Melrose pepper sightings?

Anybody know of any restaurants that serve stuffed Melrose peppers or other dishes containing Melrose peppers? I'm also seeking stores or farmers' markets that carry the fresh peppers.

There's a whole big celebration of the Beaver Dam (Wis.) pepper planned for Chicago in the fall, but the Melrose doesn't seem to get much attention.

Hi- I am pretty sure that Nichols grows melrose peppers, and they sell at a bunch of farmer's markets including Green City and Evanston. Green Acres that also sells at GC and Evanston sells it too.

Didier Farms on Aptakisic Road in Buffalo Grove has them in their farmstand.

Several farms were selling them at the Green City Market this past Saturday.

Thanks! Any restaurant sitings at all?

I know that stuffed Melrose peppers are more of a home-style dish, but I was hoping that some of the homier Italian spots might do them.

Does anybody have a good recipe?

Rocco's Little Italy, 7901 W 159th had melrose peppers and sausage on the menu on Saturday. There is a farm stand on 171st and 82nd Avenue that has sells Melrose peppers as well!

Hi,

I see them at Caputo's Cheese Store in Lake Forest when they are in season. I didn't see them during a recent visit, though I am sure they will be there soon.

Regards,

Saw a box of em today-
back by the Prosciutto "Ends" in the the back of the Cheese Section
@ The Caputos House of Cheese in Melrose Park-
North Avenue and 15th Avenue...
Over-by-Dere.......


Like ya need an excuse to go THERE??

Caputos Cheese Market
1931 N. 15th Avenue
Melrose Park,IL 60160
708.450.0469

I bought some fresh Melrose peppers from Caputo's in Palatine and made them myself with a 1/2 # of mild Italian bulk sausage and some fontina cheese.
Stuffed them then browned them and then baked them in some "gravy" Yum!

Having a chopstick to help stuffing the sausage made the job much easier and it also came in useful to hollow out a hole for the "stick" of fontina cheese in the center of the sausage.

Cathy2 wrote:Hi,

I see them at Caputo's Cheese Store in Lake Forest when they are in season. I didn't see them during a recent visit, though I am sure they will be there soon.

Regards,

Cathy is correct. I am a regular shopper there, several times per week, sometimes twice a day . I buy them frequently when they are available, and got some earlier this week.

Nichols had them at the Wicker Park Farmers Market today. I grabbed a pint (?) but have yet to dive in.

Thanks. I guess I may have to make the stuffed peppers myself. There must be more restaurants that do them, but I guess there are fewer than I'd thought.

Leah, sounds like you may be working on a project, so this may be too late for you, but Taste of Melrose usually (and what could be more appropriately?) has a vendor-family offering Melrose peppers. In fact, the organizer of the event (Peggy DiFazio) once told me she knew (or maybe even that she was related to) the guy who developed the Melrose Pepper, though she had no supporting evidence for that claim.

They had locally grown Melrose peppers today at Caputo's in Elmwood Park.

As hinted by David above, Melrose Peppers get a whole lot of attention in Melrose Park. They are a default in sausage and peppers in homes and restaurants in the area; I grew up on 'em (our plants in Villa Park were purchased annually in the old neighborhood. My bro grows them from seeds down in coastal Georgia). You may therefore not see them listed as such on menus there; just call around or ask.

Two places that do have them on the menu in a traditional salad are Armand's in Elmwood Park (and possibly the other locations), as a salad - this is on their catering menu - and Club Lucky.

I posted some history links a few years back; they are often found roasted and jarred as well as fresh from the garden. A Lenten pepper-and-egg sandwich is just not right with green bell peppers - has to be sweet, thin Melrose. When I first started going to Buona Beef I think they used Melrose on their pepper-and-egg, and have now switched to thick and crunchy bell. It ain't right.

LAZ wrote: Any restaurant sitings at all?

I know that stuffed Melrose peppers are more of a home-style dish, but I was hoping that some of the homier Italian spots might do them.

...

At Pompei on Taylor, I've seen Melrose peppers stuffed with sliced Italian sausage sections featured as a daily chalkboard special. Pompei's website has a calendar listing daily specials for the month, but the chalkboard specials usually aren't listed there.

--
edc

Great Melrose peppers at The Farm on 31st street in Westchester. The stand is in a small strip mall parking lot between Lagrange road and Wolf. I stuff the peppers with a mixture of hot Italian sausage and small cubes of fontina cheese, sear in a lot of olive oil then cover with marinara and bake. Serve either straight up or over pasta.

great melrose peppers at farmstand at 8100 w 171st, tinley park.

At last weekend's Taste of Melrose Park, our favorite was the sausage-stuffed Italian pepper sandwich.

I had them at
Bella Notte
1374 W Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
(312) 733-5136

There a special, so I'd call first. They were absolutely outstanding.