Cook-au-Vin

I belatedly came across an online announcement for the grand opening of the Cook au Vin French specialty store on January 21, 2008.

http://www.cook-au-vin.com/
2256 N. Elston Ave
Chicago IL 60614
773 489 3141

Has anyone had a chance to check out the offerings?

I called the number listed and was told the store hours were Tuesday- Sunday 12-8 pm.

Cook Au Vin is a catering spot that has now expanded into a storefront. My husband and I attended their recent grand opening. The owners were very charming and well-intentioned. We arrived early, thanks to the Reader posting the wrong date for the opening (humph!). Our hosts were very gracious and asked us to look around while they got ready. They offered warm, spiced wine (similar to a glühwein, but called vin chaud in French, of course) to everyone who stopped in, along with a red and white wine for guests who preferred their wine at a cooler temp. Eventually they brought out a range of so-so to delicious appetizers for everyone.

Looking around the store, they offered some French and European based foods you could use for cooking or serving, as well as a few kitchen tools here and there. While some of the foods are readily available at any specialty shop or a Whole Foods, there are a few that are still considered 'rare'. So it may be worthwhile to call ahead to see if they have something you're looking for at some point.

In addition, they offer some cheeses from the old country. Again, some of these are easily bought at WF or even Trader Joe's, but a few appear to be rarities. Unfortunately for now at least, they really don't have a lot in this area. Perhaps this will expand with time.

The passed plates represented their catering abilities. The plates they passed around included patés, fromage and a couple of tiny dessert pastries. All were competently prepared, but none had a 'wow' factor with the possible exception of the paté that included ostrich, pork and chicken, and also the duck rillette. My husband told me it was outstanding.

They are currently asking for suggestions of what they should carry. We added a few items we'd like to see, so if you want to eventually be able to purchase unique French products, you may want to inquire.
Hope that helps!

Thanks for the review La Petite Bulle.
Duck rillettes is all I needed to hear!

They are currently asking for suggestions of what they should carry.

I'll have to start writing my dream shopping list...

LOL! Great, glad to help.

Thought I'd share some insights to this little place. I stopped here for a quick lunch to go and bought a few other things. The supply is very limited - some vinegar, syrups, french lentils, dried morels, mustards, jams, and some sparkling waters. On top of that, a small but nice assortment of cheeses and sausages. They do make their own baguette and it's pretty good. Croissants are very good - had a chocolate. I ordered a Parisien - high quality ham and brie on a baguette with butter and dijon (I had mine sans tomatoes - since I grow my own at home and was heading home). The sandwich was very good, similar to what I probably ate in Paris every other day. I bought some Orangina and sparkling French Lemonade (Lorina). Also some Vilux old fashioned dijon mustard. I went looking for herbs de provence, but I didn't see any. When I asked if he had any, he said, "no, but we will."

The owner is very nice and over accommodating, willing to deliver anywhere close. He was trying to up-sell some people on catering services, something I've never purchased but may look into with this place.

It's a nice place, inconveniently located in an industrial strip on Elston. Many of the items may be found at upscale grocers and may be a bit more expensive here but the sandwiches, bread and croissants are worth going back. Actually, if I owned a building on Chicago Ave or Division in my neighborhood, I would recruit him to be my tenant. Seems like a shop that would be very busy in my neighborhood. Check it out...

I guess this should be in a "eating out" forum but since this thread is already here, I'd thought I'd share the fact that Cook Au Vin is now mainly a sandwich cafe and creperie (moderators, please feel free to move this). I stopped in for a couple of sandwiches for lunch and found that they no longer carry a small variety of french food staples but now are a true cafe. The sandwiches are made on homemade 12" baguettes and the crepes come in two varieties - savory (buckwheat batter) and sweet (wheat batter). They still have their croissants, which are still good. They also offered two homemade soups of the day and I think I saw a sign that said you can have their sandwiches on homemade ciabatta.

Sandwiches run about $7-8 but far surpass most sandwich joints in quality of ingredients. My wife actually picked off some of her brie, claiming it was too much for her. Also the breads, croissants, and soups are homemade so, in my mind, it's a tremendous deal.

Here's the new menu: http://www.cook-au-vin.com/cafe.html

Although it's a bit inconveniently located on Elston, a block north of Webster, there is parking on Elston and the side street just south of the cafe (Honore). IMO, it's one of the true finds for a nice lunch - quality ingredients (butter, cheese, dijon), homemade bread and soups, and crepes while you wait. There are only two tables but I'm sure they'd love to see them full.

2256 N. Elston
(773) 489-3141

You may guess that I'm a fan of this place but I'm also a fan of pictures on LTH so I thought I'd post some of my lunch from Cook Au Vin today. I had the Le Parisien sandwcih (no tomatoes and then was asked if I'd want to replace them with roasted peppers and I also declined) for $7.20 and then the homemade "fisherman's soup (bouillabaisse), an 8oz as a side for $2 (with purchase of sandwich - $3.50 otherwise). I couldn't leave without a mini chocolate croissant for $1 each (I bought three but only ate one). Great lunch, definitely a step up from Jimmy Johns, Costello's, Subway and the like.

Whole lunch


Sandwich (buttered baguette, ham, spinach, country style Dijon, and brie)


Bouillabaisse (in my own bowl, with complimentary croutons - 6 total, 2 shown)


Mini chocolate croissant

I ordered the brie, fig preserve and caramelized onion crepe today. It was very good. The buckwheat crepe was freshly prepared. I will go back for lunch again.

I ran across this thread a day before I had a meeting at Botanicals, which is right next door. Perfect timing. I had the Parisian sandwich for lunch, and was very impressed. The house-made baguette was the highlight of the sandwich for me. A batch was steaming in the oven as I was ordering. I hope their bread will be available at more stores near the red line, as it's outstanding.

I had this place on my list for about a year, but just made it in a few weeks ago. I was disappointed that I'd missed the time of French imports for purchase, but had a delicious sandwich while perusing the current Food and Wine mag. I will go back.

Time Out had a nice feature on true Chicago bread artisans in last week's (or 2 weeks back) issue and the absolute best news was spotted (for us Logan Square's):

∗ New Bakery & Café from Cook-au-Vin
Our bakery location will be at 2569 N Milwaukee Ave, just next to New Wave Coffee. The Grand Opening is scheduled for June 1st, 2010.

I believe this is the old currency exchange right on the corner (spied it on my neighborhood jog last night) of Milwaukee/Logan. Just a great spot, awesome visibilty, perfect when the market begins in June.

I've enjoyed the croissants immensely this winter at the LS Indoor Market down at the congress, and last week I tried the sandwich sized ciabatta and had two incredible sandwiches this week.

Please support this new venture!

thanks,
miss ellen

That is exciting news indeed. These people make an absolutely wonderful baguette, among other things I'm sure.

New info from Dish:

Eight Questions for Vincent Colombet
Colombet plans to open La Boulangerie (2569 N. Milwaukee Ave.; no phone yet), a new Logan Square bakery, in mid-June. He also owns Cook au Vin (2256 N. Elston Ave.; 773-489-3141), which offers cooking classes and catering.

D: Why are you opening La Boulangerie? What are the limitations of Cook au Vin?
VC: Right now we just have a kitchen for cooking classes and a bakery where we make bread. We don’t do retail.

D: So who buys your bread?
VC: Restaurants only.

D: Which restaurants?
VC: Lucky restaurants.

D: Will you tell me a few of them?
VC: The Bristol. Sapore di Napoli on Belmont. The Dill Pickle [a food co-op].

D: And La Boulangerie will be a café?
VC: Not a café. A bakery. We are going to sell bread and crêpes. And French pastries. We are going to have a true bakery, as in France, with a very wide selection of bread.

D: What is Bread-Flix?
VC: A delivery program. Like Netflix but for bread. You go online and you say, I want bread Wednesday, Saturday, and Monday. [And then] we deliver your bread at the time you request.

D: It’s a membership?
VC: Yes, but no fee. Two [orders] a week, minimum.

D: How does the bread get delivered?
VC: By bicycle. Area will be Logan Square and Bucktown for now. Then we will see.