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Opinions wanted: Where is Chicagoland's best baguette

Opinions wanted: Where is Chicagoland's best baguette
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  • Post #31 - September 26th, 2010, 12:04 pm
    Post #31 - September 26th, 2010, 12:04 pm Post #31 - September 26th, 2010, 12:04 pm
    I haven't tried Fox and Obel's bread yet but it looks awesome. My vote would have to be Cuisine de France's Gallego Bread and their Parisian Loaf. I am not a fan of whole foods or trader joes' baguettes because to me they lack in flavour. Bread should have flavour of it's own and thats where I find most bread in this country absolutely boring. Cuisine de France is carried in grocery stores around the chicagoland area but I usually get mine from Treasure Island. The Gallego bread is sublime with good olive oil:

    Image

    I just got a loaf today for dinner tonight :)
  • Post #32 - September 30th, 2010, 10:28 am
    Post #32 - September 30th, 2010, 10:28 am Post #32 - September 30th, 2010, 10:28 am
    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


    There has been some talk of Trader Joe's on here, and I don't care one way or another but I thought I'd say that Trader Joe's bread is La Briola bread, delivered daily.
  • Post #33 - July 14th, 2015, 4:36 pm
    Post #33 - July 14th, 2015, 4:36 pm Post #33 - July 14th, 2015, 4:36 pm
    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?
    I'm not Angry, I'm hungry.
  • Post #34 - July 14th, 2015, 8:03 pm
    Post #34 - July 14th, 2015, 8:03 pm Post #34 - July 14th, 2015, 8:03 pm
    La Fournette and Floriole, but Cook's Illustrated gives you a great loaf at home if you are so inclined.
    Ava-"If you get down and out, just get in the kitchen and bake a cake."- Jean Strickland

    Horto In Urbs- Falling in love with Urban Vegetable Gardening
  • Post #35 - July 20th, 2015, 9:50 am
    Post #35 - July 20th, 2015, 9:50 am Post #35 - July 20th, 2015, 9:50 am
    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?

    ...
    There are some secrets which do not permit themselves to be told. (Poe)
  • Post #36 - July 20th, 2015, 11:42 am
    Post #36 - July 20th, 2015, 11:42 am Post #36 - July 20th, 2015, 11:42 am
    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.
  • Post #37 - July 20th, 2015, 12:45 pm
    Post #37 - July 20th, 2015, 12:45 pm Post #37 - July 20th, 2015, 12:45 pm
    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.


    But Logan Square does. Maybe a brain fart?
  • Post #38 - July 24th, 2015, 12:18 pm
    Post #38 - July 24th, 2015, 12:18 pm Post #38 - July 24th, 2015, 12:18 pm
    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.
    What disease did cured ham actually have?
  • Post #39 - July 24th, 2015, 1:20 pm
    Post #39 - July 24th, 2015, 1:20 pm Post #39 - July 24th, 2015, 1:20 pm
    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.


    If this is still the same owner, here's some more info:

    http://nu.spoonuniversity.com/uncategor ... fleurette/
  • Post #40 - July 25th, 2015, 8:13 pm
    Post #40 - July 25th, 2015, 8:13 pm Post #40 - July 25th, 2015, 8:13 pm
    That is the same place. I did not know it was opened on the weekends.
    What disease did cured ham actually have?
  • Post #41 - February 19th, 2021, 7:56 am
    Post #41 - February 19th, 2021, 7:56 am Post #41 - February 19th, 2021, 7:56 am
    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.

    https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/fran ... 3734698507
    Never order barbecue in a place that also serves quiche - Lewis Grizzard
  • Post #42 - February 19th, 2021, 2:01 pm
    Post #42 - February 19th, 2021, 2:01 pm Post #42 - February 19th, 2021, 2:01 pm
    My death-row last meal would be a perfect baguette with great butter.
  • Post #43 - February 19th, 2021, 3:01 pm
    Post #43 - February 19th, 2021, 3:01 pm Post #43 - February 19th, 2021, 3:01 pm
    That little french guy in Highland Park. French approved based on the clientele that I see there when i go
  • Post #44 - February 23rd, 2023, 12:40 pm
    Post #44 - February 23rd, 2023, 12:40 pm Post #44 - February 23rd, 2023, 12:40 pm
    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.
    Last edited by Gypsy Boy on February 23rd, 2023, 7:21 pm, edited 2 times in total.
    Gypsy Boy

    "I am not a glutton--I am an explorer of food." (Erma Bombeck)
  • Post #45 - February 23rd, 2023, 12:44 pm
    Post #45 - February 23rd, 2023, 12:44 pm Post #45 - February 23rd, 2023, 12:44 pm
    https://www.lafournette.com/

    They also bake some excellent croissants and a stellar Berliner filled with homemade raspberry jam (which they also sell).
    Last edited by spinynorman99 on February 23rd, 2023, 2:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.
  • Post #46 - February 23rd, 2023, 1:46 pm
    Post #46 - February 23rd, 2023, 1:46 pm Post #46 - February 23rd, 2023, 1:46 pm
    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.


    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.
  • Post #47 - February 23rd, 2023, 3:55 pm
    Post #47 - February 23rd, 2023, 3:55 pm Post #47 - February 23rd, 2023, 3:55 pm
    Darren72 wrote:
    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.
    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.
    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.
  • Post #48 - February 23rd, 2023, 7:24 pm
    Post #48 - February 23rd, 2023, 7:24 pm Post #48 - February 23rd, 2023, 7:24 pm
    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.


    Thanks for this. Though La Fournette may be great, I don't see myself driving down to North Avenue for a baguette, no matter how great. If I happen to be in the vicinity, I'll certainly try to make it there, but that's a little too far otherwise. Glad to hear about it, though.
    Gypsy Boy

    "I am not a glutton--I am an explorer of food." (Erma Bombeck)
  • Post #49 - February 24th, 2023, 8:54 am
    Post #49 - February 24th, 2023, 8:54 am Post #49 - February 24th, 2023, 8:54 am
    Gypsy Boy -

    Andale Market has been carrying baguettes from Publican. Best to call to confirm. It's a great little shop and worth a visit either way.

    Andale Market
    5232 N Clark
    Chicago, IL 60640
    +1 (773) 293-6442
    https://andalemarket.com/
    -Mary
  • Post #50 - March 8th, 2023, 1:34 pm
    Post #50 - March 8th, 2023, 1:34 pm Post #50 - March 8th, 2023, 1:34 pm
    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.

    Having always been a fan of Bennison's baguettes, I was hoping that maybe you'd caught them on a bad day. Not so sure, though. :roll:

    A co-worker recently brought some baguette-based sandwiches from Bennison's into the office for a meeting. I'll say that the sandwiches were very good but the baguettes themselves were not great. Really nice flavor and a solid foundation for the sandwiches, but taken on their own, the baguettes were pretty dense with an unusually tight crumb -- and maybe a tad underbaked, too. The tops were golden brown but the bottoms were quite pale. It'd been a long time since I last had one but they definitely did not wow me, as I remember them doing in the past.

    =R=
    Same planet, different world
  • Post #51 - March 11th, 2023, 6:53 am
    Post #51 - March 11th, 2023, 6:53 am Post #51 - March 11th, 2023, 6:53 am
    Fresh Farms always has a nice selection on Touhy.
  • Post #52 - September 7th, 2023, 10:05 am
    Post #52 - September 7th, 2023, 10:05 am Post #52 - September 7th, 2023, 10:05 am
    If you are thinking about buying a baguette from Bennison’s, my advice is to instead head over to Whole Foods — or better yet, Jewel — where you can acquire the same soft crust and dense crumb at a lower price (much lower at Jewel!). You won’t get the nice paper wrap decorated with the inspiring story (complete with a quote from Lionel Poilane) of how much skill, work, and patience goes into crafting their mediocre bread, but you can’t have everything, I guess.

    In Evanston, Coralie is the best of a bad lot (yes, I’ve tried Fred’s, thank you very much).

    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?
  • Post #53 - September 7th, 2023, 10:23 am
    Post #53 - September 7th, 2023, 10:23 am Post #53 - September 7th, 2023, 10:23 am
    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?

    It's not you, it's them, lol. Something seems to have changed at Bennison's. I used to be a fan of their baguettes but over at least the past year or so, they've been consistently dense, doughy and seemingly underbaked. I only know this because a coworker occasionally brings sandwiches from Bennison's to the office, and they're made on the baguettes. The bread component of those sandwiches is consistently poor.

    A friend just asked me last night where to get baguettes in Chicago. I honestly couldn't come up with a slam-dunk answer for him. Hewn's website says that they bake traditional baguettes, Evanston only, at 9:30 a.m. everyday. I like their other breads, so maybe that's a promising lead but I haven't tried them. Right now, if I had to buy quality baguettes, I'd most likely head to Nhu Lan.

    =R=

    Nhu Lan Bakery
    2612 W Lawrence Ave
    Chicago, IL 60625
    (773) 878-9898

    Hewn Bakery
    1733 Central St
    Evanston, IL 60201
    (847) 869-4396
    Same planet, different world
  • Post #54 - September 7th, 2023, 10:27 am
    Post #54 - September 7th, 2023, 10:27 am Post #54 - September 7th, 2023, 10:27 am
    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.
  • Post #55 - September 7th, 2023, 10:31 am
    Post #55 - September 7th, 2023, 10:31 am Post #55 - September 7th, 2023, 10:31 am
    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.

    Thanks, Doug. I appreciate the lead. I'll pass it on to my friend.

    =R=
    Same planet, different world
  • Post #56 - September 7th, 2023, 10:42 am
    Post #56 - September 7th, 2023, 10:42 am Post #56 - September 7th, 2023, 10:42 am
    Thank you both for the recs. I had earlier tried to get Hewn, but was told the baguettes come out at 10:30, which was too late and how I ended up with Bennison’s. I have no doubt Hewn’s would be far superior (with a price to match!).
  • Post #57 - September 7th, 2023, 11:37 am
    Post #57 - September 7th, 2023, 11:37 am Post #57 - September 7th, 2023, 11:37 am
    Foodstuffs has good baguettes too, but they open at 10am, so not an early option.
  • Post #58 - September 7th, 2023, 11:47 am
    Post #58 - September 7th, 2023, 11:47 am Post #58 - September 7th, 2023, 11:47 am
    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.
  • Post #59 - September 7th, 2023, 12:32 pm
    Post #59 - September 7th, 2023, 12:32 pm Post #59 - September 7th, 2023, 12:32 pm
    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.

    Okay, was just going off their website:

    Image

    =R=
    Same planet, different world
  • Post #60 - September 7th, 2023, 2:53 pm
    Post #60 - September 7th, 2023, 2:53 pm Post #60 - September 7th, 2023, 2:53 pm
    Ah, I was looking at a different part of the site, under Daily Specials.

    In any case, I don’t get to Hewn often, but I’ve loved everything I’ve gotten there.

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