ak934 wrote: a delicious imported fig jam that had large chunks of flattened fig in it

I'm 88% sure this was available at

Cleopatra Meat & Market
4605 N. Kedzie,
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 539-0080

if not check

Sahar Grocery
4508 N. Kedzie,
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 583-7772

foodie1 wrote:I'm not sure what part of the city you're in but I highly recommend checking out Al-Khaymeih which is a Lebanese grocery store in the Albany Park neighborhood. I do recall seeing imported fig jam there.

I was just there on Sunday, and they had multiple brands, both in jars and in cans. I looooove that place - they also have great meat for cheap. Lamb shanks there are a bit over $2/lb.

Thanks, everyone!

I totally meant to include that I live in Riverwest (just off Chicago blue line stop) and don't have a car, so I can only make it to places accessible by public transit. However, I am willing to travel for my fig jam. It looks like some great options here! I will definitely report back when I return..

And it looks like these options are all off the brown line, so extra big thanks!

If you get a chance you might want to post the name of the market in Brooklyn that you liked so much as well as any other gems you found there. There is a "Beyond Chicagoland" section for, um, areas outside Chicagoland.

Zeina is the brand for products imported by a division of Al-Khaymeih. Not too surprisingly there are a lot of things with that label in the store. The tahini does not seem as concrete-like in the bottom of the jar as some other brands.

Do not look for Cleopatra Market. It closed in 2007 or 2008. Sahar market moved farther north and then closed the old location. Feyrous Pastry next door added groceries in the old Sahar space, but the selection is very poor. About the only redeeming feature is that they handle South-Side pita albeit at about triple the price of some Kedzie bakeries.

Just wanted to update that I haven't made it to any of the suggestions yet, but I did find a fig jam at Bari on grand. Haven't cracked it open yet because I'm working on a few different varieties of others right now, but it seems like a fair substitute.

I've also bought fig jam at Whole foods. It was near the cheese section. I think its greek or maybe Italian. Its very thick and figgy.

After a summer of sloth, I have been bitten hard by the jam-making bug, and bought peaches, plums and blueberries this morning at the Skokie farmers market, and ordered frozen tart cherries for next week. Then I went to Whole Foods and saw some lovely looking fresh figs. Help!!

Not only do I have more fruit in the house that I know what to do with (luckily I have a week of vacation; I may have been inspired because jam-making is so much better than cleaning out the garage )...

Well, anyway, the point I am trying to get to is, I have never made fig jam and would be delighted to have ideas and suggestions. I plan to use low or no sugar pectin, unless someone comes along with a better idea. Any great recipes or tips out there? TIA.

I'm going to do the blueberries and plums first, so will not get to the figs until Monday evening or Tuesday.

(Not quite sure about adding this to this thread which is about shopping for fig jam, but it seemed to me similar enough...)

I made fig jan several years ago with a recipe from the Saveur article on Okracoke Island. My learning from this experience was to respect the tiny amount of lemon peel that the recipe calls for. If you add more, it overpowers the fig taste in the final product. Also, you will find an intriguing recipe for okracoke Island fig cake in that article. At saveur.com

Hello all,

I would love any recommendations on a middle eastern grocery store in the Chicagoland area. I have been to Middle East Bakery & Grocery a few times on Foster Ave. but looking for some other options. Does not have to be region or food type specific, interested in quality products, selection, and good prices.

The stretch of Kedzie from 4200 to 4900 north still has a fair number of Middle Eastern stores and restaurants although many mentioned in the early part of this thread are gone. Al-Khayam has been closed for some time. A few months ago something was going on the one their former storefronts along with signage for something coming soon. However, I have not seen any sign of progress.

Working from the north toward the south one would start with Sahar International Market. They have a large selection of packaged goods and a good-size meat department including a lot of lamb offal. For some cuts there is a choice of fresh American, frozen New Zealand and frozen Australian lamb. The American lamb almost certainly comes from Barkaat Foods, which acquired the former Chiapetti slaughterhouse near the old stock yards. Barkaat supplies all the halal lamb sold under the Chiappetti brand, which is now part of Strauss Brands.

Sahar International Market
4851 N. Kedzie
http://saharmarket.com/about-sahar-market/

Andy's Fruit Ranch started out as a fruit and vegetable market but has expanded much beyond that. Their produce selection has shrunk while prices have crept up. The emphasis has shifted to meat, fish and packaged foods. They carry some Middle Eastern products but far more from the Balkans. They import extra virgin olive oil in 17 l. containers from Crete and bottle it in the store. Price is around $9/l. for the regular, a bit higher for organic. The flavor is intense. Colavita is bland in comparison.

Andy's Fruit Ranch
4733 N. Kedzi
http://www.andysfruitranch.com/

Sanabel Bakery is farther south and spreads over a couple for garage-type buildings. Their pita is widely available in grocery stores but fresher in the store. I like the whole wheat pita. The Lebanese style spinach and meat pies are produced throughout the day. Packaged products selection is comparable to Sahar; it is hard to say which is larger.

Sanabel Bakery
4213 N. Kedzie

Across the street from Sanabel is a Cermak Fresh Market store. Nothing Middle Eastern but worthwhile for produce and Hispanic foods including South American. Beats Jewel on quality and price for produce and meat.

Cermak Fresh Market
4234 N. Kedzie
https://www.cermakfreshmarket.com/

Sahar is a great suggestion. Two additional. Arax in Niles, packed storefront, loved the deli case tahini which reminded me of fresh ground peanut butter. Slightly smaller but worth a visit, Middle Eastern Market on Harlem.

Both are next to Middle Eastern restaurants, the one next to Arax, Detroit Kabob House, is so-so at best, the one next to Middle Eastern Market, Falafel Dream, is pretty good with indifferent service.

There is a large vibriant Middle Eastern community in Bridgeview, around 87th and Harlem, anchored by Al Bawadi Grill.

Arax Foods
9017 N Milwaukee Ave
Niles, IL 60714
847-966-1808

Middle Eastern Market
3952 Harlem Ave
Chicago, IL 60634
773-625-1212

Al Bawadi Grill
7216 W. 87th
Bridgeview, IL.