April Events and Concerts at Chicago French Market

April 4, 2012-Lunch Hour Music with Matt Cantlon

11-2pm Complimentary

Chicago musician Matt Cantlon has been playing guitar and singing for more than 20 years. In addition to his successful solo career, he also plays in the popular duo The Acoustic Generation. He’s a singer/song writer with and extensive song list of his originals as well as classics from genres across the board.

April 12, 2012-Rush Hour Music with Coventry Jones

4-7 pm Complimentary

Coventry Jones is a singer/songwriter from Milwaukee whose inspiring career has been greatly influenced by the great Bob Dylan. Coventry combines critically acclaimed vocals with styles ranging from folk to Celtic to Delta Blues. Come, relax and enjoy his rush hour concert featuring a collection of his original songs.

April 14, 2012-Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread and Wine- Wine Tasting

12-2 pm Complimentary

Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine will be hosting its monthly wine tasting where it will feature several varieties of artisan wines.   

April 18, 2012-Lunch Hour Music with Linsea Moon Waugh

11-2 pm Complimentary

Linsea Moon Waugh plays acoustic covers to suit any occasion.  She has been performing for nearly 13 years and isn’t afraid to take the challenge of audience requests.  Come and enjoy a lunch hour concert and listen to some of our favorite tunes performed by Linsea.  

April 26, 2012-Rush Hour Music with Dean Milano

4-7 pm Complimentary

American legend Dean Milano will be playing a lunch hour concert.  His long and successful career as a songwriter, musician and author is sure to impress any audience.  Stop in during your lunch hour and enjoy some original music from Dean.

April 28, 2012-2^nd Annual Pastoral’s Artisan Producer Festival

11-3pm Complimentary

Join us at the Chicago French Market for the 2^nd Annual Pastoral’s Artisan Producer Festival.  This complimentary, educational and entertaining “meet the maker” tasting event features more than 70 artisan producers of wine, beer, meat, sweets, accompaniments and so much more from around the block and around the world! 

Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine hosts Pastoral’s Artisan Producer Festival at Chicago French Market

Chicago French Market’s Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine will host its second annual Pastoral’s Artisan Producer Festival, a complimentary event to meet culinary artisans from throughout the U.S. and around the globe!  Come and sample products and celebrate small batch food, beer and wine at Chicago French Market (131 North Clinton Street), from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Saturday, April 28, 2012.

This year’s lineup features more than 70 culinary producers—more than double the number of artisans who participated at last year’s event—with award-winning cheese makers from across the country including Kenny’s Farmhouse Cheese in Kentucky, Cypress Grove Chevre in California and Marcoot Jersey Creamery from Illinois among at least 25 others. Venerable cheese mongers from Neal’s Yard Dairy in London will also be on hand and sampling some of the best cheeses from the British Isles, while New York-based Forever Cheese will feature some of the Mediterranean’s finest cheeses and other culinary delights from Italy, Spain, Portugal and Croatia.

Additionally, there will be a variety of national and international artisans who produce Pastoral’s distinctive sweet and savory accompaniments. From beer and spirit makers in Chicago to a potato chip producer from Virginia to caviar and truffle oil artisans from Italy, this year’s festival is one of Chicago’s most extensive events featuring culinary specialties from local, national and international producers.

Scheduled events throughout the day will include a cheese wrapping game sponsored by Formaticum, an avocado tasting for kids (and grown-ups) with The Good Food Project—sponsored by Avocados from Mexico—and Best of the Fest competition with food industry luminaries voting on their favorite featured artisans and products.

Pastoral created Pastoral’s Artisan Producer Festival as part of the company’s mission to make buying and eating great food and wine a fun, inviting and educational experience for its customers. Many of the products featured at Pastoral’s Artisan Producer Festival are sold in the Midwest exclusively at Pastoral. The event also will highlight artisan producers featured at Pastoral’s neighboring Chicago French Market vendors.

Parking for only $6 will be available for all attendees at 165 North Clinton, the parking lot located just north of Chicago French Market.   For more information, visit pastoralartisan.com or call 312-454-2200.

See below for a list of participating artisans and vendors.

CHEESEMAKERS

Beecher’s Handmade Cheese (Washington)

Beehive Cheese Company (Utah)
Capriole Farmstead Goat Cheese (Indiana)
Cypress Grove Chevre (California)
Forever Cheese (Mediterranean)
Frisian Farms (Iowa)
Holland’s Family Cheese (Wisconsin)
Cellars at Jasper Hill (Vermont)
Kenny’s Farmhouse Cheese (Kentucky)
LaClare Family Farm (Wisconsin)
Marcoot Jersey Creamery (Illinois)
Milton Creamery (Iowa)
Neal’s Yard Dairy (London)
Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company (California)
Prairie Fruits Farm and Creamery (Illinois)
Rogue Creamery (Oregon)
Sartori Cheese (Wisconsin)
Saxon Homestead Creamery (Wisconsin)
Seymour Dairy (Wisconsin)
Spring Brook Farm (Vermont)
Uplands Cheese Company (Wisconsin)
Vermont Butter and Cheese Creamery (Vermont)
Wisconsin Sheep Dairy Co-Op (Wisconsin)
Zingerman’s Creamery (Michigan)

BREWERIES

5 Rabbit (Illinois)

Finch’s Beer (Illinois)
Founders Brewing Company (Michigan)
Goose Island (Illinois)
Half Acre Beer Company (Illinois)
Brouwerij Liefmans (Belgium)
New Holland Brewing Company (Michigan)
North Coast Brewing Company (California)
Brewery Ommegang (New York)
Uinta Brewing Company (Utah)

VINEYARDS

Acustic Winery (Spain)

Adelsheim Vineyard (Oregon)
Barrelhead Winery (California)
Chateau de Tiregand (France)
Elk Cove Vineyards (Oregon)
Graziano Family Wines (California)
Julian Cider (California)
L. Mawby Vineyards (Michigan)
Laurel Glen Vineyards (California)
Marques Vargas Vineyards (Spain)
Monticello Vineyards (California)
Orin Swift Cellars (California)
Pazo San Mauro (Spain)

SPIRITS

Death’s Door Spirits (Wisconsin)

Few Spirits (Illinois)
Koval Distillery (Illinois)
Valentine Vodka (Michigan)

CONFECTIONS

Confection Diva (Illinois)

DAS Foods (Illinois)
Happy Goat Caramels (California)
Rich Chocolates & Candies (Illinois)
Salted Caramel (Illinois)
Truffle Truffle (Illinois)
Whimsical Candy (Illinois)

GOURMET FOODS

34 Degrees Crispbreads (Colorado)

Ameline Mustards (France)
Ames Farm (Minnesota)
Avocados from Mexico in partnership with The Good Food Project
Calvisius Caviar (Italy)
Castleton Crackers (Vermont)
Cook au Vin (Illinois)
The Gracious Gourmet (Connecticut)
Mieli Thun (Italy)
Potter’s Crackers (Wisconsin)
Quince & Apple (Wisconsin)
Route 11 Potato Chips (Virginia)
Savini Tartufi (Italy)
Sour Puss Pickles (New York)
Stu’s Sour Pickles (Illinois)

CHARCUTERIE

Creminelli Fine Meats (Utah)

PARTICIPATING CHICAGO FRENCH MARKET VENDORS 

Abbey Brown Soap Artisans, Canady Le Chocolatier, City Fresh Market, Delightful Pastries, EJ Sushi, Lavazza Espression, FliP Crepes, Frietkoten, Fumare Meats & Deli, Klay Oven Kitchen, Loop Juice, Pastoral, Presto Café & Grill, RAW, Saigon Sisters, Spicy Monkey Soup Company, Superior Nut & Candy, Vanille Patisserie and WISMA.

Passover Dinner at Maxwell's at the Club

Your family will enjoy a lavish buffet complete with appetizers, entrées and desserts this Passover at Maxwell's at the Club (500 N. Kingsbury, Chicago at the East Bank Club, 312-527-5800, extension 301), 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., Friday, April 6.

The meal includes Kosher wine and Haggadahs will be available for each table. The cost is $45 for adults and $15 for children under 10 years. Reservations are required.

The meal includes, Appetizers and Salads, Matzo Ball Soup, Gefilte Fish, House Cured Salmon, Chopped Chicken Livers, Mesclun Greens, Spinach and Strawberry Salad, Romaine Salad, Eggplant Salad, Smoked Whitefish with Fennel and Arugula, Cucumber and Onion Salad, Tabbouleh, Honey-Lemon Carrot Salad, Israeli Chopped Salad, Mixed Wild Mushroom and Black Barley Salad, Carving Stations, Braised Beef Brisket, Roast Turkey Breast, Zucchini Potato Pancakes, Roasted Carrots and Cauliflower, Lemon-Sesame Asparagus, Porcini Matzo Polenta Wedges, Braised Pot Roast Braised, Spinach Stuffed Chicken Breast with Oyster Mushrooms, Lamb Meatballs, Roasted Salmon, Dessert, Seasonal Fresh Fruit and Berries, Charoset, Assorted Macaroons, Matzo Baklava, Flourless Chocolate Cake, Orange-Almond Flan, Marjolaine, Orange-Date Walnut Cake and Assorted Cheesecakes.

Hop the Bunny Train at Chicago French Market

Come hop the BunnyTrain and travel around the Chicago French Market!  The train will travel around the Chicago French Market Saturday, March 31 from 11-1:30 pm, followed by an Easter Egg Hunt at 1:30 pm.  Where participants can meet a very special guest: The Easter Bunny! The Chicago French Market will also be offering market-wide tastings.  Easter is fast approaching , so don’t miss out on all of the Easter fun!