Want to sweeten up your summer while doing something sweet? Support small businesses by attending your local farmers market. Each vendor has its own empowering backstory, and we had the privilege of profiling five different dessert vendors who can be found at farmers markets throughout Chicago and the North Shore. Sheekar Delights Growing up, Diane […]
The dawn of a new year has long been a time for forecasts and prophecies, for both trendspotters and laymen alike. For starters, everyone wants a jump start on the hottest fashions, the colors of the year, sports team rankings, and the future state of the economy. All valid concerns, but of course my area […]
The holidays may come and go, but our obsession with cookies — those crunchy, crispy, chewy, and sweet wonders — will never die, because cookies tell our story. Your childhood, your Girl Scout troop, your grandmother, your culture, all on view. One woman’s lebkuchen is another’s gingerbread; my twice-baked cookie might be biscotti or Mandelbrot. […]
July is National Ice Cream Month and here are the top Chicago spots where we’re making the rounds to celebrate. I don’t know about you, but no matter how full I am, I can always make room for ice cream, gelato, sorbet, or frozen yogurt. On a hot summer day, these desserts hit the spot. […]
Ice cream and summer walk hand-in-hand down an Atlantic boardwalk, breathing in the salty sea air. They go for a sail. They hang at outdoor fests and carnivals, fireworks displays, baseball games, and parades. They are BFFs, and we are the beneficiaries of their mutual admiration society. Sure, there are plenty of amazing ice cream […]
The average American eats 12 pounds of chocolate every year. On World Chocolate Day, fete the fudgy stuff by supporting this local trio of woman-owned shops. Veruca Chocolates 1332 N. Halsted St., Chicago, 773-998-2462 The chocolatier: Pediatrician-turned-chocophile (and graduate of Chicago’s French Pastry School) Heather Johnston The confections: Handmade creations with Wonka-like whimsy — like […]
Math nerds and pastry lovers rejoice! March 14 is the annual celebration of Pi Day, and that’s “Pi” as in the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter, best known as 3.14, thus March 14! To celebrate, some people run in circles, but folks in the know use Pi Day as an excuse to […]
Taking advantage of the proximity of the coastal Marin and Sonoma milk shed, local ice cream makers are keeping things cool. Fairfax Scoop In downtown Fairfax (pictured), the Martin family opened this modest business (the shop is only seven feet wide) 14 years ago. Known for its handmade organic ice cream with unique flavors like […]
Taking advantage of the proximity of the coastal Marin and Sonoma milk shed, local ice cream makers are keeping things cool. Fairfax Scoop In downtown Fairfax (pictured), the Martin family opened this modest business (the shop is only seven feet wide) 14 years ago. Known for its handmade organic ice cream with unique flavors like […]
One thing I’ve learned after many years of entertaining at home: Everyone loves dessert. So my advice to you is, don’t skimp. Go big AND stay home. Chicago is filled with fabulous bakeries producing Instagram-worthy, delectable goodies, and they’re more than happy to help you end your party — be it an intimate dinner gathering, […]
