Where can you buy ducks in this town? ... The kind that you cook and eat. Seems like most places don't carry them.

There's a recipe I want to make this week that calls for ground lamb. I've checked two groceries stores to no avail.

Where can I find such a thing?

I'm really irritated because where I moved from it was easy to find....at Super Walmart! If I can find something at Super Walmart in a town of 100,000 people you'd think I'd be able to find it at Jewel or Dominick's in a much more populated area, right?

Anyway, things to keep in mind:

I actually live in Forest Park.

I work in the Loop.

I take the train to and from work.

I do have a car.

So, I would prefer any store recommendations not be two trains and three buses or an hour long car ride away from my job or my house due to the fact that I don't really want to take hours to transport raw meat from one place to another.

Oh, and I'd like to get it by Friday.

Am I just SOL?

EDIT: I called the Whole Foods nearest my house and they claim to sell ground lamb. I plan to check it out tonight after work. It will probably cost a whole bunch but I'm still so new to the Chicago area that I'm intimated by the whole meat market idea. Thanks for all the awesome suggestions, though! I will definitely keep them in mind.

I'm totally addicted to Honeycrisp Apples. Has anyone seen them at their local grocery store yet? If so, where have you seen them? I'm tempted to make a trip if anywhere even remotely close to me has them. I mostly go to the farmer's market and a small local Mexican grocery and I haven't seen them at either.

I have always liked pickled items of a wide variety, but when I was in Tokyo last fall, I discovered that holy cow, the Japanese make a *fantastic* selection of pickled items.

Does anybody know of either A) a store in Chicago that has a decent selection of Japanese-styled pickles, or B) a good website that carries these kind of products?

I was in Europe this past week and because obsessed with this little invention they have over there called 3 in 1 instant coffee. They are individual packs of instant coffee that already have the cream and sugar in them. Has anyone seen these before/know where I can by them? I think they are decently popular in Asia too so I was going to try an Asian grocer just for kicks, but if someone has a more specific suggestion I would greatly appreciate it!

Well, thanks to this community I'm only a week away from my move to Chicago and I feel much more confident about arranging for all the incidentals, so thanks! I have a few questions related to food:

Where I can find a grocery store or gourmet/speciality food store that has a well stocked selection of things like exotic cheeses, fresh bread/fresh pastas, bulk olives, caviar, etc. I know there are a few Whole Foods floating around. Any other suggestions where I could find such things?

Also, where I would be more likely to find grocery stores that will be more likely to consistently carry kosher meat? I found a bunch of listings for kosher butchers, but I hate having to make an extra trip if I'm already going to go out grocery shopping. Thanks!

EDIT: I have yet another question. Those of you who have ever had anything delivered from the Ikea in Bolingbrook, how much did they charge?

Ok gang,

With grilling season upon us once again, I'm looking to upgrade my aparatus, as it were, and get myself as decent a grill as I can afford. Here are things I'm looking for in order of priority:

A) Hardwood Charcoal/Briquette/Wood Burning (though dual fuel would be nice)
B) Under or around $200
C) Durability
D) Lots of grill surface area
E) Arrangeable heat zones (via grates/boxes/whatever)
F) Relatively easy to maintain

I would like a dual fuel, but my core fuel will be some sort of wood or charcoal. There is a big debate going on amongst my grilling friends over the black matte finish and stainless steel finish of the oil-drum/barrel shaped grills, and which lasts longer. Quite frankly, I don't know.

I have about $200 to spend on this, and I need to find it locally, or at least somewhere that can deliver locally while keeping things in my price range. I have to get this device to my home and setup before the second week of May at the very very latest. Please let me know what you all have done or would do in this situation, and places to visit/shop both online and in person to find the right grill.

Thanks!

Where in the city can I buy really good italian sausage? (Not to be eaten immediately, but to be taken home and cooked with.)

Neighborhood and transportation is not an issue.

Out of curiosity, does anyone know of a Mexican/Hispanic grocery store in either the Chicago area or the Loop/South Loop that sells imported Mexican Coca-Cola?

And while we're at it, reccomendations for any good taquerias/cheap tex-mex in that area? i've been here for a while, but i have class so i haven't gotten a lot of time to explore. I love Mexican food!

thanks a bunch!

where's a good place on the northside to get unusual flavors of pocky?

Those of you who are interested in eating healthier and/or supporting local farmers would be interested in reading "Eating Close to Home" in today's Tribune.

This particular bit caught my eye:

Admittedly, the Bay Area's year-round bounty makes eating foods sourced from a 100-mile radius a far easier task than it is here in Chicago, with our long, cold winters. With Illinois importing nearly 90 percent of its food from elsewhere, state officials are trying to help. A proposed Illinois Food, Farms and Jobs Act awaiting the governor's signature calls for creation of an Illinois-based local food system. The legislation calls for farmer training and development, improving consumer access to "fresh and affordable" Illinois-grown food, and developing new food and agriculture-related business.

In Chicago, the city's Department of Planning and Development unveiled a plan last month called "Chicago: Eat Local Live Healthy," a framework for "creating a climate where the production and distribution of locally grown, healthy food is available, accessible and affordable to residents year-round."

It is nearing Apple picking season. I used to live in MI and grew up going to Uncle John's Cider Mill www.ujcidermill.com. My fiance has never had apple cider and donuts. I would like to take him to a cider mill for the full experience. I found a site http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/apples/appleorchards.cfm?state=IL. There are several orchards listed. One that caught my eye is Jonamac Orchard.

I am looking to drive a maximum of 2 hours away from Chicago. I am looking for a place to pick apples, enjoy cider and donuts, pumpkin patch and if possible a hayride.

Have you ever gone to any of these orchards before? Or others not on the list? What was your experience? Where would you recommend? Thank you for your input.

Where can I find bulk health foods -- grains, in particular (barley, buckwheat, and so on)? I have been to Trader Joe's near Addison and the new Whole Foods on Halsted but did not find a bulk section at either place. I also tried this little health food store in my neighborhood, but they only had bulk herbs. I know you can get bags of this stuff at all these stores, but I would like to get a little bit of a lot of different kinds to try. Just made some barley/baby portabella/vegetable soup today, and it's all earthy and tasty. Mmmm!

Thanks in advance. And thanks in general to this community for being so generous with advice. :)

Is there anywhere in the city that i can find carob deserts?




Thanks