Celebrity Chefs Kick Off Green City Market's Outdoor Season
By Margaret Paulson in Food on Apr 29, 2015 6:00PM
Spring is here and it’s that time of year again— Green City Market, the city’s largest farmers market, returns to Lincoln Park this Saturday after spending the winter season indoors at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum.
James-Beard nominated chefs, both local and from around the country, will gather in the park at 9:30 a.m. for a special event to kick off the market’s 17th year. The kickoff is also a way to honor the top chefs, who will be in Chicago for the 2015 James Beard Foundation Awards, which are being held outside New York (and in Chicago) for the first time in their 25-year history on May 4 at the Lyric Opera.
The hosting chefs are past James Beard Award winners and Green City Market board members Sarah Stegner of Prairie Grass Café, Bruce Sherman of North Pond and Carrie Nahabedian of Naha and Brindille.
Shop alongside the chefs and enjoy tastings of Abby's Crepes and Jared Batson's Nomad Food Co.'s wood fired pizza.
Green City Market’s summer season runs from May through October and the market is held every Wednesday and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. near the Nature Boardwalk and Farm-in-the-Zoo in Lincoln Park.
What can you buy there? Actually, what can’t you buy there? You’ll find fresh, seasonal, local and organic fruits and vegetables; humane meats, milk, eggs, cheese, and yogurt; fresh-cut flowers and seedlings; baked goods and even things like tofu, homemade jams, fresh pasta, maple syrup, and whiskey. You can also go for lunch as many vendors make food on the spot for hungry shoppers.
Every market features a 10:30 a.m. local chef demonstration. This year, you’ll see the likes of The Dawson’s Shaun King (May 13), Sable’s Lawrence Letrero (Aug. 5), Christine Cikowski and Joshua Kulp of Honey Butter Fried Chicken and Sunday Dinner Club (Aug. 8), and even chef super star Rick Bayless (June 6).
Before you go, perhaps you'll want to snag a copy of Green City Market's very own cookbook with recipes from the community, including Chef Bayless, Alderwoman Michelle Smith, and market patrons.
If you are interested in the popular Green City Market Chef's BBQ, tickets for the July 16 event are going on sale online or at the market on May 2 too.