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This Week’s Chicago Outer Suburb/Exurb Markets
(* denotes season opening market)
Two major changes in our farmers market listings. Because there are now so many Chicago metro markets open for the season, the full weekly schedule has outgrown the Market Monday issue of Local Food Forum. So starting today, we’ve split the list, with outer suburban and exurban markets published on Sunday (along with links to market locators outside Chicago metro), and the Chicago city and inner suburban markets published Monday.
We also have streamlined the listing, reducing the font size a bit so everything, including the open times, fit on one line. This also makes the list more compact and easier to scroll through.
Monday, June 7
Hinsdale Farmers Market, 30 E. Chicago Ave., Hinsdale, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Tuesday, June 8
Fox Lake Farmers Market, 17 E. School Ct., Fox Lake, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Sycamore Farmers Market, 403 Edward St., Sycamore, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Wednesday, June 9
Elmhurst Farmers Market, 541 S. York St., Elmhurst, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Palos Heights Farmers Market, 12217 S. Harlem Ave., Palos Heights, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Ravinia Farmers Market, Jen Jensen Park, Highland Park, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Riverside Farmers Market, 10 Pine Ave., Riverside, 2:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, June 10
Glencoe Farmers Market, Wyman Square, Glencoe*, 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
LaGrange Farmers Market, 53 S. LaGrange Rd., LaGrange, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Libertyville Farmers Market, 413 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Friday, June 11
Lake Bluff Farmers Market, Village Green, Lake Bluff, 7 a.m. to noon
Lake Zurich Farmers Market, 200 S. Rand Rd., Lake Zurich, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Schaumberg Farmers Market, 190 S. Roselle Rd., Schaumberg, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
St. Charles Farmers Market, 307 Cedar Ave., St. Charles, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Saturday, June 12
Brookfield Farmers Market, 8820 Brookfield Ave., Brookfield, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Crystal Lake Farmers Market, Depot Park, Crystal Lake, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Deerfield Farmers Market, 828-836 Deerfield Rd., Deerfield*, 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Downers Grove Farmers Market, 5001 Main St., Downers Grove, 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Elk Grove Farmers Market, 901 Wellington Ave., Elk Grove, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Grayslake Farmers Market, 201 Center St., Grayslake, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Homewood Farmers Market, 18020 Martin Ave., Homewood, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Huntley Farmers Market, 11704 W. Coral St., Huntley, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Kankakee Farmers Market, S. Schuyler Ave. & Merchant St., Kankakee, 8 a.m. to noon
Naperville Farmers Market, 200 E. 5th Ave., Naperville, 7 a.m. to noon
Palatine Farmers Market, Smith and Wood Sts. (Train Station), Palatine, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Park Forest Farmers Market, 152 Main St., Park Forest, 7 a.m to noon
Streator Farmers Market, Streator City Park, Streator, 8 a.m to noon
Winnetka Farmers Market, 510 Green Bay Rd., Winnetka, 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m.
Woodstock Farmers Market, Historic Woodstock Square, Woodstock, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Sunday, June 13
Buffalo Grove Farmers Market, 951 McHenry Rd., Buffalo Grove* 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Mount Prospect Farmers Market, Northwest Highway & Emerson St., Mount Prospect, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Click links below to find other regional markets at:
Illinois Farmers Market Association
Michigan Farmers Market Association
Wisconsin Farmers Market Association
Shrub Magic: Strawberry-Rhubarb Bevs, 3 Ways
One of my latest kitchen kicks is making drinkable flavored vinegars called shrubs. I’d always wondered about these, and when I found out there are only three ingredients — fresh produce (usually fruit), sugar and vinegar — off I went. (Links to recipes can be found in the Thursday, June 3 issue.)
My first two experiments were rhubarb and strawberry shrubs, which I made fully intending to mix them because they make a legendary seasonal combination (more usually found in baked goods such as pies and cobblers). They came out beautifully, in appearance and taste (sweet and tart but not too much of either). I then tried them out in three beverages, and all went swell.
First I made a simple fruit-flavored soft drink. This…
Became this…
One ounce rhubarb shrub, one ounce strawberry shrub, four ounces seltzer over ice. Super-refreshing, going to drink a lot of this while I can. Hey, mom, I just made my own soda!
Then it was cocktail hour. This bourbon cocktail is constructed like a whiskey sour, but instead of lemon juice and simple syrup, it has a half-ounce of each of the shrubs. Another winner.
Finally, the piece de resistance. I’m a bourbon guy and a long time ago I discovered the Seelbach cocktail, named for the Louisville hotel that invented it: 1 ounce bourbon, 1 ounce triple sec, bitters and topped with sparkling wine. I’ve been riffing on it ever since.
This time, the bourbon and prosecco are mixed with a 1/2-ounce of each of the shrubs. Tasty, pretty (it’s the photo at the top), unique. I’m calling it the Shrubarb Shrubbery unless someone accuses me of stealing it.
It’s going to be fun playing with this as new seasonal fruits come on the market.
You a shrub fan? Share your ideas in the comments.
Indoor Tomatoes, Growing Like Hotcakes
Laura Pichon is one of the indoor-farming neighbors in our Lakeview high-rise, on whom we first reported on April 29. Here’s a photographic progress report on her apartment-grown cherry tomatoes. Way to go, Laura!