This place rocks. Ian rocks. He walked me through everything, pointed me in the right direction,…read moreand was knowledgeable. Love to see such an incredible family business and very happy this place exists. Give them all your business!!!!

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.

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.

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!

This had to be one of the best nights I've had. You can't go to Chicago and not try this class. The…read moreinstructors are so kind and funny. I will be back!

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

I received a gift card for a cooking class for Christmas so decided to use it for a date night last…read moreweek. We chose a Cajun themed meal and it was a really good time. They were super organized. We were split into four groups and each group worked together to create a 4 course meal. Our meal consisted of bbq shrimp, Cajun crab dip, jambalaya, and bread pudding. The chef leading the class was really entertaining and had a lot of great pro tips. There were some other chefs assisting in clean up along the way and taking drink orders. My wife and I really enjoyed our experience and can't wait to come back.

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.

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

My mother-in-law and I took the French Macaron 101 class on Sunday and loved it! Jerry (the owner…read moreand teacher) was both knowledgeable and patient - he was very thorough with explanations and answered all of our questions. The class was structured well, and I feel like I could try making macarons again after this class! You get sent home with the how-to packet, as well as emailed a troubleshooting packet, and instructions on how to make the buttercream filling. It was the right mix of explanation and hands on experience. Overall both of us really enjoyed this class! At the end you get to fill some macarons for you to take home and enjoy later. My husband also loved them! Fun fact: if you go to 4 classes you get your fifth one free. Also if you have 5 people you can do a private class which sounds so fun! Can't wait to come back again.

For our annual holiday get together at The Kemper Golf Club, part of the festivities included…read morecookie decorating, provided by Give Me Some Sugar. Chef Jerry and Thomas were just too adorable and so very helpful in getting up set up as well as explaining the use of the various frostings in the tubes, showing us the proper way to not only get the frosting out of the tubes but how to apply it to the cookie, They were so helpful, making sure we had everything we needed. As we got to the end of the activity, we didn't even have to get up to get the provided boxes to put our cookies in....they brought them over. I did not eat my decorated cookies because I am not a fan of frosting on cookies, but the three plain ones I saved were delish the next day when I had them with my morning coffee. What I liked about the activity was that Chef Jerry and Thomas were there to make sure all of the tables had what they needed and to answer questions, but they were not micromanaging us. They allowed us to do our thing and have fun. Honestly when I heard what the activity was going to be, I wasn't feeling it. But Tom and Jerry (just had to say that one...HAHAHAHA) made it a very fun experience.

Macarons are exceedingly and exceptionally difficult to get to absolute perfection. If this were a…read moreplace with two or three Michelin stars, I might be a little tougher. However, for a neighborhood dessert shop, these were as close to macaron perfection as can reasonably be expected. What I'm referring to is the crust/shell. If I'm correct, a textbook-perfect macaron shell is firm yet as delicate as a frozen soap bubble, with a much softer dough underneath. With these, I felt as though a hair (and I'm not exaggerating) of the firmness transferred from the shell to the dough. Again, I grant grace due to the inherent difficulty of perfecting this delicate pastry. Where these macarons truly shine, and do so more than any I've had previously, is their filling. I was able to try a salted caramel and a coffee. Both of these had very distinct flavors, not simply a generic sweetness with hints of something. I could have immediately identified these flavors, even if you hadn't told me what they were. While it was later in the evening and not busy, I still want to give points to the friendly and personable individual working behind the counter. Thus, while perhaps not a cross-town destination, Andersonville's Macaron Bar delivers products that can perfectly satisfy a sweet craving.

We just wanted a little sweet after lunch. I swear I could eat a whole sleeve of these and still…read morewant more. My favorite was the black raspberry. I didn't taste the rosemary in the lavender, loved the gingerbread. Pretty little sweets, great gift idea. Happy we stopped.

I've had the opportunity to do multiple virtual cooking classes with The Levantine Kitchen and Chef…read moreCharles. The classes were accessible, straightforward, and, most importantly, fun! Charles is patient and highly knowledgeable. He helps make the meal and gives tips along the way for cutting vegetables, storing food, and seasoning. After the classes, the recipes we used went into my regular rotation for dinners which speaks to how easy he makes it! I will definitely be contacting The Levantine Kitchen for future classes.

Charles delivered a truly superb light buffet dinner, consisting of two dips and three different…read moresalads. Each salad had a unique and special flavor. There was a salmon and artichoke salad, a chicken and arugula salad, and a carrot and beet salad. The dips were Muhamara and hummus. Guests couldn't stop raving about the food. I will definitely be in touch with Charles to arrange another event. Highly recommend. Planning for the event was easy and delivery was prompt even considering downtown Chicago traffic on a weekday at 5:30 in the afternoon.

"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.

On Valentine's Day my boyfriend and I did the tufting experience. We were a part of the first…read moregroup upon the establishment opening. Definitely go early if you can! Great date idea! The instructor we had was extremely rude. She had brownish reddish hair. This made the experience high-pressure and felt like we couldn't really ask questions because of her attitude & rushing us. Especially during the demo. Her service was not good making the ambiance hard to enjoy. Once we sat down to tuft our own rugs. The Tufting itself was tedious, but once you get into the flow state, it can be very therapeutic. I'd rate my hands on tufting experience a five out of five. The demo experience was a two out of five. As time went on other instructors came around to give us some tips and tricks they was helpful. You get three hour slots. I do feel like it should be at least 3 and a half hours because once you get the hang of tufting, the instructors will come around to let you know what you need to fix periodically. I would come back, but probably to their other location in Bridgeport.This location Uptown was decent. You do get your moneys worth out of this experience far is the end result.

Absolutely loved Freestyle. Did the small rug tufting and our instructor was so nice and patient…read moreand very thorough in the tutorial. I quite liked being able to trace out my image to tuft. The selection of yarn available is great. The staff did come by often to make sure we're doing fine and checked in to see how we were progressing and gave tips and pointers. The turnaround time to pick up the rugs was estimated to be 1-2 weeks and I got my rug the very next week. They did a great job with making sure the rugs were shaved evenly and the backing was put on properly. I compared my experience here with my rug tufting experience in Dallas a lot during my time, and although I had to wait to take home my rug, I far enjoyed this one more. It was less stressful and the rug came out so nice. I would love to do their ceramic painting in the future.