Exploring Locally Made Chicago

I recently began revisiting destinations that I traveled to as a child, with bubbling curiosity and excitement, to experience these cities through an adult lens. When the opportunity to travel to Chicago (which has long been on my list), fell into my lap, I accepted without hesitation. 

The Enjoy Illinois website describes it perfectly: “Between Michelin star kitchens and Main Street bakeries, the Magnificent Mile and the Great River Road, I found myself surrounded by every mouthwatering taste and eye-popping color autumn has to offer. It’s Fall in Illinois, the Middle of Everything.” Fall indeed proved to be the ideal time to visit Chicago. 

My itinerary was jam packed with Illinois Made establishments, from donut shops that sell fried chicken to a meadery whose beehives live on the rooftops of high-rise buildings that soar over downtown. My Windy City adventures did not disappoint!

If this post has inspired you to travel to Illinois, make sure to check ahead for up-to-date events, exhibits and opening hours at any attractions.

Sofitel Magnificent Mile

I stayed at the Sofitel Chicago on the Magnificent Mile. The location was calm and quiet amongst the hustle and bustle of the city. It was easy to call rideshare services to get to all of the places I wanted to visit. The beds were comfortable, the rooms were nicely furnished, and their complimentary products included bottles of Evian and Balmain toiletries—so chic!

Brown Sugar Bakery

The first Illinois Made business I visited in Chicago was Brown Sugar Bakery at its South Side location in Hyde Park. I was greeted by owner, Stephanie Hart, and an array of award-winning baked goods, including her famous Caramel Cake, Caramel Cheesecake, and Chocolate-Covered Potato Chips. You can taste the love and wisdom passed down to her from her mentors in every bite. 

Hart’s recipes are inspired by those of her grandmother, but refined with input and techniques of foremothers across the south and Chicago. She prides herself on using quality ingredients and having the patience to test each recipe until perfection has been achieved. As we sat and spoke, it was warming to see exuberant customers, intoxicated by her sweet delights, venture in and out of the bakery. Brown Sugar Bakery boasts famous fans that include President Obama, Megan Thee Stallion, Jay-Z, and now me. I even placed an order to have my very own Caramel Cake delivered to California in time for Thanksgiving.  

Little Goat Diner

Next up was Little Goat Diner, a Chef Stephanie Izard establishment, a must-visit Chicago establishment with rave reviews. Though I have been to Girl and the Goat in Downtown Los Angeles, being able to dine in Izard’s home state was much more special. I ordered “This Little Piggy Went to China,” a scallion cheddar biscuit, sunny side eggs, Sichuan pork sausage, chili garlic chive sauce and smoked blueberries, accompanied by cheesy hash browns and a cappuccino. My meal was absolutely *chef kiss* as one could imagine.

Chef Stephanie is the first female Chef to win Bravo’s Top Chef and has previously won a James Beard Award for Best Chef: Great Lakes. I always feel empowered by seeing and supporting women in food who are dominating the industry and proudly representing the flavors of their cities. 

Scratch Made

After brunch, I ventured over to Scratch Goods, a face mask bar that just so happened to be across the street. Visitors enter a large, yet cozy, space brightly lit with natural lighting and adorned with plants and minimalist decor. The shelf-lined walls were filled with made-from-scratch skincare products, hence the name, and relevant accoutrements. They offer mask making and routine curating classes, which would make for a fun and unique experience for parties (think bachelorette, office, or birthday).

Being a self-proclaimed, self-care queen, I left the store with several travel-size products, including a cleanser, gua sha, and body oil, all of which I reveled in later that evening after I finished exploring.

Do-Rite Donuts

The following morning I started the day with a visit to Do-Rite Donuts, home of fresh-all-day donuts and fried chicken. Yes, you read that correctly, donuts AND fried chicken. What may sound like an odd combination is actually a beautiful marriage in the golden brown food group. The options were endless, but I indulged in a blueberry crumble donut and one of the crispiest fried chicken sandwiches my taste buds have had the pleasure of embracing. I enjoyed this with a cup of hand-crafted small batch coffee from Chicago’s Dark Matter Coffee.

360 Chicago

Full and ready for adventure, I headed over to the John Hancock Center and took the elevator to the 94th floor, where I stepped into 360 Chicago. Home of CloudBar, TILT, a unique 'thrill ride" that offers visitors unique, downward facing views from 1,030 above the ground, and breathtaking panoramic views of the city, 360 Chicago is a great place to take views of the entire city. I was in awe of the vast landscape that encompasses historic buildings, tree-lined streets, the twinkle of sunlight bouncing off of Lake Michigan, cars and people going about their day, and towers to be completed in times ahead, all cast in the color palette of fall. It was both a glimpse of the past and a look into the future. 

Revolution Brewery

The afternoon led me to Revolution Brewery, near the Avondale district, where I sampled and learned about craft beer. Their range of offerings is quite impressive, including everything fromIPAs, porters, pilsners and Belgian-style ales to pale ales, barrel-aged beers and many more. Their passion and consistent work in research and development makes them innovators in the industry. For example, Revolution ages beer in bourbon barrels, which not only adds depth in flavor, but also increases the ABV and is simultaneously sustainable. They also utilize local malt and seasonal fruit to amplify the quality and integrity of their beers, making them truly clean and delicious!

Wild Blossom Meadery & Winery

In an unlikely corner of the city, Wild Blossom Meadery & Winery is a hidden gem waiting with anticipation for its inevitable mass discovery that will have people flooding in like the gold rush. Located close to the Metra Rock Island district and the Dan Ryan Woods Park, Wild Blossom is only a twenty minute drive south of downtown. Now, what is a mead, exactly? Mead is the oldest form of wine made by fermenting honey with water, and occasionally adding ingredients such as fruits, spices, grains, or hops for some razzle dazzle. Fun fact: The word "honeymoon" itself is derived from the Scandinavian practice of drinking mead, or fermented honey, during the first month of the marriage (measured by one moon cycle) in order to improve the likelihood of conception.

The mead at Wild Blossom is produced by urban bees that live on the roof of the Marriott along the Magnificent Mile and pollen from flowers throughout Chicago. There is something for everyone with flavors like ginger mule, atomic berry, hopped pineapple, cran-cherry, PB&J and sweet desire. After my tasting, I may prefer mead over traditional wine. 

Virtue

If you’re looking for soul food that is satiating and nostalgic, then look no further than Virtue in Hyde Park. The restaurant attracts guests from throughout Chicagoland and around the globe, and unites Chef Erick Williams’ years of fine dining expertise, his love of Southern cuisine and his insatiable study of history and art as they relate to food culture. You’ll find all of the classics such as baked macaroni and cheese, biscuits, green tomatoes, gumbo, catfish, pork chops, grits and more. 

Chef Erick Williams received the James Beard Best Chef award for the Great Lakes region, making history as the first Black chef to win in this category. Outside of the restaurant and accolade, he donates his time and talent by partnering with charities across the region. He is particularly devoted to making a positive impact on the future of Chicago’s inner-city youth as well as the hospitality industry, offering his time as a keynote speaker advocating for small businesses.

Bobby’s Bike Hike

In my humblest opinion, there is no better way to experience the true culture of a city than through food. With so many Chicago-centric things to indulge in, burning some calories while cycling through historic neighborhoods made the 14-mile journey with Bobby’s Bike Hike guilt-free and productive. A Tour de Chicago, of sorts, we were a small group led by a guide with great charisma and knowledge of what made each stop so special. The bites of the day included deep dish pizza from Lou Malnati’s and a real Chicago dog (a hot dog which must include chopped white onions, neon green sweet relish, a dill pickle spear, tomato, pickled short peppers, celery salt and mustard, and must never include ketchup), all washed down with ice cold craft beer and a decadent brownie for dessert.

Illinois awaits you!