Things I Like - Chicago

Well this is the biggest Chicago food event for the White House since the opening of the Jewel at Kinzie and Milwaukee (sweetly located across from the Blommer’s Chocolate factory).

I’m talking about the long awaited MetraMarket in the Ogilvie Transportation Center (that would be the Northwestern Train Station for you old timers) scheduled to open in October.

The MetraMarket will be in that huge (100,000-square-foot) space just south of the station and bordered by Lake, Canal, Washington and Clinton streets. The exciting news is that the space will contain a French Market which will be managed and operated by the Bensidoun family, the largest market operator in and around Paris. The market currently has the following vendors signed up:

• Albano’s Deli, an Italian specialty store
• Canady Le Chocolatier
• Chicago Organics grocery store
• Completely Nuts
• Flip Crepes
• Fraternite Notre Dame bakery
• Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine
• Sweet Miss Giving’s bakery
• Vanille Patisserie pastry shop
• Wisconsin Cheese Mart

I'm pretty excited about the Italian deli and I know that Mr. White will want to check out the crepe place. Here's hoping they add some flower kiosks - then it will really be a French market.