Some things are easier said than done, so here’s a cheat sheet of some of our favorite sources for getting your own ethnic dinner party under way. After you’ve tried our suggestions, don’t hesitate to explore and experiment on your own, given the wide-ranging ethnic diversity in Chicago.
COOKBOOKS
There are plenty of cookbooks that tell you how to make ethnic dishes of all kinds, but these volumes stand out from the pack because they are a bit more inclusive and thorough.
“Culinary Artistry” by Andrew Dononberg and Karen Page (John Wiley & Son, $29.95).
Rather than present recipes, this 2-year-old tome shows you how to compose flavors and put dishes together with any food as the foundation. The concept is also extended to formulating whole menus.
“Entertaining Asian Style” by Lisa Kim-Tribolati and Martyne Kupciunas (Periplus, $29.95).
No part of the region is neglected in this exploration of entertaining with an Eastern tradition of serenity and balance and a Western sense of curiosity and fun. Chapters run the gamut from Cajun to Asian.
“The Vegetarian Gourmet’s Easy International Recipes” by Bobbie Hinman (Surrey Books, $19.95).
The sheer breadth of this new cookbook, which includes 350 easy-to-make, meatless recipes from seven geographic regions, makes it a great staple to have in anyone’s collection and a savior when you’re trying to round out a menu with appropriate side dishes.
(For two more books, “Be My Guest: Theme Party Savoir-Faire” by Rena Sindi and “Dinner After Dark” by Colin Cowie, see page 13.)
SPECIALTY MARKETS
Everyone knows about Trader Joe’s, Costco, Whole Foods and Treasure Island. Here are some unique spots to try when you want authentic ingredients to use in a recipe or dishes to augment your own meals, compiled with the help of Evelyn Thompson, who gives tours of Chicago’s ethnic groceries for a living (see www.ethnic-grocery-tours.com).
Gilmart, 5050 S. Archer Ave., 773-585-5514.
The wait at the deli counter is often long at this Polish grocery, thanks to the alluring variety of garlic-infused sausages and meats and extensive selection of pickles and prepared foods. There’s also an excellent grocery featuring imported candy and food, fresh produce and delicious pastries and breads delivered from local Eastern European bakeries daily. Specialties include pirogis, potato pancakes, prepared salads and barrels of sauerkraut.
International Club (Five Continents), 4000 W. 40th St., 773-927-0100.
Once you enter this prosaic warehouse, you’ll forget you’re in Chicago; there are exotic foods from China, Thailand, Africa, the Philippines, Poland and Spain–with signage in each language to match the merchandise. You’ll also find Chicago’s largest selection of fresh aquatic creatures, ethnic produce for each culture and great frozen appetizers and entrees to use as supplements to your own meals.
Jimenez Grocery Store, 3850 W. Fullerton Ave., 773-278-6769.
This Logan Square mainstay sells Mexican staples and produce shipped from south of the border (including an astonishing variety of peppers), boasts a fantastic butcher section and has a hot table with hearty Mexican dishes to eat there or bring home to bolster meals. Favorites include chicken and shrimp soups, carne asadas, ham tortas and carnatas.
Middle Eastern Bakery, 1512 W. Foster Ave., 773-561-2224.
A bakery, deli and grocery store co-exist in this densely packed shop, known citywide for the breads and spreads it wholesales to area groceries but often forgotten as a source for fabulous Middle Eastern food with a Persian accent. The vegetable- and cheese-filled pies are mouth-watering and a steal.
Patel Brothers, 2610 W. Devon Ave., 773-262-7777.
An aromatic mix of spices makes a visit here a heady experience, and there are dozens of varieties of rice and beans, and exotic Indian foods in cans, cartons or freezer cases ranging from chutneys to masalas, and bakery goods and snack foods to entice.
TAKEOUT
Pick and choose from the goodies at these spots to supplement your own ethnic repasts.
BJ’s Market, 8734 S. Stony Island Ave., 773-374-4700.
Rumor has it this is the place to pick up the best mustard fried catfish and greens in town. There’s a great section of prepared foods and a hot table loaded with entrees, side dishes and desserts.
Cafe Suron, 1146 W. Pratt Ave., 773-465-6500.
This new Persian cafe, which has a tremendous appetizer menu and a terrific variety of meat, fish and vegetable kabobs, will do takeout on request–from Persian salads to the seafood and meat entrees.
Kamdar Plaza, 2646 W. Devon Ave., 773-338-8100.
Though it’s Indian fast food, you’ll be hard put to find a better place for savory samosas, piquant side dishes, spicy snack foods and mouth-watering desserts.
Taco & Burrito House, 1548 W. Fullerton Ave., 773-665-8389 or 3939 N. Broadway, 773-871-8988.
Supplement the tacos and burritos of every variety here with your own side dishes and appetizers, or reverse the process and go for their guacamole, nachos, chimichangas, quesadillas, tostadas and tortas.
FULLY CATERED MEALS
When you want to have the whole thing done from soup to nuts, call in a caterer who specializes in ethnic-themed meals.
Andies, 5253 N. Clark St., 773-784-8616 or 1467 W. Montrose Ave., 773-348-0654.
The Greek and Lebanese dishes whipped up by this Mediterranean restaurateur are available for home entertaining, though there are banquet rooms at both locations if you want to hold your own party out. There are plenty of options for vegetarians.
Bahay Kubo, 7314 W. Lawrence Ave., Harwood Heights, 708-867-6005.
Instead of Chinese or Thai, try something different and opt for slightly sweeter Filipino food from this northwest suburban caterer. Appetizers and main dishes are sold in large trays, and there are lots of interesting desserts.
Ethiopian Diamond, 6120 N. Broadway Ave., 773-338-6100.
A more extensive menu than most other Ethiopian restaurants makes this a great choice if you have different palettes to please. There are tibs, which are Ethiopian style fajitas, made with a variety of meats and seafood, and dozens of other vegetarian and meat dishes that can be cooked alicha (mild) or watt (spicy) style. They’re also known for their destaye, a hot, flaky dessert.
Fanfare by Faye, 742 E. 95th St., 773-568-4437.
Though Faye specializes in a variety of foods, she’s the one to call for clever and stylish repasts that take Afrocentric fare to new heights. She also does great Caribbean spreads and is known for her curried goat.
Blue Plate, 1061 W. Van Buren Ave., 312-421-6666.
These generalists have become known for producing entire meals based on many different ethnic themes. Their executive chef hails from Michoacan, Mexico, and takes special pride in the Mexican fare.
