Edgewater/Rogers Park Bakeries

Ayutla Bakery
6963 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60626

(773) 764 - 9077

Grab a tray and a pair of tongs, then, help yourself to sweet treasures at this Mexican bakery in Rogers Park. Whether you have a taste for donuts or sweet rolls, this place will satisfy your sweet tooth!
----------------------
La Baguette Bakery
5712 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60660

(773) 878 - 8553

La Baguette has been a fixture in the Andersonville area for several years and, for good reason. Their sugary creations are of excellent quality, whatever your weakness. Their decorative cakes, both carryout and special - ordered, are a feast for the eyes as well as the palette.
----------------------
Swedish Bakery
5348 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60640

(773) 561 - 8919

Even though Andersonville no longer is predominantly Scandinavian, Swedish Bakery continues to thrive and draw a crowd...literally! Early in the morning, you are likely to be greeted by a long line of customers ordering marzipan desserts, cinnamon raisin bread and other irresistible temptations produced in their ovens.
-----------------------

Jackie

Rogers Park Bakery

I have been buying various pastries at Ayutla Bakery for a couple of years now. What comes out of their ovens is consistently good. Whether you have a taste for a twisted donut or a sweet roll, this place offers it, and at reasonable prices. Their strawberry muffins are to die for! They also have tasty sandwich rolls.

Like many Hispanic bakeries, you grab a tray and a pair of tongs, select what looks good (but then what doesn't look good here?), bring it to the register, pay for your choices and go home with your delectable treasure.

Ayutla Bakery is located at 6963 N. Clark in the Rogers Park neighborhood, a half block North of Morse. Their phone number is 773.764.9077

Jackie

Edgewater/Rogers Park Burglary Alert

There have been a rash of residential break - ins lately, in the areas of Edgewater and Rogers Park. Apparently, the person(s) involved have been burglarizing people's apartments and are very much aware of their victims' morning routine. Several occupants have returned home from work to find that their residences have been burglarized. Almost all of the burglaries occurred in the daytime.

Jackie

New Middle Eastern Eatery

It has only three tables and the decor is simple. I ordered two falafel sandwiches at the new "Falafil Shack" at 6130 N. Ravenswood. They were $2.99 each (not a bad price). You can order the sandwich with hummus or salad; I asked for salad and tahini on the falafels. The tahini had the right amount of heat, not overpowering.

Their menu offers only one kind of soup: Lentil. You can order a deluxe falafel that comes with fried eggplant, fried potatoes and fried zucchini. Other fare include baba ghannouj ($3.99), Jerusalem salad ($2.99), chicken kabob ($7.99), and 3 grilled chicken legs ($4.99). Your only choice of dessert is baklava.

The gentleman who waited on me seemed nice. Check them out! This location, for years, was a Chinese takeout that I would order from at least once a week. The owner decided to retire and end the business. Then, it was an Indian/Pakistani eatery that closed after only two months in business. Hopefully Falafil Shack will stick around much longer than that.

Jackie

New Middle Eastern Eatery

Welcome "Falafil Shack" to the neighborhood. They are located at 6130 N. Ravenswood, in the West Ridge area.

Jackie

An Aldi Thanksgiving

There was a time when one did not admit that they shopped at Aldi, the no - frills discount grocery chain. There was a stigma attached to being an Aldi customer. Mostly, that you must be low - income and did not have the funds to shop at a pricier major chain. But during a trip there yesterday, I found myself with a lot more company than I used to, and passed by grocery carts piled with basic Thanksgiving fare: Turkeys, stuffing, pumpkin pies and cranberries. More people, it seems, are discovering that it makes economic sense to explore other avenues to putting food on the table, be it for yourself or a spouse and kids.

Occasionally, I will walk to the Dominick's in the West Ridge neighbourhood for a few specialty items. For the most part, however, I frequent Aldi for ground beef for chili or spaghetti; boxed stuffing; a bag of russet potatoes; a gallon of milk. For years, I have shopped at their Californian/Granville location and have enjoyed passing a quarter to an exiting fellow - customer returning their shopping cart. (Though quarters are not required to use carts at the Broadway/Granville store.)

The stigma of shopping at Aldi might still exist but, these days, most Aldi shoppers seem content with letting it roll off their backs. I have been doing it for years!

To my fellow - Aldi customers (current and future), Happy Aldi Thanksgiving!

Jackie

Ewwww!

DO NOT SHOP AT 'LA FRESCASITA' , a produce/meat market at 7007 N. Clark St. in the Rogers Park neighborhood! The guy who rang up my purchases would only allow me to purchase 9 Bartlett pears, instead of the 10 that I needed. So, he tore open the produce bag, reached in and, with his filthy hands, removed the offending extra fruit. To say that I was grossed out would be an understatement. Yuck! If you ever pass by this store, KEEP WALKING!

Jackie