Jimmy Jamm's Sweet Potato Pies [closed]

I am shocked, SHOCKED that a forum so great as LTHForum does not have a thread for Jimmy Jamm's Sweet Potato Pies. This is a true local Chicago gem if there ever was one.

Having the day off and craving something sweet I decided to hunt on Yelp.com for some good recommendations. Imagine my surprise when I found out that there was a cafe in Chicago that served only sweet potato confectionaries! Opened in late 2007, from bread to ice cream, from cupcakes to pies, everything has sweet potato in common. Their speciality? Sweet potato pie.

I had to try this. I love it when a restaurant or cafe focuses on one thing and doing that one thing better than everyone else. Jimmy Jamm's certainly sounded like that. And it didn't hurt that I love sweet potato pie having grown up in North Carolina. If you've never had sweet potato pie it is very similar to pumpkin pie, only better.

So I decided to drive down to Beverly today, hopped on the Dan Ryan and right off on 95th street to Jimmy Jamm's. Took around 20 minutes in no traffic from Lakeview. Bought one whole pie with honey sweet cream frosting and two cupcakes, one with butter cream, the other with their special honey sweet cream. Took them home to share with a friend.

Holy crap.

This may be the best piece of pie I have ever had in my life. My friend and I both agreed it was out of this world fantastic. The frosting is perfect, delightful. Very light, creamy, not too sweet, doesn't feel heavy. The pie? Forget about it. It just melts in your mouth. Imagine the best pumpkin pie you've ever had in your life, only better, with less shall we say "spice," and more "freshness." It tastes like a piece of the freshest pumpkin pie possible. And the crust, oh my the crust. Just delightful. Light, airy, amazing. When I was there I got the choice of a "cold" pie with frosting and a hot pie, baked fresh right then and there. I chose the "cold" pie because I wanted to try the frosting, and boy was it ever fresh tasting. They must bake fresh pies every morning. The hot and fresh pie came with the option of frosting on the side that I could add later on, and they recommended if you are to get the hot pie to let it sit out for an afternoon to let it cool before serving. As satisfied as I am with the cold pie next time I will be getting something hot and fresh out of the oven to try it out.

The cupcakes? I used to think Sweet Mandy B's had the best cupcakes in the city. They now have some serious competition. A couple years ago I went on a month long mission to find the best cupcake in Chicago. Time Out did something similar (with Southport Grocery winning), and I tried all of those, but I always though Sweet Mandy B's were more moist and their buttercream frosting was more natural and airy. After just downing both of those cupakes you see below I am at a loss of which is now the best cupcake in Chicago, Sweet Mandy B's, or Jimmy Jamm's. They are both completely excellent, with Jimmy Jamm's having a very mild sweet potato flavor that is not overwhelming and perhaps you wouldn't notice unless you were told about it, but a more dense cake than Sweet Mandy B's, and yet just as moist. Perhaps the sweet potato is the secret.

The only thing I didn't absolutely love, and actually disliked, was the sweet potato ice cream. Jimmy Jamm's will give you a sample of anything there apparently, they are a very welcoming family run business. So I decided to sample the sweet potato ice cream and did not end up finishing even my sample. It is a non-dairy ice cream and I like my ice cream thick and creamy with lots of milk, and the sweet potato flavor just seemed out of place here.

Anyways, highly recommended overall and a place like this is what LTHForum is all about. A true local family owned gem that specializes in something that is truly special and unique, and in the end, is just downright amazing to eat. Just an amazing find in my opinion. I certainly will be returning.

Some pics:













Jimmy Jamm Sweet Potato Pies
1844 W 95th St
Chicago, IL 60643

(773) 779-9105

Hours: Monday-Saturday: 10 AM - 7 PM. Closed Sunday.

Sounds interesting. Could you provide the address and phone number? Thanks!

Jimmy Jamm Sweet Potato Pies
1844 W 95th St
Chicago, IL 60643
(773) 779-9105

Added to the first post.

Looks like quite a find there.

My two friends and I decided to have more of this pie for dinner. Yeah, we had pie for dinner. LOL. All three of us decided it was some of if not THE best pie we've ever had. Interested to hear if anyone else checks it out and can share any comments. The drive down to Beverly is well worth it.

I've driven by the place and wondered.

Not far from Top Notch so looks like a potential one-two punch in the making.

JimTheBeerGuy wrote:I've driven by the place and wondered.

Not far from Top Notch so looks like a potential one-two punch in the making.

Its a damn fine one two punch. I thought there was a post about Jimmy Jamms on here but I guess not. Its great pie and a great deal at $10. Options of whipped cream and pecans available too I believe. The warning about the pies being addictive is no joke.






Haven't had a chance to try the loaded yam but it sounds pretty good.

Oh, man. This looks amazing. I love sweet potato pie - I'd take it over pumpkin any day - but I have never managed to make a decent one, or find one good enough to satisfy my cravings. Anyone up for a cost-saving caravan to Top Notch and then Jimmy Jamm's for dessert?

Oh man I didn't see the loaded yam. That looks very very unique and has the potential to be quite awesome. Has anyone tried it?

Da Beef wrote:I thought there was a post about Jimmy Jamms on here but I guess not.

That's exactly what I thought. I visited Jimmy Jamm around St Patrick's Day a year ago when they featured a holiday special sandwich of corned beef on sweet potato bread. I passed on the sandwich but bought some sweet potato bread and sweet potato pie. The pie was very good but I think I was even more impressed with the wonderfully moist and flavorful bread. This quirky little business deserves to be better known.

Jimmy Jamm Sweet Potato Pies
1844 W 95th St
Chicago
773-779-9105

I would have been able to enjoy the deliciousness (and reap the forum glory that greets any valuable new discovery) a couple of weeks ago, except that Jimmy Jamm, like seemingly the entire South Side, is CLOSED ON SUNDAY.

Updated the OP with hours, fixed a few spelling mistakes, and reviewed the cupcakes and sweet potato ice cream after trying them. I look forward to getting some more opinions from other forum members in here as time goes on...

I was rather fortunate this past Sunday; after a minor baking disaster and a sudden surge in the number of weekend barbecues and picnics that I needed to bring a dessert to, I took a chance and called Jimmy Jamm and found they were indeed open for at least part of the day. One quick drive over and my wife and I were greeted by two of the friendliest proprietors I've ever met. After confirming that this was indeed our first visit, the samples and conversation came fast and furious.

Sweet potato bread was indeed wonderfully moist and flavorful and would have been well worth purchasing if we weren't on a mission for pie. For that matter, just about everything we tried would be worth coming back for. Sweet potato bread pudding was unexpected, and unexpectedly good. I'll have to stop back for a full order to really report on it, but the taste I had was enough to make sure that I will stop back for a full order. And soon.

Sweet potato frozen yogurt was actually something I would consider, though not a sure thing for me like most of the other options. Our taste of sweet potato pie confirmed that yes, we wanted 3 pies to go. Which then netted us some toppings tastes leading to making it one plain pie, one with a banana rum cream cheese topping/frosting, and one with a praline topping. For reference, a plain pie is $10, and one with a topping is $15. There was also a topping involving honey and cream cheese, I believe, though we passed on that. All three pies were well received at our various parties, but it is worth noting that a little bit of the banana rum topping goes a long way. If at all possible, I would order it with about half the normal thickness of topping in the future. Otherwise, I would probably stick to either a plain pie or the praline topping despite the deliciousness of the banana rum.

Somewhere along the way we were handed a complimentary small bag of sweet potato fries as well that were quite good and would go very nicely with a deli sandwich on sweet potato bread, or one of the stuffed yams. Speaking of the latter, the two women in there ahead of us each had a stuffed yam to go and those yams looked, and smelled, fantastic. We also took 2 cupcakes to go so we could munch on something in the car while driving up to Lincoln Park for our first gathering, and while I wouldn't go so far as to call them my favorite cupcakes in Chicago, they were very good and yet another item I will have to order in the future.

Great food, and great people. Many thanks to yoyoniner for recommending this one.

I wanted to respond to Cilantro's comment about JJ's and the "entire South Side" being closed on Sunday. I am not surprised at all since church on Sunday seems to still be a pretty important thing in a lot of the African-American community and then after church you get ready for an early-ish Sunday supper. I know this is a sweeping generalization but whenever I have done any family programs in the work I do, a lot of people asked that we not do it on Sunday mornings as that is when it is time for church and family. Just an observation to maybe help you with your frustration. (I often want doughnuts on Sunday and actually have the time to pursue them, since I don't go to church--but that seems to be the day of rest for bakers--regardless of their religion!)

best,

bjt

Looks like Jimmy Jamm will be featured on ABC 7's Hungry Hound next Wednesday, June 17th. Just a heads up.

Here's the video review from ABC 7:

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fusea ... D=59181031

BTW does anyone find the owner sounds a lot like Bubba from Forrest Gump? Only not with shrimp but with sweet potatoes. LOL!

Any other trip reports from LTH members? I have still yet to try the Loaded Yam.

yoyoniner wrote:Here's the video review from ABC 7:

The Hungry Hound's job is tough: find food, bring it back, be fed by beautiful women.

Well I decided that I had to try the Loaded Yam today. I got the steak. I am going to keep this review short and sweet: It was amazing. Certainly lived up to the quality of their pies. One tip of advice, make sure you go in hungry because it is very filling and I could barely finish it. I had it for breakfast and it was perfect for a breakfast-style food. Not so sure how it would be for dinner.

Also had a good conversation with the owner too today and found out that these recipes were passed down from his father who gave them to him in 1983. So sweet potato cooking has been in his family his whole life.

Also decided to get a piece of sweet potato pie with the banana rum frosting and I have to say it was better than the honey cream frosting, so if you go in there to grab a pie I recommend the banana rum frosting as the best.

Anyways, onto some pics of the amazing Loaded Yam:

The yam looks great, but what is that thing in the first pic? It looks a candle in a bowl of old cigarette butts?

What is the yellowish liquid - Butter? Oil?

What kind of vegetarian options do they have for the sweet potato? I'd like to get some friends to go with me next weekend, but that would hinge on there being something there they could eat.

Cogito wrote:The yam looks great, but what is that thing in the first pic? It looks a candle in a bowl of old cigarette butts?

LOL. No that's potpourri. Sorry the pics may be fuzzy took them with a cell phone.

Jay K wrote:What is the yellowish liquid - Butter? Oil?

Tasted like oil to me. Not really sure though.

Suzy Creamcheese wrote:What kind of vegetarian options do they have for the sweet potato? I'd like to get some friends to go with me next weekend, but that would hinge on there being something there they could eat.

They have two vegeterian options. Just cheese, green, pepper, onion. And they had mushrooms too instead of meat. They also have chicken, turkey and steak sandwiches made with sweet potato bread which I have yet to try.

Jay K wrote:What is the yellowish liquid - Butter? Oil?

yoyoniner wrote:Tasted like oil to me. Not really sure though.

My guess is the cheese extruded oil as it melted.

I definately see a field trip in my future.

Not sure if any of you have ever visited the website: www. sweetpotato.org

It is the website of the Louisiana Sweet Potato Association. Tons of sweet potato (or Yam) recipes. Try the "Cranberry Yam Bread." You won't regret it.

Ms. Ingie wrote:I definately see a field trip in my future.

You got that right. I can't wait to check out this place, the things they have done with the sweet potato as the common thread is fascinating.

Nice write-up in the Tribune:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/ ... 4779.story

Jimmy Jamm's was a favorite on last summer's Caravan The pies were fantastic and I can't say enought about how wonderful the folks were. One of my few regrets about getting rid of my car last summer is that I can't easily get to places like Jimmy Jamm's. I will need to rig my bike for pie transport come summer.

I posted about Jimmy Jamm's pies in the Best Thing [I]'ve Eaten [Lately] thread.