Bon Vivant Cakes

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2 years ago

I've followed this Instagram account for years and had HIGH expectations when I came to take a cake class... which were absolutely exceeded. Emily is a natural teacher and performer and it's clear that this is her sweet spot. Everything was timed out perfectly, communication was clear, and she even provided 'modifications' for those who needed an easier path. It's pricey but I would one hundred percent recommend for any bachelorette party, shower, or bestie date. This is a can't miss for an unusual and super fun activity in Chicago in a colorful, welcoming space!! read more

Bon Vivant Cakes - Emily helped me with my writing - Cooking Schools Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Bon Vivant Cakes - Early stages... - Cooking Schools Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Bon Vivant Cakes - Snack spread -- amazing. I've been dreaming about the focaccia and whipped goat cheese spread for the last two days. - Cooking Schools Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Dee S.

68

104

73

3 years ago

The cookie decorating classes are so fun and so well done. I just went to a class this past Saturday with my girlfriends and we had a great time! We were a little worried that the class was during dinner time and we would be hungry, but the spread the team put out was delicious and filling. And the cocktails were really good. The instructors are very knowledgeable, helpful and super nice and supportive for those of us who had never decorated cookies before. I would 100% go back again. Love this place read more

Bon Vivant Cakes - The starting point - Cooking Schools Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Bon Vivant Cakes - Finished product...not bad for my first time - Cooking Schools Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Bon Vivant Cakes - Awesome snack and cocktail/mocktail spread - Cooking Schools Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Vanessa T.

0

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10

3 years ago

I took my very first cake decorating class with Emily in March 2023. It was the Evil Eye cake & I was so nervous to go alone but my love of cake decorating pushed me to it. I went, and I was immediately hooked. I went on to take about 4 more decorating classes throughout the year and one cookie class (shout out to Amanda!). Looking back on 2023, I would be remiss if I didn't take the time to give thanks to this truly special place. I typically go to these classes alone- yet I never feel alone, I never feel self conscious of my work, and I always leave with a new friend. It's such a safe space and that's what Emily & Amanda have both created- a truly safe space. I can't thank them both enough because coming into class & letting my hair down & my freak flag fly with my buttercream or icing in hand has been such a blessing to me in this past year and I just wanted to say thanks. Bon Vivant has such a special place in my heart & it always will Here's a few pics of my work this past year read more

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Sarah B.

Elite 26 All-Star

29

255

333

3 years ago

I've been wanting to learn how to cookie decorate for a long time now and decided to pull the trigger on going for a class. For someone who lives in the city it's a bit of a commute by train but relatively easy to get to. The instructors were really friendly and helpful, and made the class fun. The playlist was amazing too! After the class I felt so much more confident in my skills and want to come back to try my hand at a cake decorating class. It is a bit pricey but it's totally worth it if it's a hobby you've been really interested in trying or coming with a group of friends. read more

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Aleah H.

307

358

1217

3 years ago

I didn't know what Bon Vivant was two months ago, and now I am the biggest fan and evangelist!! I have taken two sugar cookie classes with Amanda and one cake class with Emily - All were absolutely amazing. The snacks and cocktails/mocktails with glitter are the perfect/most tasty way to kick things off, and the instructors are amazing at making everyone feel welcome and excited to tackle the project in front of them. You will be absolutely shocked at what you are capable of with their help. I left feeling so empowered and proud of what I made myself, and so inspired to try again at home with their tool recommendations and recipes! This will now be my go-to activity when friends are visiting from out of town and the boys go golfing, for corporate events, etc. from now on because it is just so much more fun than going to dinner/drinks. I am obsessed and love the little studio they have created!! When choosing a class, I would think about what you want to walk away learning because each cake/cookie set has a little something different. For cakes, I took the Shag Cake Remix because it looked cool and the timing worked out, but I learned about piping those specific styles, instead of piping what you might see on a floral cake or cake with ruffles. I am absolutely happy with my choice, but will be more intentional in the future! Similarly with cookies, I already learned how to swirl wet-on-wet icing during my Under the Sea class, so I will be more inclined to take a class with painting on sugar cookies in the future since that will be new to me!! All around, you can't go wrong and I will definitely be back!! read more

Bon Vivant Cakes - Shag cake remix class - Cooking Schools Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Bon Vivant Cakes - Under the sea class - Cooking Schools Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Taylor M.

0

24

2

2 years ago

Love these classes! I've done two cake classes and one cookie class. Great activities to do with friends or family, and I have learned a lot. I do wish their start times were different. The 6:30 pm start time and 8:30 end time makes it difficult to make a night of it! It is hard to schedule before or after and 6:30 after work can be hard if you're coming with anyone from the burbs. My very tiny request would be a 7 pm start time! read more

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Kelsey S.

Elite 24

25

124

53

4 years ago

Bon Vivant has the most warm, welcoming storefront with the kindest, funniest hostess Emily. My friend and I had a blast at our Funky Tree cake decorating class. About 14 people attended class and everyone left happy and proud of their creations. The class kicked off with a drink and amazing snacks made by Emily and team. Once everyone arrived, we got started assembling our cakes. The Bon Vivant team provides all the instruction and guidance needed in this beginner-style class, so everyone could confidently pipe icing and decorate their trees. I cannot wait to come back for another class and will bring anyone who as any sort of interest in cake decorating and eating delicious dessert. read more

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Gabrielle B.

1.2 mi•Ravenswood, Lincoln Square

643

724

795

4 years ago

Took a vintage kitsch cake decorating class here the day before my birthday and came out with the most dazzling, funnest birthday cake I've ever eaten. We had a great time and the class was EXCELLENT! You get great value for your money, including entertainment, a friendly atmosphere, and lunch, PLUS all the supplies needed to decorate your sweet treat! I highly recommend and cant wait to attend another class :) read more

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Anya B.

Elite 24

117

490

821

3 years ago

Took a cookie decorating class here and loved it!! We walked in right before class to a really pretty space and high-energy, kind, and knowledgeable instructors. The class featured delicious snacks (focaccia, salad, and mocktails and cocktails) and a fun playlist that matched the theme of our cookies. Decorating wasn't easy, but much easier than I thought working with royal icing would be. We ate, decorated, took lots of pictures, and overall had a great time! read more

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Bensy J.

9

79

105

4 years ago

This class was so much fun and a great de-stressor! We signed up for the Summer Fridays class with a Modern Rustic theme. The class was informative and engaging. There wasn't a real way to mess up which was encouraging and a nice change from day to day lives. Highly recommend the in person class! read more

Bon Vivant Cakes - Modern Rustic Cake Decorating Class - Cooking Schools Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Juli T.

0

2

1

3 years ago

Took a class today with the hostess with the mostess, Emily!!!!!! Queen of the Cakes! Forgotten how therapeutic and calming creativity is. Never have I ever done anything like this in my life and I'm so proud of myself and my efforts. Her snacks are incredible, her attitude is unmatched, her teaching is so great a caveman can do it, the vibe of her space is splendid and the fun is so so so so so great for the heart! read more

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Amber N.

273

23

38

6 years ago

There are cakes and then there are pieces of art that taste like the best cake ever. Bon Vivant provides a jaw dropping, beautifully prepared cake that your guests will talk about for years to come. Many people & brides may have an idea of "exactly" what they want and forget to trust the people/artists they are hiring. I am here to remind you - trust Bon Vivant. I had no clue what I wanted, just that I wanted a little Batman included in the design. The process was easy and it was honest. I gave very little direction, sent some inspiration photos and when questions came up, they were quickly answered. I will let the pictures speak for themselves. It tasted even better than it looked - if that is possible! read more

Bon Vivant Cakes - undefined - Cooking Schools Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Diana M.

10

11

2

6 years ago

I had one of Emily's famous Mighty Mini's last December, and it was the everything I wanted and more (literally). Ordering was easy, pickup was a breeze, and transporting the cake from Chicago to the suburbs wasn't as scary as I thought it would be. It was confetti cake with caramel, and the right amount of vanilla buttercream topped with party popcorn!! (No, the party popcorn did not make it to Schaumburg) read more

Bon Vivant Cakes - Look at this cutie! - Cooking Schools Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Priscilla R.

0

18

2

4 years ago

I had a wonderful experience. Emily was kind, fun, and thorough when explaining how to frost and decorate the cakes! Attend one of her classes you will not Be disappointed. read more

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Liv S.

0

3

19

6 years ago

Emily and her crew at Bon Vivant Cakes made our wedding day TRULY magical. Like many couples, COVID-19 rocked our wedding plans. When we saw the "Small Celebrations" option on Bon Vivant's website, we knew it would be the perfect match. We gave very few specific details on what we wanted for our cake, because we knew whatever Emily came up with would be incredible. When the cake was brought out, there was an audible gasp from our guests--it was TRULY visually stunning, topped with fresh flowers, and adorned with gold gilding and *gorgeous* designs. Not only did it look incredible--it tasted incredible! We opted for the brown sugar vanilla cake with strawberry preserve topping, and nearly all of our guests came up to us to comment on how tasty the cake was. Bon Vivant Cakes is so good, that we even ordered ourselves a one month "Monthaversary" mini cake, so we could enjoy the experience all over again! Thank you so much, Bon Vivant Cakes, for making our day even more sweet :) read more

Bon Vivant Cakes - Small Celebrations 2-tier cake! - Cooking Schools Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Bon Vivant Cakes - Brown butter vanilla cake with strawberry preserves filling. - Cooking Schools Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Leigha W.

0

9

5

4 years ago

Emily is a wonderful instructor and the class is amazing! It's totally okay if you have zero skill going into this class because Emily breaks it down and makes it so easy to not feel like you are left behind. read more

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Julia L.

31

32

0

9 years ago

I saw Emily's cakes in the Red Eye a few years ago and knew that if I ever got married, I had to have one of her gorgeous cakes at my wedding. We got married in July and, of course, had her do the cake. I gave her a lot of free reign to work her magic, showing her pictures of her other cakes I liked and describing our wedding vibe. She made a gorgeous cake! We were so happy with it and our guests couldn't believe how beautiful it was. Oh, and it was also DELICIOUS, which is more than you can say for most wedding cakes. I'm about to order another of her cakes for my husband's birthday. I have no doubt it'll be awesome. read more

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Katie G.

0

6

4

9 years ago

Ever since having one of her cakes at my going away party I knew I would be eating her cake at my wedding and I wasn't even engaged at the time. Fast forward a few years and I am engaged and I need a cake. She was my only choice in the matter as far as cakes are concerned and we are so pleased we went with her. It was very VERY beautiful (I have uploaded a photo) and very delicious. We ordered through her website, which had very handy forms, and gave her a brief history of us, our wedding colors and our general although-slightly non existent theme (Harry Potter/Reading/Nature and the woods if I had to sum it up.) We had our cake topper sent directly to her and at no point planned or even asked to see the cake. We trusted her and we weren't picky. We knew it would be stunning. And it was! My bridesmaids passed along photos of it without showing me (a dear friend picked up and brought the cake) and declared it her prettiest cake yet. When my husband and I saw it in the reception we were floored. Thank you Emily, for a tasty and beautiful memory. read more

Bon Vivant Cakes - Wedding Cake! (shot by Liz Lui lizlui.com) - Cooking Schools Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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A F.

0

25

1

6 years ago

I have been ordering cakes from Emily for many years and she never disappoints. I've had cake from all over and can confidently say Emily's cakes are some of the most delicious cakes I've ever had. I appreciate she doesn't use fondant and her use of buttercream is perfect. She doesn't overdo the buttercream cake ratio. I've had several people who aren't into cake fall in love with her cakes because of how delicious they are. She even got me into chocolate cake which is very hard to find well made anywhere. Her chocolate cake is perfectly moist. For small occasions where you just need a pretty cake for a small group (4 people) the minis are perfect. Do keep in mind that there is no room for design specifications for the minis. Custom cakes are a different story. Emily is an artist and each cake is an excellent individual work of art made for you. With that said if you are looking for an exact recreation of a cake you found somewhere online then ordering a cake from Emily may not be your best option. The way I handle the ordering process for a custom cake is to send an array of inspiration photos (note they don't all have to be cake photos. Think outside the box!). I've sent photos of color swatches, flowers, sculptures, paintings, etc. it helps to talk about what you like about the photos you send. Emily appreciates receiving detailed inspiration pieces related to the cake. I've never been disappointed with the end result of her creations. I suggest considering the fact she is being commissioned to create one of a kind cakes via her cake design style that you keep an open mind about the end result. read more

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Shannon W.

98

17

1

10 years ago

I hired Bon vivant cakes to make my wedding cake. Unfortunately Bon vivant cakes let me down. I made this yelp page to let anyone know how I was mistreated. Bon Vivant Cakes aka Emily is a one lady show. She is lacking in customer service and experience in her field. She is difficult to work with and showed me (bride) no attention during 5 week ordering process... I hated the cake and the entire experience I had w Emily / Bon Vivant Cakes.... #1StarCompany read more

Bon Vivant Cakes - I asked for a very fun exciting non traditional wedding cake, and This is the wedding cake i received.. - Cooking Schools Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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L K.

411

12

2

6 years ago

I am a professional event planner and I recommend Bon Vivant to all of my clients for their celebrations. Emily and her team are creative geniuses. If you are looking for CAKE ART and amazing tasting cake. LOOK NO FURTHER than Bon Vivant. Do yourself a favor and get a cake for any of your special occasions and it will be a highlight of the event. read more

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Alyssa W.

110

7

1

8 years ago

I used Bon Vivant for my wedding cake in September 2018. First and foremost the cake was delicious, people came up to me and said it tasted nothing like any wedding cake they had had before which is a huge complement. I have been following Emily on Instagram before I was even engaged and when we first started planning a wedding she was one of the few vendors I knew I wanted to work with. I never wanted a traditional wedding cake and love the bold bright colors of her cakes. When we booked Emily and had our first call we described our colors and wanted a bold, colorful, non traditional cake and she was totally on board but let us know she doesn't do sketches or show you her ideas before. I was fine with that because every cake on her Instagram is a work of art. However, on our wedding day we got a white cake with our wedding flowers cascading down. It looked like any other wedding cake from any bakery and fyi she doesn't charge normal bakery prices. It was truly heartbreaking because the last thing I wanted was a plain white cake. She did put some gold on it, but I specifically stated our metallics and gold wasn't one, I figured she was going to use the rose gold and coppers we told her about. It was so surprising because none of the cakes she posts looks like ours so I'm not sure what happened or how you get those beautiful cakes, but just be careful because if you order a wedding cake you might just get a plain white wedding cake. I should have trusted the other review saying the same thing. read more

Bon Vivant Cakes - I wanted a non traditional, non white cake and I got a plain wedding cake. - Cooking Schools Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Nida O.

162

47

12

8 years ago

To the people that gave Emily a negative comment, I'm sorry, but you are crazy. Emily did my daughters first birthday cake and it is amazing, I gave her as much information as I could about my daughter but I really was stumped on how I wanted the cake. My daughter was born in October and I wanted to throw her a costume party, so I wanted to have a girly cake, but a Halloween themed girly cake. I gave Emily the info and a picture of my daughter and literally the cake is amazing. Even the little cake topper looks like my daughter if she was a ghost cartoon lol. And anyone who said that she has bad customer service, not sure what you were smoking because she's really personable, extremely friendly, she talks to you like she's known you for years and literally makes you feel like you've known her for years. As long as my budget allows me I'm going to seek out all of my special event cakes from Emily. read more

Bon Vivant Cakes - Smash cake for babygirl - Cooking Schools Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Bon Vivant Cakes - I told Emily I wanted a girly Halloween cake, ask and you shall receive - Cooking Schools Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Dylan M.

102

5

0

9 years ago

My wife and I ordered a Bon Vivant cake for our wedding this summer. Not only was it beautiful, it was delicious - so much so that our wedding guests still won't shut up about it. Great product, value, and service. read more

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Juli T.

93

16

5

8 years ago

The cakes are absolutely delicious, I've had so many of them! I order frequently for my family and have started giving minis to friends for birthdays and special occasions, in addition to flowers. Because really, who needs another dust collector that will sit on a shelf? Emily is an excellent baker, designer and simply a wonderful person. She is professional and kind, a combination foreign to many. I've recommended Emily to so may people and have always heard the best feedback from their experience. Thank you!! read more

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Affie J.

0

12

13

9 years ago

Emily has done 3 cakes for me this past 6 months. This is how great this lady is. I have parties just for the cakes and next level donuts. She always works with you, to bring your vision to life, but still puts her artistic twist on it. Which makes it a surprise when you open it up. I must say I have always been pleasantly surprised. She's very reasonably priced, cake tastes great, amazing flavors that you don't see often. The use of fresh flowers is stunning, very accommodating. I would definitely recommend. read more

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More info about Bon Vivant Cakes

4749 N Spaulding Ave
Chicago, IL 60625
Albany Park
Directions
(872) 215-1618
Call Now
Visit Website
http://www.bonvivantcakes.com

Hours

What time does Bon Vivant Cakes open?

What time does Bon Vivant Cakes close?

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Does Bon Vivant Cakes have free WiFi?

Yes, Bon Vivant Cakes has free WiFi.

Review Highlights - Bon Vivant Cakes

“I have taken two sugar cookie classes with Amanda and one cake class with Emily - All were absolutely amazing.”

Mentioned in 9 reviews

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I recently attended the "Hands-On Essential Building Blocks" class at The Chopping Block! The 9…read morehours of cooking certainly paid off with some delicious meals! Although I did think the chef in charge was very knowledgeable, and the meals did turn out fabulous, I was a little disappointed with the class structure for a few reasons. 1. For the price of this class, I assumed that we would all be individually learning to cook each component - that was not the case as we were put together into teams of four where we divided responsibilities. So not all building block skills were able to be practiced by all team members. I had chosen this class because I wanted to learn these building block skill hands-on. However, if you're looking to meet new friends this may just be the spot for you! 2. Like I mentioned, the meal we made was super delicious. But in my opinion, it's creativeness / the fact that it wasn't more simple skipped over some of the true basic skills needed in everyday kitchen use. For example, I wish we had learned more about pan use / heating up / etc. And because we had so many components to the meals, some of the lessons felt kind of rushed where we weren't necessarily able to dive deeper into those questions since there were so many people per amount of chef / helpers I do think that this is a great org, but perhaps I would have felt more bang for buck in a more specified topic / shorter class

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The Wooden Spoon

3.8(142 reviews)

Attended the dumplings class on pride Sunday. The class was full with 12 people attending. It was a…read morefun time. We were able to all meet and talk and cook together. We had a lot of fun. Janet was our teacher and she moved us through the stations and helped us make delicious dumplings from all over the world. The class took about 2 1/2 hours which included a small break in between where we could go and sit outside in the lovely backyard and then eating time this was a lovely way to spend our Pride Sunday. Really nice way to meet new people and talk food.

Friendly people working here. They even baked some cookies for patrons visiting the store so that…read moreyou could snack while shopping (this was right before Christmas). I found the prices to be a little on the higher end, but it's also nice to support local businesses. Kudos to the older lady/mom of one of the owners who graciously wrapped the gifts I was getting for someone... and she did it complimentary.

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Cooking with Cass

4.8(54 reviews)

3.5 mi•Lakeview

Locally owned & operated

An unforgettable cooking class--pure joy from start to finish!…read more I cannot rave enough about this cooking class. Four friends and I signed up on a whim, and it turned into one of the most memorable evenings we've had together in ages. The highlight was learning how to make fresh fettuccine from scratch--yes, from scratch--and somehow the instructor Jason made the whole process feel both totally doable and ridiculously fun. From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere was warm, welcoming, and buzzing with good energy. Jason was patient, hilarious, and incredibly knowledgeable, guiding us through every step without ever making it feel intimidating. Before long, we were kneading dough, rolling it out like pros, and cheering each other on as our pasta strands got longer and more impressive. And the best part? Sitting down together at the end to enjoy the meal we created. The pasta was unbelievably fresh--silky, tender, and honestly better than many restaurant dishes I've had. Unfortunately, we ate so fast. We forgot to take a picture! Sharing that meal with friends made it even more special. After we ate, we were entertained by the fabulous Yuiza Beach! A local entertainer from Rogers Park. She was funny and charismatic, and kept us in stitches the whole time! Her performance was as fabulous as she was If you're looking for a unique, hands-on experience that blends learning, laughter, and seriously delicious food, this class is a must. We left full, happy, and already planning our next visit. Highly, highly recommended!

Had a team cooking event here--the food is just okay but the experience is fun! They try their best…read moreto make things lively from start to finish, but it can also feel a little frazzled and disorganized. Still had a great time.

5.8 mi•Near West Side, West Town

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We had a blast and ate like kings during our Tutore Pasta Class!!…read more Bravissimo! Thank you Mollie, James, and Dean for hosting such a great experience! The pacing and instruction were on point. Never felt rushed, lost, or hungry ... Loved being able to ask questions about the class and Italian cooking in general without interrupting the rest of the students or instruction! And lets not forget about the result. OMFG. We made Tortellini! and they didnt look like blobs of pasta! Not only were the recipes absolutely delicious they were remarkably approachable -- enough that they will transfer back to the home chef without any problem. Don't wait, make that class reservation today!

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Peterson Garden Project

1.9(9 reviews)

2.8 mi•Uptown

This review is about their two day annual edible plant sale held on May 15 & 16, 2021…read moreat: Chicago Market Grocery Co-op Building 4620 N. Broadway Chicago, IL 60640 What an amazing experience...this was their 9th annual edible plant sale for warm weather crops. All of the tables were set up in squares so people could walk around and view all of the amazing offerings. What a colossal variety of offerings. I purchased a Brandywine Tomato plant to grow on my balcony. It was $5.99 for a 4 inch healthy and hearty plant! Already a week later it continues to thrive and grow taller with more leaves! I could not be happier. The seedling offerings included: Tomatoes - Amish Paste, Black from Tula, Black Krim, Brandywine, Yellow Brandywine, Sweet Red Cherry, Black Cherry, Chocolate Cherry, Cherokee Purple, German Johnson, Green Zebra, Mortgage Lifter, Paul Robeson, Rutgers, San Marzano, Sungold, Taxi, Yellow Pear, and Tomatillos Peppers - Sweet Banana, California Wonder, Orange Bell, Purple Bell, Red Bell, Yellow Bell, Anaheim hot, Cayenne hot, Habanero hot, Jalapeno hot, Pepperoncini hot, Poblano Ancho hot, Serrano hot Eggplant - Black Beauty, Rosa Bianca, White Cucumber - Adam Gherkin, Diva, Marketmore, Mexican Sour Gherkin, Pickling, Straight 8 Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cauliflower Cabbage, Collards, Kale (green, red, Dino) Greens - Arugula (regular, Wasabi), Lettuce (Butter, Gourmet Mix, Romaine), Mesclun Mix (regular, spicy), Sorrel, Spinach Squash - Butternut, Delicata, Gold Rush compact yellow summer, Spacemiser compact zucchini, Peter Pan (patty pan), Pie Pumpkin Edible Flowers - Calendula, Echinacea, English Daisy, assorted Nasturtiums including Alaska, Empress India, Fordhook, Gleam, Jewel Herbs - Basil (many types), Chamomile, Chives (regular, garlic), Cilantro, Dill, Fennel, assorted Lavender, Lemon Grass, Marjoram, assorted Oregano, Parsley, Rosemary, assorted Sage, Summer Savory, Tarragon, assorted Thyme, also some unique herbs such as Mexican Pepper Plant (Root Beer Plant), East and West Indian Lemongrass, Rue, and Tea Tree An Overview of the Peterson Garden Project- "Founder LaManda Joy, inspired by her own parent's involvement in WW2, discovered that the empty lot at Peterson and Campbell had once been a Victory Garden. With the hope of doing something positive on this historic piece of empty city land and "teaching 20 people how to grow their own food" our project was born." Source: https://www.petersongarden.org/ FYI- The Victory Gardens were established to help sustain the fruit and vegetable supply by encouraging and creating local gardens during the World War II effort to provide individuals and families across the United States with access to food. Victory Gardens in Chicago: "During World War II, Chicago led the nation in urban food production with its Victory Gardens program of 1,500 community gardens and more than 250,000 home gardens. The city's North Park neighborhood was also home to the largest Victory Garden in the United States." Source: https://www.loc.gov/item/webcast-5196 Learn More about the Chicago Victory Garden Movement and the founder of the Peterson Garden Project LaManda Joy by clicking the link below: https://www.loc.gov/item/webcast-5196

I second what the previous reviewer said about the water being in an uncovered filthy trough. See…read morephoto. After bringing up the matter to the garden managers, there were no changes, only an offer to scrub the sides of the trough. We tried to bring our own water to garden, but ultimately that was a ridiculous endeavor, since we paid to have access to fresh water to water our garden. Never grew a thing because who wants to bring their own water to a community garden, after paying a fee to garden? Like the other reviewer said, we paid for a box of dirt. The woman who started this project left Chicago long ago and I don't know who is at the helm at the moment.

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4.7(130 reviews)

2.4 mi•Roscoe Village

I've had a few classes here over the years. Every class has been enjoyable and good learning…read moreexperience. Today I went to the Summer Pie class and it was so much fun. Chef Jerry always shares great knowledge and wonderful recipes. There's easy off street parking. By the end we always get to bring home all of our baking creations. Bonus! I've taken other baking and cooking classes at other places in the city and GMSS does it BEST. Always clean and enough materials or tools to share. The size of the class is good and not crowded. Also, the best part they email you the recipe which are very precise and detailed information. All the classes have produced DELICIOUS FOOD. Great for parties or events or something to do together with friends. I can't wait for the new calendar that comes out every month.

Shout out to Jerry - he was an excellent instructor! I wanted to bolster my croissant-making skills…read moreand their class was perfect. It's not too difficult that a beginner will struggle to keep up. It's also not so basic that a home baker won't learn something new. I walked away with a few tips to improve my croissants!

1.7 mi•Ravenswood, Lincoln Square

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The Cakemaker

5.0(3 reviews)

My girlfriend ordered a cake for me for my birthday from this bakery and it was AMAZING!!! She…read moreknows I'm a dinosaur nerd and that I love disco stuff so she told them that I wanted a dinosaur disco cake and this place made the most impressive birthday cake I've literally ever seen in real life. And it tasted incredible too. The cake was yellow cake with vanilla buttercream and strawberries and I highly recommend it. Definitely order a custom cake from this place or even just order a standard cake because it tastes so good. Thank you for the best birthday cake ever :)

The cake turned out so amazing. The decoration was simple but gorgeous! I'm not typically a cake…read moreperson but these cakes are so delicious so moist and just the right amount of sugar! Loved it must try!!!

1.1 mi•Ravenswood, Lincoln Square

Construction zone, 5th Birthday

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DANK Haus German American Cultural Center

4.7(57 reviews)

They really make the space count!…read more I decided to become a member ($50 a year for an individual) since I'm currently taking one of the virtual adult German classes. The membership gave me a discount on the class and so much more! I highly recommend the classes. My instructor is good about making everyone feel comfortable and included and has creative but fun ways to ensure everyone enjoys even the most challenging of topics, like grammar! Yes, I truly mean that German grammar can be fun! In addition to german classes, Dank Haus has so many different, affordable activities that you can sign up for. I've done the bilingual yoga classes - the meditation is all in English and the yoga part is all in German. Don't let the yoga all in German scare you off though! If you don't understand, you can just watch the instructor and mimic her. She's really good. The wild part is...the yoga classes only cost $5 each! Crazy! They were outside in the summer (on the terrace with a gorgeous view!) and soon to start up again this fall indoors. The cooking classes are also loads of fun. I've only been to one so far, but everyone was so kind and welcoming considering I went to it solo. I came out of the class happy I made some friends! Not to mention, each cooking class includes a drink in the price (choice of alcoholic or non-alcoholic) so they're a great deal! If you're interested in touring the place, they offer guided tours and self guided tours by appt. You can do it via their website. I did a self-guided tour where I picked up a paper in the lobby of the highlights of what to see on each floor. I was surprised at how much history was crammed into even the hallways! There's definitely more than you think there is... I also requested to visit their library of books in German, since the public library is kinda lacking in that department. Their selection is excellent. They have everything from books to learn German to easy readers (short stories that aren't super wordy) to full fledged adult fiction to cookbooks. Id argue Dank Haus is a great place whether you know German, want to learn German, or know German. I wish I had learned about all the affordable activities they had sooner! All I know is I'll definitely keep on taking advantage of them

The Dank Haus is such a staple in the Lincoln Square community. If you haven't been here yet,…read morefollow their socials and get on their newsletter to find an event that interests you. On our latest visit, during the annual Open House Chicago architecture event throughout the city, we came in to appreciate the beauty of this big building. We popped up to the second floor bar to enjoy some beer and enjoyed watching the indoor shooting (not as scary as it sounds). The volunteers, regulars, and fellow patrons are always a good group to hang out with. If you're lucky enough to attend an event on the sixth floor, be sure to take photos out on the patio as the views are pretty nice! As far as transportation, it's right off the Western CTA Brown Line stop. There's paid parking on the closest streets (or lots). If you're willing to walk a few minutes, almost everything west of Western is free neighborhood parking.

Brauhaus Room

Second floor

DANK Haus German American Cultural Center

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Cardamom Kitchen

4.7(3 reviews)

3.5 mi•Lakeview

•$$$

"My husband and I had the pleasure of meeting Susan on one of her Devon Avenue Tours a few years…read moreago. I reached out to her to see if she could lead an in-home cooking class with ten friends. Everything was planned to perfection. Susan has such a warm personality and was very easy to work with. It was a great way to celebrate my birthday."

My husband and I went up to Devon on a very snowy day for a tour with Susan. We started at a sweet…read moreshop and had a nice cup of tea (included). From there, we went to 2 groceries and learned all about the best spices to get, best rice, and best produce. Have since been to one of the groceries and felt right at home! Susan is full of knowledge and found the answers to anything she did not know - either that day or after the tour. She also took time to understand food limitations, in my case Gluten Free, and how we could incorporate them and what to look out for. We also went to a nice store that sells meditation mats, clothes, and beautiful linens. It was a nice way to spend the afternoon, and I especially appreciated that we got recipes and an understanding of the differences in southern and northern Indian cooking. All of the great tips will come in handy. The only suggestion I would have is for some snacks to be added along the way! I sure hope a second version of the tour is added.

1.3 mi•Ravenswood, Lincoln Square

Sitting down for authentic Indian snack during a Culinary Tour of Devon Avenue

Shopping for fresh turmeric on a Culinary Tour of Devon Avenue

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Students posing after a Tour of Devon Avenue.

Old Town School of Folk Music - Lincoln Square

4.3(270 reviews)

•$$

We've been to the Old Town School many times, but not for several years now. A close cousin was…read moreplaying, who teaches at the school. We had tickets to see him play. Not reviewing his music (which was fantastic), but the venue. The room we were in was like a black box theater. The room was fairly small and intimate. It was open seating and when we arrived it was pretty full. We were very fortunate that there were two seats open in the third row. The room is acoustically sound (pun intended)... Seriously, being small, they really don't need to amplify the sound, even though they did have a microphone set up. As we were leaving, we got to roam the halls around the school. There were a lot of fun, vintage posters that were a lot of fun to look at. We met quite a few people who either had been students there, or were current students who had nothing but good things to say about the caliber of the educators and the Old Town School. Based on the performances we've seen there of students and faculty, I'd say we agree.

This update is regarding a visit to OSF was to attend their Wiggleworms open house. I've left the…read moreoverall rating the same because OTSFM is still great for a lot of reasons, but the Wiggleworms class isn't one of them. I've heard of the class before and always thought if I had a kid I'd take them, but I think the age range starts at 6 months so we started with a class with a different provider, Music Playhouse of Chicago. I'm glad we came to this one to try it out. While the kids seemed to be having fun, I didn't like it as much as the Music Playhouse class. Wiggleworms doesn't seem to have a developed curriculum. This was just an activity where the kids can grab shakers and toys, and the leader will sing what they want or take requests from the kids, but not a class that has any kind of particular learning outcomes upon which children build. Maybe it was different because it was an open house but I'd have expected they would showcase what an actual class was, and I think it's just not what I prefer. There are some pluses, though. They have weekend classes, which can be hard to find with other music classes for kids. I think it may also be significantly less expensive than the one I take my kiddo to. And they may have a few more babies-only classes than where we go now, which usually has only one of any (depending upon enrollment). I didn't realize before I had a child but there's a huge difference between children of 0-18 months and those beyond, so mixed age classes wasn't my thing at the time. So Wiggleworms has its pros, but overall I'd visit Old Town SFM for the classes and concerts but choose another children's music class.

Free with $10 donation

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Lobby

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Taylor S.

520

24

1

6 years ago

My cake was just as beautiful as it was delicious :):)

Bon Vivant Cakes - cookingschools - Updated August 2026

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