bjt wrote:I agree with most of the up-thread suggestions (but not with Trader Joe's -- par-baked nasty commissary action shipped in from a hangar near O'Hare... If Fox and Obel is out, that leaves me Bennison's at the markets and La Briola at Edgewater.
bjt
AngrySarah wrote:Let's revisit this topic. I had a tasty baguette at the Lincoln Square farmers market a few Sundays ago, real depth of flavor, slightly sourdough but more peasanty crust rather than a shatter of the truly sublime baguettes. Any recent revelations?
bean wrote:AngrySarah wrote:Let's revisit this topic. I had a tasty baguette at the Lincoln Square farmers market a few Sundays ago, real depth of flavor, slightly sourdough but more peasanty crust rather than a shatter of the truly sublime baguettes. Any recent revelations?
do you remember the name of the bakery?
...
BR wrote:bean wrote:AngrySarah wrote:Let's revisit this topic. I had a tasty baguette at the Lincoln Square farmers market a few Sundays ago, real depth of flavor, slightly sourdough but more peasanty crust rather than a shatter of the truly sublime baguettes. Any recent revelations?
do you remember the name of the bakery?
...
Lincoln Square does not have a Sunday farmers market.
Elfin wrote:There is a French baker who has a spot in the Winnetka train station. She is only opened in the mornings Monday through Friday. Our girls' French teacher thinks she has the best. My daughters love the baguetts and the chocolate croissants.
The baguette - a mix of wheat flour, water, yeast, salt and a pinch of savoir-faire and as much a symbol of France as the Eiffel Tower - may soon join UNESCO's listing of cultural treasures.
Gypsy Boy wrote:It looked like something I would have walked right by anywhere else. But several different people swore by it. So I spent my $3.38 and was treated to a non-crusty, apparently barely risen loaf that resembles a baguette in shape alone.
Since you mentioned the farmers market, I'll plug Katic Breads as the best baguette option in Evanston from May-Oct. There's 1-2 bread vendors inside the winter market at the church. Pretty sure it's Fred's Bread, but I've yet to try them.Darren72 wrote:I'm surprised. Although it's been a while for me, I used to get their baguettes every so often from the farmers market and they were fine. Not necessarily transcendent, but also not as yours was.Gypsy Boy wrote:It looked like something I would have walked right by anywhere else. But several different people swore by it. So I spent my $3.38 and was treated to a non-crusty, apparently barely risen loaf that resembles a baguette in shape alone.
bweiny wrote:Since you mentioned the farmers market, I'll plug Katic Breads as the best baguette option in Evanston from May-Oct. There's 1-2 bread vendors inside the winter market at the church. Pretty sure it's Fred's Bread, but I've yet to try them.
Gypsy Boy wrote:I should have known better.
Most activity here was back in 2010 with a few "modern" exceptions. But I wanted so much to believe it that I allowed myself to be suckered. I live in Evanston and several people swore by the baguette at Bennison's. It looked like something I would have walked right by anywhere else. But several different people swore by it. So I spent my $3.38 and was treated to a non-crusty, apparently barely risen loaf that resembles a baguette in shape alone.
This will get tossed in the trash--which, by the way, is what we did with the astonishingly sad baguette from That Little French Guy in Highland Park. The latter makes excellent pastries but slept through the class on baguettes. No crust, uniform Wonder-Bread appearance.
There oughta be a law.
cilantro wrote:Thing is, based on my memory and earlier posts in this thread, I don’t think Bennison’s was always this bad? Has the world changed or have I changed?
deesher wrote:Verzenay at 2507 N. Lincoln is currently making the best baguettes in town. I think they are also available at the weekend farmer's market in the park.
So good, they remind me of Fox and Obel.
ronnie_suburban wrote:Hewn's website says that they bake traditional baguettes, Evanston only, at 9:30 a.m. everyday.
Darren72 wrote:ronnie_suburban wrote:Hewn's website says that they bake traditional baguettes, Evanston only, at 9:30 a.m. everyday.
Actually it's 8:30am.