Bread in Chicago - II

When I was last poking and prodding bread in Chicago, I had a bread that was Kevlar hard. Today's bread, from Turano is very much the opposite (summing up the issue with Chicago breads, too something).

Too soft. You could easily ball up a loaf of this Turano bread and play indoor soccer. It is not a bad bread, now. It tastes fresh. It just lacks anything approaching a crust.

I realized after two efforts that letter grades would not work--I already fear that Liborio's B is too high. Therefore, like Dom's beef rankings at Skillet Doux, I will simply rank the breads against each other. Here's the scale to date:

1. Liborio
2. Turano

Friday Cat Blogging

Moe Returns

Fall, When Hearts Turn To

More Produce.

Most of the farmers markets in the Chicago area close down by the end of October. What's a Localvore to do hence?

Find a CSA. This will be the second year that Farmer Vicki/Genesis Growers will be offering a fall CSA, and the second year that the VI family will be using this CSA for fall produce. The cost is $140

Proposed crops include:
broccoli
cauliflower
lettuce heads
baby lettuce
mesclun
arugula
carrots
beets
winter squashes
sweet potatoes
potatoes
broccoli raab
miscellaneous greens
turnips
pie pumpkins
cabbage
onions
leeks
occasional warm weather crops (tomatoes, cucumber, peppers)
apples

To sign up for this CSA contact Genesis Growers genesis_growers@hotmail.com

Over the course of the fall, Vicki also includes items like dried herbs, goat milk soap and canned goods. Our experience last year was that the fall CSA did not provide enough for the week in a particular box, but it was enough when you combined the boxes with other stuff in the house. More important, I think experience will help Vicki provide more this season. Finally, a Fall CSA is only as good as the weather. Early snow or hard frost can kill the best of plans.

Angelic Organics offers a fall/winter CSA, but you have to already be a user of their farm.

Disorganization

Bread in Chicago

I'm very interesting in knowing about bread in Chicago and finding the best of breads. I said I'd write about it. I guess I did not say when.

So, the story continues.



First up, one of my favorites. There are several in the class that is Italian mass-market: Turano, Gonnella, D'Amato's. I find people tend to ignore this one. Should not. I think the picture gives a good indication of the heff in this crust. It's a heavy, solid bread that will last several days. It's weakness, like so many around these parts, too dry in the crumb. Liborio breads are available at the versions of Caputos in Elmwood Park and Melrose Park. I'm not sure where else. Overall, a solid B.

PS
I forgot to mention another site with resources on Chicago bread. Gemma used to do more of a job covering bread in Chicago, but even without the bread reports, her site is so damn pretty--look through her archives.

Update
I fixed the link to Pro Bono Baker as I do not think it was taking you to the main page.

Great Smells of Chicago

Who can forget Gene and Judes?



This is the smell of your childhood if you grew up around here.

2720 River Rd
River Grove, IL