Highwood farmers market gets al fresco upgrade
By Long Hwa-Shu Special to The News-Sun July 8, 2011 12:38AM
Cheryl Casden of Highwood (right) waits for her quesadilla being prepared by Isaac Nava owner of La Casa de Issac in Highland Park at at Highwood's Evening Gourmet Farmers Market. | Michael Schmidt~Sun-Times Media
Highwood calendar
Highwood has some other interesting events scheduled this summer and fall. Among them, the second annual Bloody Mary Blues Fest, July 17; the inaugural Garlic Fest, Aug. 17; and the Great Highwood Pumpkin Fest, Oct. 19-23.
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Updated: May 9, 2012 9:37AM
HIGHWOOD — Reputed as the dining capital of Lake County, Highwood has turned the usually mundane farmers market into what many visitors say is a successful, vibrant outdoor dining experience under the stars.
Hundreds of people turned up at the Evening Gourmet Farmers Market late Wednesday, munching on focaccia pizza, Italian sausages, eggplant Parmesan, guacamole and chips, pot stickers and imported green olives. There were even giveaway samples of raspberry vodka and cinnamon rolls. It was a comfortable evening — warm and breezy, but not humid.
“This is more than just a gourmet farmers market. It’s a festival,” commented one visitor from Libertyville, hopping from one booth to another apparently in search of unusual food items.
“This is a family affair, a neighborhood gathering,” she added, declining, however, to give her name.
Highwood added outdoor dining in the evening to the traditional day-time farmers market so that working parents can take their children to eat out. The festival is held between 4 and 9 p.m. every Wednesday through Aug. 31 and 4 to 8 p.m. until Sept. 14, rain or shine. It is in front of the City Hall with chairs and tables set up for use by diners. Highwood Avenue is blocked for the occasion.
“There’s nothing like this in the Chicago area. At a typical farmers market, people shop and leave. Here, people stay and eat and they get to learn more about Highwood,” said 4th Ward Ald. Eric Falberg, who is chairman of the city’s Special Events Committee.
“We want to keep our reputation as the dining capital. We want to grow it and make it even better,” he added.
There were about 20 food vendors including Golden Rice Bakery from Chicago; La Casa de Isaac of Highland Park; and the Baccio Deli, Maria’s Bakery, Buffo’s and Dynasty Chinese Restaurant, all four from Highwood. Sisters from Fraternite Notre Dame of Chicago, famous for their baked goods, were selling apple pound cakes, chocolate hazelnut tarts and cookies.
“You don’t have those delicious peach tarts today?” asked a visitor who remembered buying one from them in Highland Park and was disappointed they didn’t have any.
Thrown into the mix were the North Shore Flea Market and concert music which added to the buoyancy of the evening. There were at least two vegetable stands. Farmers markets elsewhere are usually held in the morning or during the day. In all, there were 50 vendors counting those at the flea market.
Patsy Grey and her friend Deirdre Christman, both of Northfield, stopped at Biagio Imports to sample the green olives from Sicily.
“We came here to dine and antique,” said Grey as she bought a jar of pesto.
“Very good food, good people and good antique,” chimed in Christman.
Lukasz Koziol of Des Plaines came with his girlfriend, Catherine Hoffman of Niles, to look for an apartment and stopped at the festival.
“I used to live here. This reminds of Highwood Days,” said Koziol, nursing a margarita.
Shirley Degen of Highland Park, enjoying a plate of quesadilla and also guacamole and chips, said about the festival: “It’s beautiful and well-organized. I love it.”
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