Chicago French Market Harvest - Thursday, October 10 to Saturday, October 12

Chicago French Market will be celebrating the fall with its three-day Market Harvest, Thursday, Oct. 10 through Saturday, October 12. Vendors will be offering specials, samplings and showcasing new products.

 

Enjoy deals including 10 percent off all Tea Kits and Tea Accessories at Bello Tea. "It's the perfect time to stock up for upcoming hostess gifts and holiday gift-giving," says owner Tammy Reddy.

 

Swing by Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine, 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Thursday, October 10 for a complimentary cider tasting. Pastoral will be pairing these ciders with some of the best artisanal cheeses from coast to coast in conjunction with American Cheese Month.

 

During the Market Harvest, Delightful Pastries will be sampling a variety of its brownies.  Also, on October 11, Delightful will be celebrating World Egg Day. For only $1 extra, diners can add egg and cheese to their popular Three Piggly Wigglys sandwich ($10) with Polish ham, lean crispy bacon, pan-fried-pork-cutlet, and pickles served on an "everything" bun.

 

"October is the perfect time to celebrate the fall harvest," says Nico Hua, partner of Delightful Pastries. "We encourage our guests to enjoy our savory offerings including homemade, gluten free Butternut Squash Soup, The Thanksgiving sandwich, or enjoy a combination Sandwich and Soup for $10.25.

 

Finish your meal with the pumpkin cayenne pepper cheesecake brownie, a pumpkin-shaped all butter sugar cookie, or take home a loaf of the pumpkin bread, all perfect for the Harvest Fest.  

Spicy Monkey will be offering pumpkin spice soup and its Thanksgiving Grilled Cheese sandwich; Superior Nut and Candy will have special hand-dipped candy and caramel apples; Oh Olive! will feature Red Apple and Cranberry Pear Balsamic, Autumn Harvest and Pumpkin Patch Teas, and Butternut Squash Sauce. Fumare Meats and Deli adds Harvest Kale Soup to its Harvest Fest menu, Frietkoten features American Craft and German Oktoberfest Beers, and Abbey Brown Artisan Soap show its Pumpkin Pie Soap.

 

Thursday, October 10 Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine - Cider Tasting 
4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Complimentary

 

Just in time for fall!  Swing by Pastoral 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, October 10 for a complimentary cider tasting. Pastoral will be pairing ciders with some of the best artisanal cheeses from coast to coast in conjunction with American Cheese Month.

American Cheese Month activities continue at Pastorial Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine with their "Meet the Cheesemaker" series as Matthew Scott of Twin Maple Farm in NY showcases his award winning cheese, Hudson Red, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, October 12. This is a unique opportunity to taste this one-of-a-kind American original and to meet the man behind the curd.

Kick off the fall season with upcoming events at Chicago French Market

Frietkoten’s Belgian Beer & Fries at T.G.I.Frite-Day
Every Friday in September, enjoy Frietkoten’s Belgian frites and beer for just $7. Enjoy live music at the market from noon until 2 p.m. and 4 until 6 p.m. every Friday in September.

Watch “Kings of Pastry” and Get a Complimentary Treat at Vanille Patisserie
Bring in any ticket stub from Kings of Pastry, playing at Gene Siskel Film Center from Oct. 1 – 7, and receive one Complimentary Éclair or Croissant with any purchase at Vanille Patisserie.

Tickets for the film can be purchased through TicketMaster. General admission is $10. Student admission is $7 with school ID.

Save the Date: The Good Food Project Apple Tasting Oct. 2
Save the date for an upcoming event at Chicago French Market that brings families and eating healthy together. Kick off apple season with The Good Food Project and Chicago French Market with an apple tasting for kids. In this workshop, children learn from a food critic how to taste food like a food critic. Each child also gets to choose a favorite apple to make a slinky, and the event includes coupons to shop vendors at Chicago French Market. The event happens Saturday, Oct. 2, with two opportunities for the tasting: 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. apple tasting and workshop; 11:45 a.m. – 1 p.m. make apple slinkies; and 1:15 p.m. to 2 p.m. second apple tasting and workshop. Arrive early for tickets; space is limited. Suggested donation is $5.

About Chicago French Market
Chicago French Market is a European-inspired market offering an array of local produce, meats, seafood, breads, pastries, cheese and wine, chocolates, pastas, artisan-made goods, flowers and a seating area for customers. Chicago French Market’s vendors stay open year-round, six days per week, and is located within the new MetraMarket development at 131 N. Clinton St. (between Washington and Randolph Streets). For more information, visit http://www.chicagofrenchmarket.com/.

Chicago French Market Announces August's T.G.I.Frite-Day

Kick off weekends in August on Friday afternoons at Chicago French Market (131 N. Clinton St., 312-575-0306), with T.G.I.Frite-Day, happening every Friday throughout the month of August, beginning Friday, August 6.

Enjoy the sounds of musician Pat Spaeth's accordion from noon until 2 p.m., and 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. every Friday in August. Spaeth, the current pianist for Chicago's Joffrey Ballet, plays French-style pieces on the Ogilvie Transportation Center concourse directly outside Chicago French Market, as well as inside the market.

Indulge in a small order of Belgian fries with a draft beer from Frietkoten for just $7, offered all day every T.G.I.Frite-Day in August.

Don't miss this music and dining deal, a great opportunity to celebrate the final weekends of summer! For more information, visit www.chicagofrenchmarket.com.

Chicago French Market Vendors Go Outdoors Saturday, July 31

Chicago French Market (131 N. Clinton St., Chicago; 312-575-0306) vendors usually enjoy the luxury of being indoors, but this weekend, several vendors hit the Clinton Street sidewalk for a special Outdoor Market! Join vendors Produce Express, Les Fleurs and Pop This! from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Saturday, July 31 as they offer their goods outside.

Stop by the outdoor vendors on your way in to the market for your regular weekend grocery shopping. For more information on Chicago French Market and to sign up for the newsletter, visit www.chicagofrenchmarket.com.

Don't forget to join Belgian fry shack Frietkoten for a special Belgian Beer & Fry Tasting from 4:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Thursday, August 5. Sample six different varieties of Belgian beers, PLUS an order of Belgian fries served with traditional ketchup and mayo and a choice of one sauce. Tickets are $15 each and will be available for purchase at the event.

Pasta lovers, don't forget to visit Chicago French Market's newest vendor, Fasta Pasta, serving fresh, made-to-order pasta for those on the go in less than two minutes.

For more information, visit www.chicagofrenchmarket.com. Follow Chicago French Market on Twitter and Facebook.

Fasta Pasta Now Open at Chicago French Market; Frietkoten Now Serves Belgian Beers

Chicago French Market (131 N. Clinton St., 312-575-0306), located in the West Loop/Fulton River District, opened its newest vendor July 6, Fasta Pasta, adding to nearly 30 individual vendors found at the market. The new vendor joins added options at Chicago French Market, including the addition of Belgian beer, now served at Belgian fry shack Frietkoten.

Fasta Pasta's Made to Order Fresh Pasta
Fasta Pasta, a new, European-inspired fast-casual booth, allows customers to choose their pasta and sauce from a daily variety. The meal is cooked to order and served fresh in a recyclable container in less than two minutes, perfect for eating right away, or taking back to the office or home.

Customers begin by choosing pasta, like Fusilli, Campanelli and Whole Wheat Penne; or choose a premium pasta, from a selection that includes Beef Tortellini, Mushroom Ravioli and Gnocchi. Sauce choices include Marinara and Alfredo; or for a low extra price, premium choices include Vodka, Sweet Red Pepper Basil or Bolognese. Complimentary topping choices include Parmesan and Fresh Basil. For protein lovers, premium additions to the pastas like Meatballs and Chicken are also available. Customers have already been returning to Fasta Pasta to try the many different combinations that enable them to create their "own" special pasta.

"We couldn't be more excited to bring our new concept, Fasta Pasta, to residents, commuters and Chicago-area folks," says Scott Suckow, president of Really Nice Restaurants, developers and operators of Fasta Pasta. " We look forward to serving fresh, fast and great-tasting pasta to Chicago French Market customers."

"Fasta Pasta adds to our already diverse group of food offerings at Chicago French Market," says Sebastien Bensidoun of the Bensidoun family, co-owners and operators of Chicago French Market. "Not only can our visitors find fresh produce and ingredients for home cooked meals from Chicago French Market, but customers can also enjoy a variety of made-to-order meals from our dozens of vendors."

Frietkoten Now Serves Belgian Beer

Frietkoten, the traditional Belgian fry shack at Chicago French Market, now serves Belgian beer Monday through Saturday to complement its traditional, hand-cut Belgian fries.

The seasonal, well-balanced selection features beers on tap: Avril Biere de Table and Debuisson Cuvee Des Trolls, Blond Ale. Beers are also served by the bottle and include Christoffel Blond, Blanche du Bruxelles, Witkap Pater Abbey Single Ale, De Koninck Belgian Pale Ale, Urthel Saisonniere and many more, including three organic brews.

Drafts are served in a 12-oz. glass and are best paired with Frietkoten's traditional Belgian fries, served with a choice of one of Frietkoten's 20 different sauces.

"We are happy to announce the launch of our beer sales at Frietkoten," says Frietkoten owner and Netherlands native Jeroen Hasenbos. "Our well-balanced beer menu has something to offer every palette, and will change regularly based on seasonal offerings and customer feedback."

Frietkoten brings Amsterdam's traditional "fry shack" experience to Chicago, with hand-cut Belgian fries served in a paper cone and distinguished by a crisp outside and soft potato inside.

Chicago French Market is a European-inspired market offering an array of local produce, meats, seafood, breads, pastries, cheese, wine, chocolates, pastas, artisan-made goods, flowers and a seating area for customers. Chicago French Market's nearly 30 vendors stay open year-round, six days per week, and is located within the new MetraMarket development at 131 N. Clinton St. (between Washington and Randolph Streets). For more information, visit http://www.chicagofrenchmarket.com/.