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  • Writer's pictureBob Benenson
    • Jun 4
    • 5 min read

SOAR Winners

Updated: Jun 11

City meets farm in the heart of downtown Chicago



Photo by Bob Benenson


While the April opening of the Chicago region’s outdoor farmers market season is kind of my New Year’s celebration, the June surge of market openings has its charms too.


Tuesday morning (June 4) brought the season opener for the SOAR Farmers Market, which is located one long block east of Michigan Ave.’s Magnificent Mile and the historic Water Tower. It is in downtown Chicago’s Streeterville neighborhood; in fact, SOAR stands for Streeterville Organization of Active Residents.


The market combines Chicago’s urban vibrancy — as you can see in the above photo, it is located on the plaza in front of the Museum of Contemporary Art, or MCA — with the relaxed ambiance of a neighboring farmers market or even a country fair.


It is also super-convenient for me to get there by bus from our Lakeview home.

I was aware of this market prior to the pandemic, but it was never really on my glide path. I then worked in an office at the far western end of downtown, to which I’d have had to haul my groceries if I paid a morning visit on the way in.


But during the crisis period, SOAR Market was a saving grace. Green City Market had long been my local hangout, but it was only open on Saturdays with its longstanding Wednesday market canceled for the duration. The fact that SOAR provided a mid-week alternative spared me from having to load up a week’s worth of market haul during those Saturday Green City visits.


Before long, working from home became a permanent status, which makes it easy for me to drop in on SOAR any Tuesday that I please.


Photo by Bob Benenson


There was a steady flow of customers when I visited early Tuesday morning. The market draws many visitors from the neighborhood and from employers such as Lurie Children’s Hospital located right across the street.



Photo by Bob Benenson


The prolonged moderate spring temperatures (no complaints here) have our crop season in something of a holding pattern. This is one of the most bountiful strawberry seasons that I remember, and heat-hating asparagus is still holding on strong. No worries, just blink and the markets will be filled with the bounty of peak season.


Photo by Bob Benenson


A lot of folks see the term “spring onions” as synonymous with scallions, but those big old purple and white bulbs in the middle (at the stand of Nichols Farm & Orchard of Marengo, Illinois) are in fact mature spring onions. They are flanked by their allium cousins, fresh garlic on the left and garlic scapes on the right.



Photo by Bob Benenson


I was a bit overstocked on the peak asparagus, strawberry and hothouse heirloom tomatoes that are currently featured in our local markets, so this week’s SOAR haul was light. From left, two of the delicious tofu salads from Phoenix Bean (Chicago); kale and garlic scapes from Nichols; and dill and Italian parsley from Smits Farms (Chicago Heights, Illinois).


More soon, as I’m planning to give an out-of-town friend a tour of the Wednesday Green City Market.

 

Sunday’s James Beard Panels are a Can’t Miss



It’s very cool that Chicago again is the host city for the James Beard Foundation Awards ceremony, which takes place on the evening of Monday (June 10) at the Lyric Opera House. Often referred to as the “Oscars” of the culinary community, the Awards are the dress-up day of the year for the nation’s chefs, restaurateurs and other food service providers.


But for Local Food Forum, the bigger day is on Sunday (June 9), when the James Beard Foundation presents three discussion panels on three topics that are key to our food and dining systems. And two of these are hosted by local Chicago non-profits about which I’ve written often.


All three panels will be held at Kendall College (Chicago’s leading culinary educator) at 18 S. Michigan Ave. And after the final panel, you can stay for a reception that will feature tasty bites from some of our amazing Chicago chefs.


Regrettably, the first two of the following are at capacity, though I’ll provide a link to contact the host to see if there’s any opportunity to attend. The last of the three, according to the organizers’ website, is still taking reservations.


1:15 p.m.: The Rise and Impact of Chef Civic Leadership – A Panel Hosted by Chicago Chefs Cook


Discover the transformative power of culinary leadership as chefs step into the forefront of local and global humanitarian activism. Learn how these culinary trailblazers use their platform to drive positive change, tackle social issues, and uplift communities in need both locally and abroad.


This panel is moderated by Sarah Stegner of Prairie Grass Cafe, a chef who needs no introduction to most in the Local Food Forum community. A strong voice for positive food systems change in both the local and national culinary spheres, Sarah is co-host of Local Food Forum’s “Better” Dialogues webinar series.


The panel is made up of three chefs who define civic leadership in Chicago:



2:30 p.m.: Culture x Food: Foodways – A Panel Hosted by the James Beard Foundation


Explore the ways chefs and restaurateurs express their respective heritage and culture on their menus and in their restaurants—and how they adapt their foodways to new environments. Throughout the session, panelists will share stories about their career paths as well as offer advice on honoring your culture in the restaurant kitchen.


This panel is hosted by Jamila Robinson, editor-in-chief of Bon Appetit and Epicurious, and member of the James Beard Awards Emeritus Committee.


The panel:


  • Fariyal Abdullahi, Hav & Mar (New York, N.Y.); 2024 James Beard Award Nominee for Emerging Chef

  • Susan Bae, Moon Rabbit (Washington, D.C.); 2024 James Beard Award Nominee for Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker

  • Serigne Mbaye, Dakar NOLA (New Orleans, La.); 2024 James Beard Award Nominee for Best New Restaurant Awards

  • Jenner Tomaska, Esmé (Chicago); 2024 James Beard Award Nominee for Best Chef: Great Lakes



3:45 p.m.: It Takes A Village – A Panel Hosted by The Abundance Setting


Chef Beverly Kim will navigate us through the challenges and triumphs of balancing parenthood with a career in the demanding restaurant industry. Discover strategies for achieving work-life balance, nurturing family connections, and fostering a supportive community within the culinary world.


Beverly is founder of The Abundance Setting — a Chicago non-profit that works to ensure equity and career opportunity for mothers who work in the culinary industry — and is chef/owner of restaurants Anelya and Parachute Hi Fi. She won the 2019 James Beard Award for Best Chef: Great Lakes.


The panel:


  • Ann Ahmed, Khâluna (Minneapolis, Minn.); 2023 James Beard Award Nominee for Best Chef: Midwest

  • Hamissi Mamba & Nadia Nijimbere, Baobab Fare (Detroit, Mich.); 2023 James Beard Awards Nominee for Best Chef: Great Lakes

  • Darnell Reed, Luella's Southern Kitchen (Chicago); 2022 James Beard Nominee for Best Chef: Great Lakes


Ticket reservations were still open as of publication time.


 

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