About the neighborhood and getting to the store
Along a busy stretch of Western Avenue just north off the heavily beaten trail of Milwaukee Avenue is a gem of a grocery store that impresses customers with a massive prepared food section, customizable deli sandwiches and ultra-fresh produce. This stretch of the street is right at the convergence of Logan Square and Bucktown. Fresh Market Place is easily reached via the 49 Western bus, which offers express service during the busiest of weekday hours. This grocery is equidistant to far north side and some west side neighborhoods.
To the east is the beautiful Holstein Park, which is worth a special walk to enjoy the picturesque and classic multi-unit buildings that line the park and the massive church rising over the top of the neighborhood. At the edge of the neighborhood is the landmark known as Map Room. It is a hidden gem to cap off one of the best urban walks you can take on this side of the city. Maps and beer posters line the wall and act as a “third place” for all types of people. The afternoon crowd comes to work remotely and slowly trickles out for the evening crowd to enjoy their after work beverages. To the west is the ever evolving Logan Square neighborhood, which features the most cutting edge restaurants in Chicago’s culinary scene.
It is, without a doubt, an area of the city that is in flux. Traditionally, the area west of Western (Logan Square) has been a stronghold for the Hispanic community. When walking the aisles of the store, you can see this transition in the built environment being replicated in the interesting mix of products on the shelves. Goya products (a popular Latin American brand) and traditional sodas from Puerto Rico can be found in one section, but in the next aisle over there are local artisan pasta brands and an endless assortment of craft beers. Many different culinary values exist in the neighborhood and I seek to understand all people and create a meal plan to adapt to the variety of urban experiences. My shopping list here represents this collective urban identity of a neighborhood in transition.
Tips and tricks
Check out the deli counter first
Walking in to the store, it’s essential to head to the deli counter. Here you’ll be able to customize your own deli sandwich for the impressive price of $6.99. Inside the deli case are not just all of your traditional cold cuts and cheeses, but there is also at least thirty incredible prepared foods that are far more diverse and higher quality than any traditional supermarket. This includes arancini and a whole diverse cast of empanadas.
The fresh bread is a must see
Beyond the deli you can find fresh bread from some of Chicago’s most renowned bakeries, which include Aya and Publican. Make sure to call ahead of time to make sure they didn’t sell out. We’ll be buying some of these breads for our sample recipe list that we provided below.
They have the freshest produce around town
Most of our recipes we will cook after a visit here revolve around their ultra-fresh produce. Our recent Vietnamese Pho recipe is based on a trip we had here. Don’t miss out on the Thai basil, bird chili peppers or the vast selection of hard to find mushrooms.
SAMPLE SHOPPING LIST
Tortello Casarecce Pasta, Fresh Bean Sprouts, Fresh Cilantro, Fresh Mint, Oyster Mushrooms, Eggplant, Green Olives, Bell Peppers
The recipes we cooked after our visit here
1. Vietnamese Mushroom and Meatball pho
You can try our recipe for this delicious and healthy variation of a Vietnamese pho below. We went to Fresh Market Place specifically for their fresh mint, cilantro and bean sprouts!
2. Pasta caponata from sicily (using tortello's casarecce pasta)
The pasta project shares an incredible recipe (and story) about a Sicilian pasta that has some Mediterranean influences. I need to break out my Firelli Calabrian Hot Sauce for this special recipe!
3. sauteed Oyster mushrooms
A simple side of mushrooms provides a meaty and flavorful side to any dinner. Oyster mushrooms aren’t commonly found in all supermarkets, so it’s worth it to take a shot on them if you come into Fresh Market Place.
