Non Parishable Gift from Chicago

[mlukan]

I am driving through Chicago in a week and would like to pick up some small gifts for family on my way through. Any suggestions you recent thread links would be greatly appreciated.

[Querencia]

1) Devon Avenue around Western Avenue is the heart of a very thriving Indian-Pakistani community with many grocery stores and supermarkets. Indian spices and condiments, nuts, bags of basmati rice, canned mango puree etc are exotic and fun; we have had several out-of-town guests load up their cars on Devon Avenue. 2) If you're taking presents to people who live where there is no Trader Joe's, make a stop at TJ (look at their website for locations). Several times I have chatted with visiting people shopping there who were buying presents for themselves and others.

[bibi rose]

Probably too late for this person, but for further reference, Terry's Toffee:

http://www.terrystoffee.com/

[nsxtasy]

How about chocolates from one of our best local artisanal chocolatiers?

Belgian Chocolatier Piron (Evanston) - www.belgchocpiron.com
Vosges Chocolate (Chicago/Lincoln Park and Chicago/Michigan Avenue) - www.vosgeschocolate.com
Canady le Chocolatier, Ltd. (Chicago/South Loop) - www.canadylechocolatierchicago.com

For details, links, and discussion, see http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/374386

[itryalot]

I was told to get their Bacon Chocolate - Vosges.

[chicgail]

Love the bacon chocolate bar. Not enough bacon for my taste, but, definitely my fave.

[Missy2U]

Thought of something else (after reading it in the Sun Times Food Section yesterday) - maybe some Margie's Candy?

[Missy2U]

Oh - Frontera Grill has a bunch of stuff - salsas, soups, bbq and grill sauces - check the website or hit the restaurant.

[solon]

Some of us don't consider Frango mints to be an authentic Chicago item any more, but if you and your friends are not too picky about that, they're easy to pick up if if you can stop at a (cough) Macy's.

[ferret]

Definitely not Frango's. Although they are once again being produced in Chicago it's much like a car that was stolen and returned to you a year later. It may well be the same car in the same condition but it won't feel the same anymore. Plus, I believe every Macy's store in the nation now carries them.

[dramisino]

Get a big jar of Giardeniere Peppers. Italian delis will sell you a GALLON.

[zoona]

I second this. Living in the UK part of the year, anytime someone visits me I ask them to bring a jar :)

[Missy2U]

Garretts Popcorn?

[nsxtasy]

I thought about Garrett's ( www.garrettpopcorn.com ) too. However, while it's not perishable in that it doesn't require refrigeration, it can get stale pretty quickly (i.e. after a couple of days), especially if you only leave it in their paper bags. You may want to bring a few thick ziplock type freezer bags with you to keep it airtight if it won't be consumed immediately. Oh, and buy an extra bag to eat in the car on the way, because you won't be able to resist doing so. :)

If you go, their most popular items are caramel popcorn, cheese popcorn, and a mix of those two. They also have caramel cashew popcorn and caramel pecan popcorn.

[mlukan]

Ya I also thought of Garrett's as I always stop there anyway, but Agree that the texture would suffer, and wouldn't want them to eat Garret's unless it was anything but perfect. The mix is a gift from food heaven. I love Chicago.

[Missy2U]

It comes in tins too. That would keep it fresher.