Christmas is a holiday strong with tradition. This season, more than ever, people want to indulge in items that are quintessentially Christmas.
”This year we`re selling a lot of plum puddings and not as much chocolate,” says Charie MacDonald, owner of Beautiful Food in Winnetka. Tradition seems to be the guiding force when it comes to what is put on the holiday table this year.
However, health and time-pervasive bywords of the 1980s-still weigh heavy on people`s minds as they peruse the offerings at take-out food shops.
”They`re asking what is healthful, but whether they order it or not is another story,” comments Mitchell Cobey, owner of Mitchell Cobey Cuisine in Chicago, ”Cheese sales are down. Pate sales are up. It`s very confusing. People are panicking on the cholesterol thing.”
Lisa Kuk, owner-manager of A La Carte in Wilmette, says, ”We had low-cholesterol dishes marked on the menu for the first time at Thanksgiving, but we didn`t get many takers. At holiday time people don`t care.”
People are having casual get-togethers, often cocktail receptions, because of time restraints. Hors d`oeuvres, often the most labor-intensive part of a meal, are in great demand at The Bountiful Board, Delish and Zambrana`s in Chicago.
”Customers really need help at the beginning and end of the meal,”
observes Spice n` Easy owner Lee Chalfant: ”They tend to want to make the main course themselves.” Whether that course is a traditional Christmas goose like the one Tiny Tim dined on at the end of ”A Christmas Carol” or something healthful and quick like poached salmon, there are many stores that offer these items along with a wide variety of accompaniments to ”take-out” and take home for the dining table.
Following is a selective list of some interesting foods featured at smaller shops in the city and suburbs. Availability of some dishes is limited and advance orders are sometimes necessary. Call for price information. Also, check out major department stores such as Marshall Field`s and Neiman-Marcus for take-out food.
Unless otherwise noted, stores will be closed on Christmas Day and most have special hours for Christmas Eve.
In Chicago
Au Marche, 437 N. Clark St.; 321-0551. Seafood pate, cornish hens with mixed rice stuffing, chestnut cake, deep-dish pumpkin pie. Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Mon. through Fri.; 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sat.; closed Dec. 24. Phone orders taken at 667-4600. Orders also taken and picked up at Suzette`s, 3304 N. Broadway; 477-6300.
Blue Plate, 3554 N. Clark St.; 327-7507. Chocolate raspberry fudge torte, specials on champagne. Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mon. through Sat.; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sun.; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Dec. 24.
The Bountiful Board, 2560 N. Clark St.; 549-1999. Harvest squash bisque, cranberries with pears and walnuts, sweet potatoes with pineapple, three squash and apple casserole, apple cheese pie. A 24-hour notice is necessary. Hours: 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Mon. through Fri.; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sat. Special order pick-ups only on Dec. 24. In January the shop moves to 2826 N. Lincoln Ave.
C`est Si Bon, 60 E. Walton; 337-0625. Glazed chestnuts, fresh foie gras, four kinds of buche de Noel (log cakes in mandarin orange, pear and caramel, coffee, chocolate), Bulle de Peche (peach champagne). Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mon. through Fri.; 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sat.; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sun.; 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Dec. 24.
Ciralsky`s, 660 N. Wells; 266-6006. Smoky moe (smoked fish platter), deluxe buffet (15-pound turkey, carved and put back on frame, 6 pounds cold cuts, 6 pounds potato salad, 4 pounds cole slaw, assorted relish tray for 25), carved watermelon basket filled with fruit, black cherry pie. Hours: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mon. through Thurs.; 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fri.; 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sat.; 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Dec. 24.
Convito Italiano, 11 E. Chestnut St., Chestnut Galleria; 943-2983. Mozzarella cheese and salami wreath, pumpkin ravioli, gratin of Brussels sprouts, sweet and sour onions, harvest chutney (cranberries, apples, pears, raisins and spices), sweet potato rolls, torta natale (layers of mozzarella, mascarpone, cranberry cream cheese, dried cranberries and pistachios). Hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mon. through Fri.; 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sat.; noon to 5 p.m. Sun.; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Dec. 24.
Delish, 550 N. Wells St.; 670-2600. Herb-roasted chicken breast on black bread canape, smoked salmon with lime cream and fennel salad canape, sweet onion relish, white chocolate mousse cake with raspberry puree, gingerbread houses filled with butter cookies. Hours: 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mon. through Sat. Special order pick-ups only on Dec. 24.
Foodstuffs, 2201 N. Halsted St.; 525-9980. Seafood trays, game birds, buche de Noel (halves are available), hazelnut cranberry curd cake, English toffee. Hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mon. through Fri.; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sat.; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sun. (including Dec. 24).
Jerome`s, 2450 N. Clark St.; 327-2207. Take-out breads and desserts such as orange-currant scones, onion-walnut bread, apple streusel pie, pumpkin flan, cranberry cake. A 24-hour notice is needed. Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tues. through Fri.; 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sat.; 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sun.; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Dec. 24. Closed Mondays.
Kaleido Cafe, 163 W. North Ave.; 787-3345. Cranberry orange relish, pumpkin muffins, sweet potato squares (sweet potato custard and pancetta). Hours: 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Mon. through Thurs.; 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Fri. and Sat. Closed Sundays (including Dec. 24).
La Misada, Hyatt Regency Hotel, West Tower, 151 E. Wacker Dr.; 565-4222. Kosher food-to-go such as Cajun-barbecued mock shrimp, beef satay with peanut sauce, ribeye steak, signature chocolate truffles, chocolate-covered halvah. Orders for 15 or more must be placed at least 24 hours in advance. Hours:
Phone orders are taken 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily. Orders can be picked up 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Mon. through Sat.; 5:30 to 10 p.m. daily; 5:30 to 10 p.m. on Dec. 24; noon to 8 p.m. on Dec. 25.
LaSalle Street Market, 745 N. LaSalle; 943-7450. Mixed vegetable pate, spiral-sliced ham, smoked pheasant, mincemeat pie. Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mon. through Fri.; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sat. and Sun.; 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Dec. 24.
Lisi`s Hors d`Oeuvres, 954 W. Diversey Pkwy.; 327-3455. Hors d`oeuvres such as whipped pate tarts, chicken chutney puffs, sun-dried tomato quiche tarts, neopolitan slices (puff pastry, pepperoni, cheese, green pepper, onion). Selection and amount at store varies day to day. For parties of six or more order 3 to 4 days in advance. Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tues. through Sat.; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Dec. 24.
Mitchell Cobey Cuisine, 100 E. Walton St.; 944-3411. Waffle potatoes with tuna tartare, endive filled with couscous salad, grilled vegetables, poppyseed pasta with fresh fennel, terrine gourmande (avocado, tomato, chicken liver pate), smoked eel, marjolaine cake (chocolate, praline and nut creams between layers of nut meringue). Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon. through Sat.; 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Dec. 24.
Swedish Bakery, 5348 N. Clark St.; 561-8919. Breads and desserts featuring limpa bread with orange peel and anise, peperkakor (traditional Swedish spice cookie), cinnamon raisin bread, Jule kaka (Christmas bread with cardamon, citron and raisins), stollen. Hours: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tues. through Fri.; 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sat. Closed Sundays (including Dec. 24).
Terczak`s, 2635 N. Halsted; 404-0171. Canned specialties including ratatouille, succotash, corn relish, barbecue sauce with sesame and banana and caramel sauce are available. Hours: 5:30 to 10 p.m. Sun. through Thurs.; 5:30 to 11 p.m. Fri. and Sat. Closed Dec. 24.
Zambrana`s, 2346 N. Clark St.; 935-0200. Vegetable phyllo spirals, smoked salmon tray, oriental pasta salad, gingerbread people. Hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mon. through Fri.; 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sat.; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sun.
(including Dec. 24).
In the suburbs
A La Carte, 111 Green Bay Rd., Wilmette; 708-256-4102. Sundried tomato and basil pesto cheese torta, smoked salmon flan, vegetable strudel, brandied cranberry sauce, pumpkin pecan crunch pie, cranberry mousse cake. Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mon. through Fri.; 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Dec. 23. Closed Dec. 24. Beautiful Food, 718 Elm St., Winnetka; 708-446-4066 (retail store) and 1812 Johns Dr., Glenview; 708-657-8403 (kitchen). Sour cream rum pecan cake, winter fruitcake, small and large gingerbread men, gingerbread houses for rent. Call Glenview number for orders; pick-up at either location. Hours:
Winnetka, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon. through Fri.; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sat.; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 24. Glenview, 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mon. through Fri.; pick-ups on Dec. 24 must be pre-arranged.
Convito Italiano, 1515 Sheridan Rd., Plaza del Lago shopping mall, Wilmette; 708-251-3654. See city listing for specific items. Hours: 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Mon. through Fri.; 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sat.; 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sun.; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Dec. 24.
Foodstuffs, 2601 Central St., Evanston, 708-328-7704, and 338 Park Ave., Glencoe, 708-835-5105. See city listing for specific items. Hours: Evanston, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mon. through Fri.; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sat.; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sun.; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 24. Glencoe, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon. through Fri.; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sat.; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sun.; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Dec. 24.
Fresh Starts, 1040 Sterling, Flossmoor; 708-957-7900. Sweet potatoes with mandarin orange sauce, fresh sage and rosemary stuffing with wild rice, deep- dish apple pie with caramel, mocha pecan pie. Orders must be made by noon, Dec. 20.
Hours: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon. through Fri.; 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sat.; noon to 5 p.m. Dec. 23; noon to 3 p.m. Dec. 24. Arrangements can be made to pick up orders during dinner hours, 6 to 9 p.m. Tues. through Thurs. and 6 to 10 p.m. Fri. and Sat.
Sage`s, 75 W. Algonquin Rd., Arlington Heights; 708-593-6200. Complete restaurant menu, including stone steak (grilled steak dusted with Parmesan), veal and quail combination, boneless breast of duck with dried peaches, grilled halibut over roasted walnuts, is available. Hours: 4 to 10 p.m. daily; 4 to 8 p.m. Dec. 24; noon to 8 p.m. Dec. 25.
Spice `n Easy, 528 Crescent Blvd., Glen Ellyn; 708-858-0779. Cheese tomato tart squares, foot-long cheese straws, high roller spirals (meat, vegetables, lettuce and tomato rolled in lahvosh bread), acorn squash and apple soup, tea breads. Hours: 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mon.; 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tues. through Fri.; 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sat.; noon to 4 p.m. Dec. 24. –
