Fit for a Trump: High-end Chicago-made foods

JANET RAUSA FULLER in the Chicago Sun-Times wrote:They're hired! Terry's Toffee, a boutique toffee company on West Grand, has been picked as the only Chicago-made treat to be included in the minibars at the new Trump International Hotel and Tower Chicago....

(Philipp Posch, Trump Chicago's food and beverage director) says the hotel hoped to include more treats from Chicago companies, "but a lot of the handmade, quality stuff in Chicago has a very short life-span. We would've loved Garrett's popcorn. They would've made their own blend for us. But, in the end, it's a two- to three-week life-span."

This has me wondering what high-end, Chicago-made items might be appropriate for a minibar and would have the shelf life they're looking for. (The fact that they need that kind of shelf life makes me think the turnover of the pricey items in these bars isn't very high.)

Did they miss something obvious?

I don't suppose Lemonheads or Tootsie Rolls would be upscale enough. Most of the handmade chocolates have a short shelf life. I thought of Goose Island beer.

Vosges chocolate bars?

I was thinking of Piron's chocolates - some have a little white chocolate mixed in, so if the chocolate bloomed, it wouldn't be obvious.

Biscotti also comes to mind - certainly there are plenty of places around the city that make good versions.

Something from Lynfred Winery or Glunz Family Winery would certainly be appropriate, as would any of the locally made beers.

But when I'm foraging through a mini-bar, I often seek out - and don't find - more savory products. Plocky's and Michael Seasons snacks come to mind.

I'm sure there are plenty of others, that's just off the top of my head.

Well, the biggest, obvious one, is it not, is Garrets popcorn--I know its best fresh, but still. [whoops, I see that's mentioned]

Coco Rouge makes some great stuff, and if you already have a chocolatier, they have great candied nuts.

Another local booze idea is North Shore, any of their stuff.

Carol's Cookies now sold at Whole Foods are really good eatin'.

Collins Cavier moved to, I think Michigan City, but its still a pretty local-ish
operation. Cavier seems so Trumpy, no?

I really like Papa Lena's beet chips.

That's stuff off the top of my head.

Vital Information wrote:I really like Papa Lena's beet chips.

Oh, yes, those are wonderful. I don't know how long they keep, though.

The hotel seems to be looking for stuff with a shelf life of more than a month. Georgia's Nuts would fit.

Not exactly Chicago but certainly local enough, IMO, would be Peerless Chips.

Doesn't Vienna make some sort of shelf stable salami stick or beef jerky?

=R=

I tried Terry's Toffee back over the summer at Whole Foods and was largely unimpressed. It seemed overly sweet and not buttery enough to me.

YourPalWill wrote:I tried Terry's Toffee back over the summer at Whole Foods and was largely unimpressed. It seemed overly sweet and not buttery enough to me.

Will,

Couple of years ago I read Terry's Toffee was the "official toffee of the Oscars" so I picked up a few pieces, they have a shop directly across the street from Bari. Don't remember much about the toffee per se, but I do remember being shocked by, what seemed to me, astronomical price.

Enjoy,
Gary

Bari
1120 Grand Avenue West
Chicago IL 60622
312-666-0730

Terry's Toffee
1117 W. Grand Avenue
Chicago, IL 60610
312-733-2700

Vital Information wrote:Well, the biggest, obvious one, is it not, is Garrets popcorn

Could Garrett's possibly be as good as Gary Poppins? Sure, Gary is in Evanston, not the city, but close enough. The cheddar popcorn is unbelievable. I'm sure the other Gary Poppins flavors are good, but I can't bring myself to buy anything but the cheddar.

Speaking of minibars, about twenty years ago, my son came to Chicago with five or six fraternity buddies from the University of Iowa for a weekend event. They took a room at the hotel on Michigan Ave. just north of the river and proceeded to party.

When they regained consciousness on Sunday, they realized the minibar was completely empty. They consulted the price list and determined they owed the hotel something like $350.

My son remembered there was a Walgreen's just up the street, so he took the price list up there and bought liquor miniatures to replace nearly everything. These came to about $60, and they restocked the minibar on their own.

Shortly thereafter, he was elected Social Chairman of Delta Chi, a post he fulfilled with great distinction.

For reference:Food Manufacturers of Chicago

Cynthia wrote:

Vital Information wrote:Well, the biggest, obvious one, is it not, is Garrets popcorn

Could Garrett's possibly be as good as Gary Poppins?

Yes.

I'm a strictly cheddar popcorn girl myself. I've not done a side-by-side comparison, but I find Garrett's slightly sharper in taste than Gary Poppins and more oily. However, I wouldn't choose one over the other except in the matter of standing in line. I've never had to stand in line at Gary Poppins and, well, I've eaten a lot less Garrett's than I would if their lines weren't so darn long and slow.

Mhays wrote:For reference:Food Manufacturers of Chicago

They forgot Tootsie Roll.

I think Nicole's Crackers have a pretty long lifespan. They're wonderful.

I wonder which (if any) of the candies sold by Foodstuffs in the store's packages are made by them or in Chicago. Some of those are really good, like the sour gummies.

Individual packets of Vosges hot cocoa would be great to find in a minibar IMO.

happy_stomach wrote:

Cynthia wrote:

Vital Information wrote:Well, the biggest, obvious one, is it not, is Garrets popcorn

Could Garrett's possibly be as good as Gary Poppins?

Yes.

I'm a strictly cheddar popcorn girl myself. I've not done a side-by-side comparison, but I find Garrett's slightly sharper in taste than Gary Poppins and more oily. However, I wouldn't choose one over the other except in the matter of standing in line. I've never had to stand in line at Gary Poppins and, well, I've eaten a lot less Garrett's than I would if their lines weren't so darn long and slow.

Gary Poppins Salt and Vinegar = AMAZING

jpschust wrote:Gary Poppins Salt and Vinegar = AMAZING

Mmmm...Lunch today!

G Wiv wrote:

YourPalWill wrote:I tried Terry's Toffee back over the summer at Whole Foods and was largely unimpressed. It seemed overly sweet and not buttery enough to me.

Will,

Couple of years ago I read Terry's Toffee was the "official toffee of the Oscars" so I picked up a few pieces, they have a shop directly across the street from Bari. Don't remember much about the toffee per se, but I do remember being shocked by, what seemed to me, astronomical price.

Enjoy,
Gary

Bari
1120 Grand Avenue West
Chicago IL 60622
312-666-0730

Terry's Toffee
1117 W. Grand Avenue
Chicago, IL 60610
312-733-2700

Agreed. I tried them while they were being sampled at Whole Foods. the flavor was unusual to begin with, Chai infused or something like that. I do remember being floored by the price while checking them out...somewhere around $15 for a small box of probably not more than six ounces.

YourPalWill wrote:
Agreed. I tried them while they were being sampled at Whole Foods. the flavor was unusual to begin with, Chai infused or something like that. I do remember being floored by the price while checking them out...somewhere around $15 for a small box of probably not more than six ounces.

Well, sometimes people pick based on price, assuming it must be the best. I would imagine that would be even more common in an organization such as Trump's, where over-the-top is the goal. "It costs double, so it must be twice as good."

Of course, I also suspect that some of the consideration is being able to produce in quantity, at least at first.

the little packs of DAS salted "carmelinis" would have been perfect! they're elegant but have that salty edge and they keep well. Bottles of locally brewed root beer (Goose Island, etc.) would have been lovely too. Smaller bags of the El Ranchero tortilla chips (from Little Village) . . . with Frontera salsa . . . any local candy shop would have been happy to make yogurt covered pretzels (BonBon or Blommers comes to mind).

sounds like they could have put a little more energy into thinking it through a bit more.

bjt

Translucent chocolates

http://www.chocolate.com/brands/translucent-chocolates/

MikeLM wrote:Speaking of minibars, about twenty years ago, my son came to Chicago with five or six fraternity buddies from the University of Iowa for a weekend event. They took a room at the hotel on Michigan Ave. just north of the river and proceeded to party.

When they regained consciousness on Sunday, they realized the minibar was completely empty. They consulted the price list and determined they owed the hotel something like $350.

My son remembered there was a Walgreen's just up the street, so he took the price list up there and bought liquor miniatures to replace nearly everything. These came to about $60, and they restocked the minibar on their own.

Shortly thereafter, he was elected Social Chairman of Delta Chi, a post he fulfilled with great distinction.

ha! pretty smart!!

Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Extract, made by Neilsen-Massey, is one of the highest of the high-end extracts, used in better restaurants everywhere. The company was in Chicago (on Wrightwood?) until a few years ago and has since moved to the burbs, but I would still count it.

MikeLM wrote:My son remembered there was a Walgreen's just up the street, so he took the price list up there and bought liquor miniatures to replace nearly everything. These came to about $60, and they restocked the minibar on their own.

You couldn't do it today -- many of the minibars are equipped with sensors that charge you as soon as the item is removed.

Olde School wrote:Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Extract, made by Neilsen-Massey, is one of the highest of the high-end extracts, used in better restaurants everywhere. The company was in Chicago (on Wrightwood?) until a few years ago and has since moved to the burbs, but I would still count it.

It's a fine product, and I'd never rule out the suburbs as nonlocal the way city-dwelling snobs do ... but I'm at a loss as to what you'd do with vanilla extract in a hotel-room minibar.

MikeLM wrote:My son remembered there was a Walgreen's just up the street, so he took the price list up there and bought liquor miniatures to replace nearly everything. These came to about $60, and they restocked the minibar on their own.

LAZ wrote:You couldn't do it today -- many of the minibars are equipped with sensors that charge you as soon as the item is removed.

That's interesting to know. I always bring my own beverages when staying in a hotel, and the first thing I do after checking in is to unload the mini-fridge and stock it with my personal stash. I haven't been charged for anything that I know of, but I can't say for certain.

Gus-
I assume you're travelling on an expense account!

Mike

Sadly, the Gary Poppins store on Sherman in Evanston has shut its doors.

Anyone know if there is a different location for Gary Poppins in Evanston?

Their websitejust offers a toll-free phone number.

--Joy

Joy wrote:Sadly, the Gary Poppins store on Sherman in Evanston has shut its doors.

Anyone know if there is a different location for Gary Poppins in Evanston?

Their websitejust offers a toll-free phone number.

I walked by this morning and saw a sign posted on the door:

We have relocated to a larger facility in Franklin Park. Our number is 847-455-2200.

David Hammond wrote:

Are there mini-bar sized bottles of Malort? If so, I'll have to pick some up to bring to watering holes too 'classy' to carry this underappreciated gem. I'd love to see the shock and awe of Trump guests when they tried the stuff!!

germuska wrote:

Joy wrote:Anyone know if there is a different location for Gary Poppins in Evanston?

Their websitejust offers a toll-free phone number.

I walked by this morning and saw a sign posted on the door:

We have relocated to a larger facility in Franklin Park. Our number is 847-455-2200.

They have gone wholesale and web only and no longer have a retail store. However, the popcorn is sold at Fox & Obel, Olivia's Market, Southport Grocery, Sunset Foods and Treasure Island.