MKF-Recipe-Card-1up-Asp-Ramp-Breakfast-BowlDownload This recipe is shared in partnership with Mick Klug Farms. Support like this helps us keep the publication flourishing! In 2024 Mick Klüg Farms will offer monthly CSA subscriptions from April to November, as well as Full-Season (May to October) and Peak-Season (June to August) CSA programs.  MKF CSA shares bring you the best of the Mick Klüg Farms produce you would be able to take home from farmers market stands at the peak of season in a convenient weekly package, as well as fabulous treats from our Chicago and local farm partners.  ..read more

In the winter months, it’s hard to imagine anything growing in Chicago, let alone greenhouses full of spinach and other greens. And yet, on farms throughout the city’s west and south sides, seeds are already being sown for another year of abundance by food-focused organizations like Urban Growers Collective. A 501(c)3 organization that is Black and women-led, Urban Growers Collective (UGC) was founded in 2017 by Laurell Sims and Erika Allen to cultivate nurturing environments. UGC’s mission is to support health, economic development, and healing creativity in Chicago through urban agriculture ..read more

When we first met Dion, the founder of Dion’s Chicago Dream, he had just finished setting up his non-profit. It was two years ago at one of our favorite pizza shops, Vito and Nick’s. We had just sat down and were reviewing questions when he walked in and introduced himself. We had seen some of his work through social media and were familiar with the Dream Fridge in Englewood, a public refrigerator that he would fill with fresh produce for the neighborhood. What we didn’t know was that Dion was a veteran himself who once experienced food insecurity and homelessness, and was now packing boxes of ..read more

I am on the phone with Dileep Gangolli, the co-owner of the Green Grocer, a small upscale convenience store located in the West Loop. His voice is kind and thoughtful as he tells me about all the ways he’s had to change his store in the past few years. He used to stock more things such as fresh groceries, but he’s had to slim down his inventory and instead focuses on pantry staples, local beers, and imported wines that offer a good quality for price. “A lot of people adopted online grocery delivery as a permanent change,” said Gangolli. “With more of our customers working from home, we get les ..read more

On the corner of Addison and Lincoln, under a criss-crossing of train tracks, a small miracle unfolds every day as Loba Pastry + Coffee serves imaginative baked goods from behind wintery fogged-up windows. The pastries on offer are surprising in flavor and flawless in technique. The coffee is strong, and the vibe is just right—especially because laptops are banned. And if this all seems like an exciting, new development, then rest assured: it’s not.  In fact, Loba celebrated eight years of business in January. Loba, owned by Valeria Socorro Velazquez Lindsten, could be likened to a phoeni ..read more

A legendary partnership built upon mutual respect and values, Bronzeville Winery has quickly become a community staple after two years of rapid growth—and was recently awarded “Best Hospitality” at Chicago’s Jean Banchet Awards. What can entrepreneurs and restaurateurs in disinvested communities learn from its success? Co-owners Eric Williams and Cecilia Cuff sat with Edible Chicago and shared their journey behind creating a space designed to engage, activate, and elevate the community. Xiao Faria daCunha (Xiao): My first question is about the structure: Why did you choose to start a winery re ..read more

We’re throwing a party! An Edible Chicago launch party that is – happening at Hopewell Brewing Company on March 14th from 6-9 pm. Photo: Hopewell Brewing Co. Join the EC team, local business owners and non-profit leaders, fellow readers and food systems fanatics while we celebrate the launch of our spring issue! Tickets include an open bar stocked with Hopewell Brewing’s best beverages, including alternative options for those looking for non-alcoholic or non-beer options. Light bites will also be available. Come hang out, enjoy good food, great drinks, and even better company. Let’s raise a gl ..read more

Big or small, and always local – our 2023 gift guide is full of ideas by and for Chicago. Get Together Now!: A Chicago Maker Party All Together Now More than a one stop shop for entertaining throughout the holiday season – All Together Now has a small selection of “easy” gifts for snack enthusiasts near and far. This gift box stands out – full of a curated selection of speciality items from Chicago makers. From $225 The Lula Cafe Cookbook: Collected Recipes and Stories Lula Cafe This cook book needs no introduction – a twenty year celebration of Lula Cafe. Fingers crossed whoever you gift it t ..read more

Over the summer when our family from Jordan came to visit, we decided to treat them to a day at the Oak Park Conservatory. Our drive to the conservatory, as you might imagine, took us through the Austin neighborhood. And the moment we passed from Austin to Oak Park, the shock on our visitors’ faces was impossible to miss.  It sparked a big, but not infrequent, discussion: why do such evident disparities exist between bordering neighborhoods?   To answer these questions, we need to understand Chicago’s history of segregation. Generations have grappled with the consequences of red ..read more

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