1. You ain’t seen noshing yet
Not until you’ve toured Chicago’s wide array of eateries
By FARAH FLEURIMA
Staff Writer
ffleurima@dallasnews.com
CHICAGO — Heading to Chicago and
craving a real taste of the city? Reserve a spot
on a culinary walking tour.
Chicago Food Planet’s Near North Food
Tasting and Cultural Walking Tour takes
visitors on a jaunt to some of the city’s
one-of-a-kind gastronomic outlets, with stops
along the way at architectural and cultural
highlights in several historic neighborhoods.
On each tour, a knowledgeable guide leads
a three-hour walk (wear comfy shoes)
through the Gold Coast, Old Town and
Lincoln Park enclaves and into specialty food
shops such as Tea Gschwendner, a
German-based tea merchant where fresh,
loose-leaf brews scent the air; the Fudge Pot,
a venerable, family-owned candy store where
someone’s always stirring a pot of something
sweet; and Ashkenaz Deli, one of the city’s Chicago Food Planet
few authentic Jewish delis. Jay Shindler, owner of Catering Chocolate, replenishes the prepared-food offerings
The trek satisfies both appetite and at his store, one of 11 stops on the Chicago Food Planet walking tour.
intellect, and strong word of mouth has
attracted even locals (my tour of 11 had four).
Here are some highlights: spinach and a blend of cheeses. I don’t know When you go
Add a bit of spice: When my tour group about my heart, but the sumptuous wedge of
arrived at the Spice House, a veritable Fort pie, with the spinach-flecked cheese oozing Joining a tour
Knox of seasonings, we could smell the out of it and rich tomato sauce atop it, made Book a walking tour with Chicago Food
freshly ground spices from the sidewalk. my mouth happy. Planet at 1-800-979-3370 or 212-209-3370,
or through www.chicagofoodplanet.com.
Once inside, we found shelf after shelf of jars The yummy yet inedible parts: In
Cost is $40 and covers all food tastings.
of individual herbs and spices ready for addition to offering us everything from
While the food is enough for a satisfying
sampling, as well as containers of homemade chocolate-covered vanilla toffee at the Fudge lunch, tour veterans recommended eating a
spice blends ranging from barbecue rubs to Pot to potato latkes at Ashkenaz, our tour bit beforehand.
bases for salad dressings. guide served us platefuls of information about
The tour
A piece of the pie: After a stroll through the neighborhoods through which we walked. Several departures are available each day,
Oz Park, so named because Wizard of Oz Who knew Hugh Hefner’s first Playboy rain or shine, from April through November.
author L. Frank Baum once lived nearby, our Mansion is in Chicago? And that the place Chicago Food Planet says the walk of several
group landed at Bella Bacino’s, known for its where scantily clad bunnies once pranced was miles is suitable for all ages and fitness levels.
“heart-healthy” deep-dish pizza made with later turned into a dorm? Private food tours are available.