Where to shop

I'm from western Canada and spending 3 weeks south of Chicago this summer. I'm looking for advice on good markets. I'm familiar with Trader Joe's from visits to San Francisco and I see them mentioned here. Which location would be handy to the south? Are there any good fish markets that would be easy to get to coming from the south?

I've been there once for a weekend and I think I can find the Art Institute again. Otherwise be gentle with me.

Trader Joe's
14924 S. La Grange Road
Orland Park, IL 60462
(708) 349-9021
Across from the Orland Square Mall

That's probably the southernmost Trader Joe's location near Chicago. If you could be a little more explicit about just where you'll be staying, people can probably be more helpful in recommending places to shop.

Given the large area covered by southern Chicago and suburbs, I second the request for a more explicit location.

The Chicago market is dominated by two supermarket chains. Dominick's is now owned by Safeway and has been damaged very badly by them. Jewel is owned by Albertson's, has a fair number of stores in the southern suburbs and is your basic supermarket, not great but not terrible.

There are a lot of independent supermarkets and small (2 to 10) store chains. Walt's Supermarkets (waltsfoods.com) has stores in Crete, Frankfort, Homewood, South Holland and Tinley Park. I was positively impressed by the Crete store, which is the only one of them I have been in.

A disproportionate number of points of food interest as well as posters on this board live downtown, north side, northwest side and north, northwest and west suburbs. The south side and near southern suburbs historically were places of heavy industry and now have large areas described as depressed rust belt. There are pockets that are very different, though.

I'll be staying in Northern Indiana. Merrillville. I've been there before and it varies but seems like a 2 hour drive or so to downtown.

I'm an art student so will be heading into the city often to check out the museums and architecture. I wanted to combine my trips in with my interest in cooking. I used to cater and I still cook for fun.

Gyoza wrote:I'll be staying in Northern Indiana. Merrillville. I've been there before and it varies but seems like a 2 hour drive or so to downtown.

I'm an art student so will be heading into the city often to check out the museums and architecture. I wanted to combine my trips in with my interest in cooking. I used to cater and I still cook for fun.

I'm sure there will be some local Farm Market's around. Fresh produce is starting to become available in this area. I'm over in South Bend. Blueberries, plums, peaches, and cherries are available. Tomatoes should be around in the next week or two.

Since you'll be coming to Chicago from the south, you might try the much (I think unfairly) maligned Hyde ParK Co-op. There are 3 stores, the oldest is at 1526 E. 55th St., in the Hyde Park shopping center.

And in Whiting IN on Indianapolis Blvd. there was, and may still be, a Sara Lee outlet store that sold (or sells), at reduced prices, overstocks and products with various flaws (my favorites were cakes that got too much icing).

For fresh fish and seafood try Dirk's Fish @ Gourmet shop in a strip mall at 2070 N. Clybourn--even though it's out of your way.

If you are driving up the Dan Ryan (I-90/94) from the south, it's easy to get to many of the small, ethnic markets of Chicago. Here are a few of our favorites.

Mexican and Chinese near 18th Street:

To get to 18th Street going northbound on the Dan Ryan, take the Canalport/Cermak exit, then go north on Ruble about a block and a half. From here you can go west on 18th about a mile (note that 18th jogs north at Halsted), make a left on Blue Island. La Casa del Pueblo grocery store has parking both next to the store and in the lot across the street.

Or, get off at the same exit and go east on 18th a few blocks to Canal, turn right. Richwell Market is an excellent source for Chinese and other Asian ingredients, and there's a parking lot. The main part of Chinatown is not far away, either: go south on Canal over the bridge, turn left on Cermak.

For Italian groceries, get off at the Taylor Street exit and go west on Taylor just past Bishop Street, to Conte di Savoia. There is parking in the alley behind the store.

For Greek, go to Athens Market on Halsted between Jackson and Van Buren. From 90/94 take the Monroe exit, go west on Monroe to Halsted, turn left. There is parking behind the market (enter from Van Buren St.)

Enjoy your stay!

The Merrillville location makes a big difference. Merrillville is the picture of suburban sprawl, but you are on the edge of some good farm stands and farm markets. A listing of farmers markets and farm stands is at Northwest Indiana Farm Stands and Farmers Markets You will need to scroll down a ways on the page as there they cover several topics. Most of these towns are one or two away from Merrillville. Anderson's Orchard and Winery has been going organic and may be there. They have some nice wines and some weird wines. Their winemaker has been a little sloppy about controlling oxidation, so taste before you buy. You will also be close to an area which grows a lot of blueberries.

Walt's also has a store that isn't too far off US 30 in Dyer, IN. Dyer is the second town west of Merrillville on US 30. You would pass through Dyer if you use 30 to Ill 194, which flows into I-94 toward Chicago.