Nell Funk, owner of Evanston’s premier incubator kitchen Now We’re Cookin’, officially heralded in the festive season by holding the first annual North Shore Artisan Food Market inside her utilitarian and homey space in November.

1. A PIONEER PRESS PUBLICATION • TRE www.pioneerlocal.com trend 39
Mary Warren, tea sommelier Sam Ritchey and owner Hoken Seki of The Green Teaist in Lake
Forest | Photos courtesy Lee Litas, Trend Columnist.
Festive Treats from
Innovative Space
Now We’re Cookin’, 1601 Payne Street, Ste. C, Evanston.
(847) 570-4140. Street parking.
Hours: By appointment. See www.nwcookin.com
By LEE A. LITAS
Trend Columnist
The Event: The holidays never smelled
so sweet as when culinary artisans, chefs
and bakers from the city and suburbs
gathered together to show off their edible
treats just in time for stocking stuffer
suggestions. Nell Funk, owner of
Evanston’s premier incubator kitchen
Now We’re Cookin’, officially heralded in
the festive season by holding the first
annual North Shore Artisan Food Market
inside her utilitarian and homey space in
November. The public was invited to get
to know NWC chefs and get inspired on
which treats to serve (or order ahead) for
their guests. Sweet Margy Confection Diva’s Margery
Chefs & Delicacies & Spirits, oh My!: Kaye of Highland Park and business partner
Aspiring food producers like Michael Robert Mandeltort from Lincolnshire
Sweirz of Evanston gleaned ideas from
established masters like Parisian chef,
Eric Marie, of New World Pastries in while ‘Ethyl the Still’ (with a little help
Evanston; while Kathia Jones of Gata Bee from distillery ambassador, Sophie
Crepes in Highwood worked side-by-side Amoss) served up distinctive spirits from
with Cheap Tart Bakery owner, Dinah the North Shore Distillery in Lake Bluff.
Grossman of Chicago and Diane Khouri And while Cooking Light Magazine’s
Joseph of Sheekar Delights, makers of “Artisanal Winner” Margy Kaye of Sweet
gourmet baklava, in Glenview to offer Margy treated young and old to her
both savory and sweet treats. North- buttery toffee, Hoken Seki, owner of The
brook’s newest butter maven, Jane Green Teaist in Lake Forest served up his
Johnson of Maggie’s Gourmet, offered award-winning teas and gelee.
samples of her epicurean infused butters Comment:pioneerlocal.com.