Garden Fresh Market - Northbrook, IL

[ronnie_suburban]

Overall I like this store, which opened back in March. It offers a lot more good than bad and I've noticed steady improvement in both quantity and quality of goods each time I've been there.

I find the name to be somewhat ironic since their produce is the thing I like the least about Garden Fresh Market. The selection is better than what the mainline grocery chains offer but it still rates behind other northern Chicagoland outlets like Lincolnwood Produce, Produce World and some other markets that were discussed in this thread. Not only is the selection not as nice but the quality seems lower too. Selection of greens is particularly poor and carrots and broccoli are routinely soft and rubbery. Luckily, in this 'farmers market time of year,' bad produce is less irritating than it will be come next winter.

But, there are other areas which GFM covers very well. The fresh meat department, while not an on-site butchery, offers fresh versions of all the familiar staple cuts plus less common items such as veal breast, chicken feet, pork livers and ground lamb. Skirt steaks I've purchased there for $6.99/# were outstanding as were Beef Shanks which I bought for $2.59/# and Pork Butt which runs about $1.29/#, IIRC.

The deli is also very good. They offer a wide assortment of European-style products from several smaller domestic manufacturers, a good amount of imported products and also carry a full line of what I think is the best of the "major" brands, Boar's Head. Fresh wieners and sausages from several countries are abundant. There is a decent selection of fresh, imported cheeses (Fetas of several origins, for example) which are very good and large selection of salads which I haven't sampled.

Dry aisles (including household items) are also well-stocked and the choices are multitudinous. On my last trip there I bought Sriracha, Fish Sauce, Chickpea flour and curry paste to name just a few. Several Middle Eastern, Asian and European cultures seem well-represented in GFM's aisles. Another nice aspect of GFM's dry section is the large quantity of standard, domestic items such as pop, cereals, crackers and snack foods. This element is nice because it virtually eliminates the trip to the 'regular store' in almost every case. This makes it much easier to accomodate my kid's kid-like food whims.

Breads are also good at GFM. Many local bakeries are represented and you can get anything from Russian Sourdough to Pita to Kosher kaiser rolls. There are also kiosks within the store where breads such as ciabatta, croissant and bagels are available. I've found the quality of these breads to vary more than with the (other) local bakery products.

There is a very large kosher section at GFM which, I'm pretty sure, includes an on-premise butchery. I'm not totally sure about that, but it seems there is always a Rabbi present when I am at the store--not something I think pre-butchered meat would warrant--so I assume there is continuous inspection at GFM that goes beyond the receiving dock. The kosher meat department is large and there are also full aisles of dry and frozen Kosher items too.

The selection seems to be improving at GFM each time I go back. There are so many great items that I haven't mentioned too. I can really get lost in the aisles just perusing the products and reading labels. I do hope the quality of the produce eventually lives up to the name of the store (they are actually a small chain with 4 GFM stores from what I can tell) but for now I'm quite happy to have a store very near me that accomodates my 'serious' grocery needs as well as my family's needs for the basics.

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[gmi3804]

Ron, where is this located? And is Lincolnwood Produce the place on Lincoln Ave. across the street from L. Woods?

I'm always looking for great markets on the North Shore and think that Carrot Top is a bit overpriced.

Thanks!

Edited May 24, 2004 by gmi3804 (log)

[ronnie_suburban]

Ron, where is this located?  And is Lincolnwood Produce the place on Lincoln Ave. across the street from L. Woods?

I'm always looking for great markets on the North Shore and think that Carrot Top is a bit overpriced.

Thanks!

DOH!

It's on Skokie Boulevard (east side of street) between Dundee and Lake Cook in a strip mall and in the former Linens N' Things space. And yes, you are correct about LP's location.

I haven't been to Carrot Top in years. That's the place on Willow (between Waukegan and Shermer), right?

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[snowangel]

Ronnie, have you mentioned to them how much you enjoy the store and how you wish the produce were fresher? It might make a difference. We have recently moved, and in our old Minneapolis neighborhood, I had a couple of markets that seem similar. Here in the northern Twin Cities 'burb that we settled in, my choices are much more limited. I'm jealous!

[ronnie_suburban]

Ronnie, have you mentioned to them how much you enjoy the store and how you wish the produce were fresher? It might make a difference. We have recently moved, and in our old Minneapolis neighborhood, I had a couple of markets that seem similar. Here in the northern Twin Cities 'burb that we settled in, my choices are much more limited. I'm jealous!

Susan,

I think that's a good idea and I've had success with it (at other places) in the past. I just haven't run into any 'managerial' types and it hasn't seemed worth it to go out of the way and ask to speak to one. I'll give it a couple more trips and then maybe ask to speak to someone. Of course, this time of year maybe the produce will start to improve, by default.

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[gmi3804]

Ron, where is this located?  And is Lincolnwood Produce the place on Lincoln Ave. across the street from L. Woods?

I'm always looking for great markets on the North Shore and think that Carrot Top is a bit overpriced.

Thanks!

DOH!

It's on Skokie Boulevard (east side of street) between Dundee and Lake Cook in a strip mall and in the former Linens N' Things space. And yes, you are correct about LP's location.

I haven't been to Carrot Top in years. That's the place on Willow (between Waukegan and Shermer), right?

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Right!

Thanks for the info.

[niv]

The place is decent but why go there when Sunset Foods is nearby? The quality at Sunset is at least as good and they excel at kissing up to customers. There are a few specialty items at Garden Fresh that aren't at Sunset but I can't see hitting this place for much else.

[ronnie_suburban]

The place is decent but why go there when Sunset Foods is nearby?  The quality at Sunset is at least as good and they excel at kissing up to customers.  There are a few specialty items at Garden Fresh that aren't at Sunset but I can't see hitting this place for much else.

I dunno. I definitely like Sunset, but I always feel like I'm getting gouged there. That said, they do carry excellent quality goods at Sunset--albeit mostly mainstream stuff--and the selection is pretty decent. It is an excellent, small chain of stores. But, they don't carry things like pork butt, ultra thin pita bread, etc. at Sunset so I find it somewhat incomplete for my regular grocery needs.

But I like 'shopping on the fringes' (which is hard enough to do in suburbia) and that's what I like about GFM--the unusual items, less common cuts of meat & offal, imported dry goods, etc. are what keep me going back there. And as long as I'm going to GFM, it's nice not to have to hit a 2nd store. That said, Sunset will always be in my 'rotation.' And clearly, Sunset's produce is superior to GFM's--even if it is substantially more expensive.

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[niv]

Ahh. I didn't notice the prices at GFM but that would be an excellent reason to go there over Sunset. My only complaint with Sunset is the prices.

Edited May 25, 2004 by niv (log)

[Tracy K.]

Some of the things you can get at Sunset are definitely worth the price charged; some items are just mainstream.

You can often find things at Carrot Top that you can't find elsewhere, like rainbow chard on the cusp of the season.

I'm a big fan of Treasure Isalnd on Ridge (Gross Point) Road in Wilmette. Their selection is outstanding and quite fresh. They also have a good selection of unusual items/spices that you'll never find anywhere else.

I've gotten a lot of crap from Lincolnwood produce, but they have some ethnic items, like frozen favas, that you can't find elsewhere.

Lakeside Foods in Winnetka has a wonderful full-service butcher shop with prime beef at amazing prices--amazingly reasonable, that is ($9.99/# prime porterhouse).

[elfin]

Still a huge fan of Produce World's prices (french feta-$5.99/lb) and selection. On the same trip I also hit the Black Forest Butcher shop a few doors down for meat, the frozen goulash and rouladen and german potato salad. But will try the new place most definately. Not a fan of Sunset but will catch a leader sale and fill my gas tank across the street to avoid Cook County tax. Will try out the new place it must be huge since it took over the Linens and Things space. Lakeside Foods is a wonderful place-friendly folks. Hate Grand in Winnetka-makes Sunset and Carrot Top look cheap. Treasure Island has tarmosalata is the deli and some nice produce.

[gmi3804]

Treasure Island in Wilmette has caciocavallo cheese, a special Italian cheese not unlike Romano. My Dad makes a zillion-layer tomoato bread at Christmastime, and used to make me drive out to the Italian grocery stores on Harlem Ave., to find it. Treasure Island is five minutes away!

[ronnie_suburban]

I like Treasure Island on Ridge...they carry Meyer Lemons and everyone there is very friendly. The store seems more than a little grungy to me but I can live with it.

I love Lincolnwood Produce and I think it's the best 'grocery store' in northern Chicagoland--especially for produce. But, I sent some friends there who told me they thought it was filthy I don't agree with them but it's really far from my house anyway, so I don't get to shop there regularly.

And I do love Produce World too. Haven't been there since mid March but I was able to successfully do about 90% of food shopping there during the 1st quarter of the year. Then, GFM opened and ever since, I've been choosing the shorter trip over what I believe is the better store.

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[niv]

I also like Treasure Island but only as a second source to get a few items you can't find at other grocery stores. The prices tend to be high and the customer service is not unlike that you would find at the large commercial stores (e.g., Jewell). I used to go to Produce World a few times a year for some specialty items but can now get the stuff cloer to home. I never really shopped for produce at Produce World; I have always been focusing on unusual packaged goods.

I agree about Grand and haven't been to Lakeside in over 20 years, so can't comment on that store.

As for Carrot Top, I know people who love the place and go there religiously. While I think it's a good store, I've never seen the need to make a special trip there.

[Derek Wildstar]

Alright, if we're talking grocery stores, I have to mention how much I like Trader Joe's. Good cheap Belgian chocalate and frozen deveined shrimp that doesn't taste frozen. The plugra seems pretty cheap there too, but I have to admit I never really compared it to other stores.

[gmi3804]

Alright, if we're talking grocery stores, I have to mention how much I like Trader Joe's. Good cheap Belgian chocalate and frozen deveined shrimp that doesn't taste frozen. The plugra seems pretty cheap there too, but I have to admit I never really compared it to other stores.

Yes. And a great nut selection too.

And their "Prelude to a Quiche" mini quiches are quite good for frozen food - buttery and ready in 15 minutes!

[ronnie_suburban]

I agree about TJ's quality on the mentioned items--especially chocolate, nuts and Plugra, which last time I checked, was $2.99/pound. A very nice price for sure.

FYI, there are several threads about Trader Joe's currently running here at eGullet.

Here are a couple of links...(there are even a few more threads too)

Trader Joe's

The origins of Trader Joe's

Frozen Fish at Trader Joe's in Chicago

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[ronnie_suburban]

Nice piece, by Barbara Revsine, in today's Chicago Tribune about Garden Fresh Market...

Kosher fare gets top billing at new supermarket

Like its three siblings in Chicago, Wheeling and Mundelein, the new Garden Fresh Market in Northbrook is a full-service supermarket wrapped around an ethnically diverse specialty market.

Owner Adi Mor tailors each store's inventory to the neighborhood it serves; in this case, the Northbrook store's options include a separate kosher deli and meat market supervised by the Chicago Rabbinical Council.

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