EATALY CHICAGO HITS THE CITY IN GRAND STYLE!

Mamma Mia!  This place is incredible!!  Eataly Chicago is a mega food and eatery emporium of all-things Italian.  It's eye candy for the foodie, foodie-wannabe, tourist and curiosity seeker.  It’s two floors and 63k SF of sprawling goodness where some ten thousand items await to be stared at and drooled over and then purchased, including restaurants and to-go options.  

  

The Eataly brand has been a global success.  It currently has twenty-five locations, including the one in Chicago, which opened December 2^nd.  Other locations include New York City (1), Italy (10), and Japan (13); locations in Turkey and Dubai are slated for opening, with the next proposed U.S. location in Philadelphia with whispers of Boston and Los Angeles.  It doesn’t matter where Eataly decides to open, because the new locations will be met with tremendous interest and eventual success.  

(Eataly Chicago Owners)

The Chicago location’s owners include Oscar Farinetti, Lidia and Joe Bastianich, Mario Batali, and Adam and Alex Saper, and cost a whopping twenty million dollars to build.  This location was dedicated to Oak Park resident Ernest Hemingway, who was a frequent visitor to Italy.  Eataly Chicago is situated near Chicago’s tony Mag Mile (Ohio and Rush Streets), and is surrounded by upscale retailers and hotels, and plenty of foot traffic from nearby office workers and tourists.  It was a fortuitous decision to plant the latest Eataly in this vibrant location.  It was also a logical decision to make Chicago its second U.S. location, given the rich Italian heritage of the residents that live throughout the Chicago-area.  The Chicago-area’s Italian business and cultural presence is also notable and includes the Italian Consulate General, the Italian American Trade Commission, Italian Cultural Institute and the Italian Tourism Board; it is also home to the Italian Cultural Center and the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame.

(Artisanal Cheeses)

Eataly Chicago features a dynamic array of artisan crafted foods and beverages that can be savored in-house at its various cafes and restaurants, or purchased as takeout.  There are also specialty markets featuring a seafood shop, meat and butcher shop (including a rotisserie), a Neopolitan-style pizzeria (wood-fired), gelato (made on-premises), bakery (including exquisite pastries and breads made on-premises), cheeses (including fresh made mozzarella and aged), fresh made pastas, a salumi (cured meats), produce (including a “vegetable butcher” that will clean and prep your selections at no extra charge), wine shop, beer (including an inhouse micro-brewery), market staples, including dairy, spices, seasonings, sauces, dried pastas, rices, teas, coffees, preserves, honey, sweets and candy, olive oils and specialty vinegars, etc., books and housewares, including prep tools, cooking vessels, dishware, stemware, etc., personal care, including skincare, hair care, soaps, etc.), clothing, jewelry and even the furniture that’s used throughout.  All total, there are some ten thousand items available for purchase.  There’s also a stunning array of gift sets just perfect for the holidays; or you can create your own.  About the only items I didn’t notice being offered were household cleaning and paper goods.

(Proscuitto Cotto Parmacotta, Housemade Artisanal Mozzarella and Focaccio)

I had the pleasure of attending a pre-opening and found that I barely scratched the two floors during a limited two-hour period.  I did get a chance to sample some of the food items and quality was the cornerstone for all of the items.  While many of the prices can lead to sticker shock ($15 for a 28 oz. can of San Marzano tomatoes, $17/lb. for Arugula, $12/lb. for Frissee, $25-$40+ for Panettone, etc.), the message of superior quality imported goods does resound.  Obviously with prices this high, it might deter many from experiencing something as beautiful and as exciting as Eataly Chicago.  

(Housemade Artisanal Bread)

UPDATE: As I was completing this article, a message had been posted on the website and Facebook page for Eataly Chicago alerting people that they would be closed December 9^th…..

Thank You, Chicago!

Posted on December 8, 2013

Dear Chicago,

What a week! We have never felt more welcomed! More than 120,000 visited our new location, more than 80,000 dined with us at our restaurants and more than 30,000 Chicagoans purchased our food and enjoyed cooking it at home. Never, ever has another Eataly been as successful as our new outpost in Chicago…therefore we say: THANK YOU, CHICAGO!

You have understood and grasped our “experiential” concept and our love for all things Italian and local, along with our priority for high quality food, and passion for education.

Because of this deep understanding of our manifesto and what we believe in, we have decided to close the store on Monday, December 9th, in order to preserve our standards of quality and service. We want to pay back your love and passion for Eataly Chicago by providing you the best food and the best service.

See you all bright and early on Tuesday at 8AM at our Caffe Lavazza!

Thanks again Chicago,

The Eataly Team

~ A FINAL THOUGHT ~

Best wishes to Eataly Chicago as it moves forward and continues bringing this exceptional all-things Italian experience to all who may enter their doors.  http://www.eataly.com/chicago

That’s it for this edition.  Until the next one, remember to always celebrate yourself and your culinary curiosity.  Happy cooking…happy eating…happy drinking.  Ciao!

  

By Terry Herman

Terry Herman continues perfecting her passion for food and wine.  She has been covering culinary related for many years as it relates to wellness and a healthy lifestyle.  Her popular blog, Terry's Spa, Beauty and Wellness Go-To has featured formidable reviews of cookbooks, restaurants, wine and food, food prep and tools, chef interviews, and coverage of prestigious events such as the International Home+Housewares Show, the National Restaurant Show and the Sweets and Snacks Expo.  She has been published since the mid-1990s in both consumer and trade publications, and is regarded as an expert in spa, beauty, wellness, travel and lifestyle; she is frequently interviewed by publications for her expert content.  She has also presented at major industry conferences, and has served with distinction on numerous governing and advisory boards.  She has a background in strategic and qualitative management, consulting, and motivational speaking.  Her social media outreach includes Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Cision Seek or Shout, Plaxo, Red Room, Pinterest, and Tripatini.  For additional information, email her at terry.herman@gmail.com.

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