From the moment I heard about the Chicago French Market, I knew that I had to visit. I also knew that I would love it. I love Chicago. I love France. I love markets.
I made plans to take the early train Saturday, and meet a coworker at the market. Since I arrived a bit early, I bought a juice and read my book.
Precious.
The Chicago French Market is located in the Ogilvie Transport Center (below the tracks) and it is open Monday-Saturday. There are a variety of vendors – bakeries, produce, meats, a creperie, juice bar, and a coffee shop. I enjoyed a detox juice from Juice Bar and it was full of fresh ginger. Once Jessica arrived (I know I know two marketing girls named Jessica…we confuse the shit out of people haha), we hit up Lavazza.
Wonderful barista! He was friendly, funny, fashionable, and AN ARTIST! Check out that leaf!
Jessica and I both have a mild obsession with macarons and there are two bakeries with macarons at the market – Vanille Patisserie and Delightful Pastries.
Mini freaking macarons from Delightful Pastries! Mini!!
Sadly the chocolate mini macaron was a little hard, but the pistachio was more what I would expect from a macaron
Next up – Vanille!
The had traditional macarons in bright colors and great flavors – blueberry, rose, red velvet, key lime, Nutella! I bought a dozen to take back to Alexis’ for after Cultivate. These were the perfect texture, and the flavors were all delicious! I think I have found my local source for macarons. Yes, local. When you live in the middle of nowhere in Wisconsin, somehow Chicago feels local. Hey, once or twice I’ve made it downtown in 90-ish minutes. 
Vanille also had some fancy pants desserts! Poire Helene topped with a tiny macaron, anyone? Please! It’s bakeries like Vanille that make me wish I could spend the rest of my days in stretchy pants!
So as to not overdose on sugar, we made a stop at Flip for a crepe. They had traditional crepes with fillings like Nutella, bananas, and ham & cheese. They had whole wheat crepes (yay whole grains!!) and some unique fillings. Jessica ordered the Chicken Mumbai for us to share, and when I go back I want to order the Chevre & Fig. Flip also offers classes! I think I need to make a second trip to the market for a crepe making class!
Whole wheat crepe filled with coconut-curry chicken salad, raisin, tomatoes, and spinach
RAW was a major reason I wanted to visit the market this weekend. I have wanted to go to their stand since I saw bloggers post about it from HLS 2010. We sampled their raw apple pie (to die for. TO DIE!), and I picked up some kale chips. I’ve been burning them too often so this way I can have kale chips without my house smelling like burnt kale. I want to go back and try their falafel, raw truffles, have a wheatgrass shot, and maybe try raw butter. I’m intrigued by raw foods…
Sadly this was all I had time for this visit. I am definitely going back! My wishlist for my next visit:
- Pho from Saigon Sisters
- A lavender ganache filled truffle from Canady Le Chocolatier
- Fries and beer from Frietkoten
And within 90 minutes, #22 was checked off the list!
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
That latte really is artwork! And I’m super jealous of that crepe.
The crepe looks delish, I bet a dessert crepe form there would of been out of this world : )
I have never been or seen that market, for all the times I have been in chicago, something I never saw , but you said its underground or something? Maybe thats why!
It’s under the tracks, but it’s at street level. It took me a couple tries to find it. I just asked people in the train station how to find it!
Next time you’re in Chicago, I am do on board for a meet up at Raw. I’ve been wanting to go there for like 2 years now, but I don’t think I could convince anyone I know to go eat there with me. I suppose I could go alone, but where’s the fun in that?
I haven’t been to the French Market since shortly after it opened (which is sad considering I work less than a mile from it), but the fries were AWESOME!
Yes!! Blogger meet-up!!