The Haymaker Shop
While most of the home décor shops on Andersonville’s Clark Street hawk high-end salvage, Haymaker, which opened in June, features a curated selection of objects from local designers and artists. Proprietor Arrin Williams pairs contemporary, handcrafted furniture with dazzling posters designed by Sonnenzimmer and Legendre & Rutter.
The Haymaker Shop
5507 North Clark
(773)681-0798
haymakershop.com
Best of Chicago 2011
One Sister
She’s the experimental cuisine disciple of Chicago’s underground restaurant movement. Iliana Regan (Trio, Alinea, Schwa) operates her underground supper club, One Sister, from her home in Andersonville. But there’s nothing Sunday-night supper-like about her sensory-stimulating (chicken thighs, liver and truffle ragu with hay sage aroma) plates and thoughtfully themed courses. Regan works overtime—seasonally foraging mushrooms and growing greens like the arugula she uses to make “arugula sponge.” It’s an element of one of her “salad sponges,” her interpretation of a salad course. The sponges are a vehicle for decorative salad elements. They are topped with dollops of homemade goat milk sorbet, sunflower sorbet and tiny, methodically arranged leaves from her Swiss chard, sunflower and pea-shoot plants. Regan pairs music with courses when appropriate: To the tunes of Jefferson Airplane’s “White Rabbit,” she riffs on the mock turtle soup referred to in the “Alice in Wonderland” story—serving pecan ice cream between two maitake mushroom cookies and chamomile pâte de fruit. On the plate, she has penned “eat me” using porcini mushroom caramel. This dessert is served while guests sip maitake mushroom tea from vintage tea cups. The tea is poured over a gelatin capsule Regan has loaded with chamomile and cocoa nibs. The capsule dissolves in the hot tea, casting flavors from within throughout the tea cup. “The cocoa, pecan and caramel flavors in the course are elements of the mock turtle soup in ‘Alice in Wonderland.’ It has been everybody’s favorite for a really long time,” Regan says.
One Sister Inc.
(773)598-0602
onesisterinc.com
Best of Chicago 2011
Icosium Kafe
Step in out of the cold. Drink in the atmosphere of beautiful art and rugs that adorn the walls. Maybe have a cup of Algerian Kafe (sweetness and strength tailored to order) or mint tea. Choose from about twenty different kinds of crepes. Our favorite is the Cheka Chouka: roasted peppers, fresh basil, goat cheese, caramelized onion, fresh roma tomatoes, pine nuts, roasted garlic and baby spinach with a little Merguez (lamb sausage) added. Add a side of Za’atar toast, and a Crepe Icosium—raisins, pears, orange blossom and pistachio ice cream—for dessert. Come with me to ze Casbah…
Icosium Kafe
5200 North Clark
(773)271-5233
icosiumkafechicago.com
Best of Chicago 2011
Hamburger Mary’s
When you say “check please,” at Hamburger Mary’s, you’ll get the check all right, but it will be delivered in sparkling stiletto. There’s something refreshing, classy and slightly kitschy about receiving a restaurant bill in a ruby slipper. Think glitz, glamour and a bit of Oz.
Hamburger Mary’s
5400 North Clark
(773)784-6969
hamburgermaryschicago.com
Best of Chicago 2011
Ann Sather
Are those cinnamon rolls leaving a bit of a metallic taste in your mouth? Don’t rush to the doctor—it could just be a remnant left from the Stanley Cup’s summer tour of the city. Yes, between bar visits to Underground and Market, the Cup got up early to enjoy brunch at this city favorite alongside team captain Jonathan Toews. Although it was certainly cool to see our Hawks don the trophy on Jay Leno’s show, nothing compares to eating the breakfast of champions next to some real-life champs.
5207 North Clark
(773)271-6677
909 West Belmont
(773)348-2378
3411 North Broadway
(773)404-4475
annsather.com
Audience choice:
Chicago Annual Pride Parade
chicagopridecalendar.org
Best of Chicago 2010
Twosided and Foursided
One could probably survive without the other, but it’s comforting to know these kitschy siblings can prosper in such close proximity to one another. Like (or unlike?) sisters themselves, they bring a similar vibe through different mediums. Twosided specializes in items with, well, two sides—cards, paper, books and journals; Foursided carries posters, photos, frames repurposed from recycled wood or glass and doubles as a full-service frame shop. Both focus on local artists and Chicago style and get the DIY flavor flowing.
Twosided
2958 North Clark
(773)244-6431
Foursided
2939 North Broadway
(773)248-1960
5061 North Clark
(773)506-8300
foursided.com
foursidedonline.blogspot.com
Best of Chicago 2010
Joncarl Lachman of HB Home Bistro’s launch of his new Dutch-inspired spot, Vincent, in the old La Tache space next to Great Lake—GQ’s #1 rated pizza in America place
Since Great Lake seems to have an ever-present line and its communal table seats approximately half a person, there should be no shortage of hungry spillover diners.
1475 West Balmoral
(773)334-7168
vincentchicago.com
Best of Chicago 2010
Mr. and Mrs. Digz
We’ve gotta’ hand it to Mr. and Mrs. Digz in Andersonville. Housing everything from vintage couture Chanel jackets to costume jewelry from the 1950s, even the most seasoned vintage shopper can find treasures here. And for those that aren’t quite sure how to pull off the look, there’s owner Emilia Dlugolecka’s line, Tune Up Clothing. Taking vintage garments and nip/tucking them into modern masterpieces with newly cinched waists and heightened hemlines, she simplifies the market for the retro-challenged. All this in a charming space with an über-friendly staff.
5668 North Clark
(773)447-8527
mrandmrsdigz.com
Audience choice:
Una Mae’s Freak Boutique
1528 North Milwaukee
unamaesclothing.com/chicago
Best of Chicago 2010
Middle East Bakery & Grocery
Nab these folded triangles of feta and spinach. Heat ‘em in the microwave, then bite into a warm and soothing winter snack. Or buy several and have them for dinner. If you want easy, simple and delicious, you’ve got it.
1512 West Foster
(773)561-2224
middleeastbakeryandgrocery.com
Best of Chicago 2010
Pasticceria Natalina
If owner/baker Natalie Zarzour offered us a basket of deep-fried reclaimed-truck-tire nuggets, we’d take her up on the offer. At the end of the day, when she’s sold out of familiar pastry like the best cannoli this side of Sicily or her tangy crumbly taralli al limone, the stuff left over, that you’re afraid to buy because you never heard of it, is even better.
5406 North Clark
(773)989-0662
p-natalina.com
Audience choice:
Fritz Pastry
1408 West Diversey
(773)857-2989
fritzpastry.com
Best of Chicago 2009
