'Tis the Season for Great Taste: First Annual Tasting Table Open Market!

Though I managed to get less than four hours of sleep Friday night (work holiday party, followed by some live blues, late night tacos & dancing 'til 4 am at a country western dive bar), I was not going to miss the Tasting Table Open Market, something I'd been looking forward to for months. I'm very happy to report that I made it to the Market right as doors opened at 11 am with a smile on my face, ready to support my community.

The first annual TT Open Market was held on the third floor of Block 37, an urban shopping center located in the Chicago Loop on State Street. The space was raw and beautiful; huge windows faced the festively decorated Macy's and allowed natural light to flood the room. Exposed rafters and concrete floors were warmed immensely by hanging lights, poinsettias and evergreen garland. Bustling bodies flocked to the vendor tables to sample and snack - everywhere you looked people were smiling, laughing & tasting, just exactly as intended.

Upon entering my friend Angie & I made a beeline to the Intelligentsia table (a Chicago original), where they were pouring hot cups of their Celebration Blend: a mix designed to mimic a hot toddy with flavors of spiced rum, red fruits, mulling spices and wild honey aromatics. Usually I prefer a little almond milk in my coffee - not necessary with this cup. It was so.good.

We made our way around to all the vendors in a speedier fashion than I'd prefer, but I had an appointment to run to and was left with no choice. Still, we managed to strike up some lovely conversations with a handful of participating folks. Making an effort to learn about another person & what they are passionate about really does wonders for your soul. Have you ever heard that passion is infectious? It's completely true. Though I feel I don't always know what to say, engaging by asking simple questions - "How did you get started? What is your favorite product? Do you have a retail space?" - can be the little spark that ignites a meaningful conversation. You get to walk away with more knowledge and you leave that person feeling uplifted because you took a genuine interest.

⋗ if you want to be interesting, be interested ⋖

Now, a little shout out to some of the products & people we got to know at the Market, in addition to Intelligentsia:

G & C Pantry Co.: Within the first minute of talking with these friendly folks I learned that G & C Pantry was born out of a demand for hot sauces - smoked jalapeño & sweet potato flavors, to be exact. These uniquely flavorful sauces are the brainchild of the chef and owner of one of my favorite spots in the city. Chef Mark Steur of Carriage House decided to start bottling his original recipe sauces because they were constantly disappearing off the tables in his restaurant. They are now for sale through G & C Pantry, along with his kitchen brine, which means everyone wins. If you haven't made your way to Carriage House yet to enjoy the 'modern low country fare' - fix that soon. Not only is the food fantastic, but it's one of the most beautiful & cozy spots I have ever seen.

Chef Mark Steur explains the G & C Pantry Co. dishes

Jalapeno & Sweet Potato hot sauces

BeKnown: The ladies of BeKnown were simply a delight to speak with, and their homemade maple almond nut milk in mason jars melted my heart. BeKnown is a new catering service that's focused on using whole (as in not processed), locally sourced ingredients to create healthy, delicious dishes for omnivores & carnivores alike.

Maple Almond Nut Milk

Bittercube: Handcrafting bitters and cocktail consulting? These gents know their stuff. While speaking with Ira Koplowitz we found out that he learned about making bitters while working at the Violet Hour, one of Chicago's most impressive cocktail operations. He experimented with different recipes and took his craft further by starting Bittercube with friend, Nicholas Kosevich. Find out more about these two here.

Bitters

Beurrage: A small bakery located in Pilsen, Beurrage boasted an impressive offering of sweet & savory croissants, among other goodies. It was difficult choose just one, but once we did we were convinced we made the right decision. Who wouldn't love layers of flaky, buttery croissant enveloping fig, prosciutto & chèvre?!

Le Sirop by Femme du Coupe: Curated cocktail syrups that, just like fashion, change with the seasons. An adorable and incredibly knowledgeable gal sporting a perfectly festive shade of red lipstick mixed up the syrups with some locally made apple cider - a super refreshing treat after our coffee.