a bit sour, with a good chewy crust. My 10 month old son loves baguttes for some reason. I showed it to him and then went in the kitchen to cut it up. He started crying because he wanted the whole loaf.

I agree with Kaufmans (I just drove by there and they had a sign which proclaimed themselves to be the Macaroon capital of the world ), but if I'm in the mood for rye bread I usually get a loaf of pumpernickel from the Baltic Bakery. Val's also makes good Eastern European breads.

[awbrig]

I just picked up a Ren Hen baguette from Chalet on the Gold Coast. The bread crust seems very very hard...I hope I didnt get one that was left over from yesterday...

Edited by awbrig, 04 April 2003 - 01:50 PM.

[guajolote]

The remains from my Red Hen baguette are now hard as a rock. Bread Crumb time. I hope yours is OK. Can we call you Tommy2 since you're playing Thomas Keller tonight?

Happy Anniversary! How many years?

[Aurora]

The baguette from Red Hen lived up to the expectations. The inside was light and a bit sour, with a good chewy crust. My 10 month old son loves baguttes for some reason. I showed it to him and then went in the kitchen to cut it up. He started crying because he wanted the whole loaf.

I agree with Kaufmans (I just drove by there and they had a sign which proclaimed themselves to be the Macaroon capital of the world ), but if I'm in the mood for rye bread I usually get a loaf of pumpernickel from the Baltic Bakery. Val's also makes good Eastern European breads.

Do you mind providing the vitals on these places? I'm caught up in a fit of laziness. I don't want to look it up myself.

I suspect your 10-month-old is into the bread due to itchy gums (teething).

[guajolote]

Kaufmans Bagel & Delicatessen
847-677-9880
4905 Dempster St
Skokie IL

It's on the south side of street just east of the Skokie Swift El stop. They also have a great deli.

Baltic Bakery and Val's I buy from the local store (Roger's Park Fruit Market, Clark & Rogers)

Edited by guajolote, 06 April 2003 - 08:49 AM.

[Aurora]

Kaufmans Bagel & Delicatessen
847-677-9880
4905 Dempster St
Skokie IL

It's on the south side of street just east of the Skokie Swift El stop. They also have a great deli.

Baltic Bakery and Val's I buy from the local store (Roger's Park Fruit Market, Clark & Rogers)

Much thanks,

Kaufman's is now in the Rolodex.

[Hopleaf]

It can't live up to the Red Hen (not much can), but the "Artisan Breads" at Dominick's are really surprisingly good. I particularly like the Asiago Bread they sell. But get there early on a Saturday cuz these loaves sell like...er...hot cakes.

[guajolote]

I bought a baguette (along with 2 cookies that cost $5 each!) from Bittersweet on Belmont last week when I was buying chocolate truffles for Mother's Day. It was very good, but not as good as Red Hen.

The Dominick's Artisan loaves are good, but I think the quality has gone done since Safeway came in, much like everything else at Dominick's.

[nerissa]

My local, the Medici Bakery (on E. 57th in Hyde Park) has really fine buttery baguette. They also make ciabattas, that are wonderfully airy--a nice salty, crust with a hint of olive oil. If you are lucky, you can get their Olive Ciabatta. Heaven.

Don't even think of eating at its owner-restaurant.

[guajolote]

Bennison's Bakery in Evanston also makes a great, airy, ciabatta. They have a stand at the Evanston Farmer's market. The lady sees me coming and gets my ciabatta and two chocolate croissants (for wife and daughter) ready.

[victoria56]

If you ever get the chance, check out Breadsmith Inc. on N. Wells.

Another one of my favorite neighborhood shops. They also do a great frosted sugar cookie. They're the size of a saucer, and everyone walking down Wells Street seems to be eating one.They've recently started offering fruit tarts, which look very tempting. I usually stick to the multi-grain and the French peasant loaf as our daily breads. The asiago chese bread is exceptional. And the fat free cinnamon rolls are sinful. They offer free sample slices all afternoon, and they have a frequent buyer program. I have about a 4 or 5 block walk to Breadsmith, which justifies my buying a cookie for the walk home.

[Sweet Willie]

The pastries from the Hippo Bakery located inside the large Japanese grocery store called Mitsuwa (corner Arlington Hts & Algonquin Rd) has some incredible buttery, flakey, slight crisp, pastries I've had in the Chicago area. very consistent operation.

anyone else have a recommendation?

[guajolote]

I have to say that the pastries/cakes/tarts etc. that I have been getting from Nightscotsman are by far the best I've ever had.

I usually go to Rolf's Pattisserie in Lincolnwood (Touhy 1/2 block east of Lincoln). Good selection and fair prices. They also have a couple of tables if you want to stop for a cup of coffee and some sweets.

Bittersweet on Belmont (1100 block?) is also good, but very expensive.

If your in Pilsen you have to go to Bon Bon for tres leches, they make multiple flavors.

[VeryApe77]

Sweet Willie,

I'd have to second you on the Hippo Bakery. Mitsuwa is one of my favorite spots in the Chicagoland area. The bread in the grocery store there is also great. But you can't beat the chocolate-filled turtle pastries at Hippo. I haven't been there for a few months now. Thanks for reminding me!

Edited by VeryApe77, 11 September 2003 - 07:20 AM.

[maggiethecat]

Weclome to eGullet, VeryApe.

[VeryApe77]

Cheers! Very happy to be here

[nightscotsman]

We recently had a small sampling from Vanille, the new shop in town, and Bittersweet. The stuff from Vanille was very high-quality with clean, bright flavors and modern presentation. The passionfruit tart was a standout. The Bittersweet items in comparison were dissapointing. The pound cake was dry and flavorless and the croissants were the worst I've seen outside of a supermarket bakeshop - misshapen, greasy and underbaked.

I have to say that the pastries/cakes/tarts etc. that I have been getting from Nightscotsman are by far the best I've ever had.

I just wish more of you guys could come and take them off my hands. I have three cakes in the fridge right now that will probably go to work with my roommate today, and I'll be bringing home two or three more tonight. PLEASE PM ME IF YOU CAN COME AND GET THEM (I'm in Rogers Park)! And there will be sorbet and ice cream starting next week.

[Sweet Willie]

I have three cakes in the fridge right now that will probably go to work with my roommate today, and I'll be bringing home two or three more tonight. PLEASE PM ME IF YOU CAN COME AND GET THEM (I'm in Rogers Park)! .

YGM!

My whole family clan will be in town this weekend.

Willie

[nightscotsman]

YGM?

[Sweet Willie]

YGM?

You've Got Mail (Email)

I've used this acronym on other boards and looks like I assumed incorrectly that is was used on eG as well.

[Wendy DeBord]

I had a couple items from Gerhards Bakery in lake Forest this past week that were excellent.

Keylime tart- in a spicy crust (definately cinnamon but not sure if there were others).

Fruit tart-using a puff pastry base- it was very light and just the perfect balance of the natural sweetness from the berries to pastry cream and whip cream.

Chocolate tart- chocolate mousse disk with groite cherries sitting on a fuietine ganjua base, thin topping of ganche and unsweetened whip cream

Black and White tart- white chocolate mousse set in a molded chocolate tart shell (Purchased and stale unforunately) layer of sponge cake soaked with coffee, topped with a light chocolate mousse.

I really liked the fact that he doesn't sweeten his whipped cream- it plays a perfect balance against the sweet pastry.

The sales clerk was just a bit too freindly and for each description/question (since they don't label items) she'd step around to the front to view the pastries. She also bragged about his macaroons- yet there weren't any available for sale. She went to great lenghts to tell me how he has people on a calling list waiting for theses. Which didn't make any sense to me........I'd have them on hand all the time if there was such a huge demand for them.

All and all it was worth the $21.00 for 4 individually sized (yet petite) pastries.

[Sweet Willie]

forgot to add:

Chiu Quon Bakery has two locations, one in Chicago's Chinatown and another in what I call Chicago's Vietnamtown which is Argyle street on the north side of Chicago.
The reason I am recommending Chiu Quon Bakery is I've found that they speak more English and have more signs in English than the other bakeries in the area so it is a good stop to see what Chinese pastries and sweets are offered. Plus the store is better lit than others as well.

Simply view the cases and their yummy contents. Perhaps a pastry filled w/walnut bean paste, a sesame dough ball filled w/sweet bean paste (one of my favorites), or a coconut tart.

If you have been to Hong Kong, you may have seen the Egg Tarts

“Egg tarts are a little small open face tart (3' diameter and 1' deep) which have a sweet egg custardy filling. When fresh out of the oven they smell like a cross between fresh brioche and crème caramel.”

Chiu Quon serves the egg tarts and if you get them when they are fresh out of the oven, MAN!, there are few sweets that are better. The tarts really do need to be warm. Heating them in my oven worked well.


Chiu Quon Bakery
1127 W. Argyle - phone: 773.907.8888
2242 S. Wentworth – phone: 312.225.6608

[ronnie_suburban]

Another fine place in the northern burbs is Three Tarts Bakery (formerly Vanilla Bean Bakery) in Northfield. They have excellent breads and delicious sweets...and also great sandwiches at lunch time. Their sesame semolina bread is outstanding as are their baguette and rye bread. Their cookies and cakes are also top-notch and beautifully rendered. I'm not sure it's worth a special trip, but certainly worth a stop if you are in the area.

=R=

[tavogels]

I've recently moved to the area-- have found a couple decent-enough bakeries for coffee cakes and other midwestern "standards". What I'm looking for, though, is a bakery that sells really good French or Viennese pastries-- the kind of stuff that is way too labor-intensive to make at home regularly. If the western 'burbs is too ambitious, recommendations in the city would also be appreciated. Many thanks!