STANDARD MARKET in Westmont, Illinois is one of the most exciting, beautiful grocery stores I have ever seen. When it opened in November, 2011, my daughter raved about how wonderful it was…she lives close by and now shops there on a regular basis…so it was the first stop when I flew to Chicago last year. I have to admit that I’m sure I made a spectacle of myself as we explored the different areas in the store. It is so obvious that the staff at the market loves and respects the food they sell. I would give almost anything to have a store like this close to where I live, but Portland is small town by Chicago standards and we don’t have the population to support the great ethnic grocery stores and delis that are found in almost every Chicago neighborhood.
My nose was pressed to the glass of the long rows of cases in the deli aisle. Standard Market’s housemade salads, sides and entrees were mouthwatering so, in honor of my granddaughter’s birthday, I took home a good selections of deli items to add to the celebration.
The salad area held the usual selections plus many combinations of fruits, veggies, grains and proteins that were new to me. One of my favorites was their ROASTED BEET AND ORANGE salad. The ingredient list was printed on the tag they put on the little take out box and I couldn’t wait to make it myself…Yay! I have made lots of beet salads, but the flavors in this one differ from what I have tried before. Everybody loved it.
All bakery items are made in house and I wanted to take a piece of every single one home with me…It was a birthday celebration after all. I did settle for several slices of coconut cake that my friend Marie, at PROUD ITALIAN COOK, recommended. Thanks for the suggestion, Marie. It was delicious…I could have eaten a plateful of that light, creamy frosting even without the cake. Not only did I have a slice after dinner…I gobbled up the last piece with my coffee the next morning. For somebody who doesn’t have a sweet tooth I did OK. Not so with the monster TURTLE CHEESECAKE that I bought at Cheesecake Factory for the birthday party. Way too rich for this girl.
You are looking at part of Standard Market’s selection of housemade salads, salad dressings, dips, sauces and seasonings.
We bought hummus…nice and garlicky…and a creamy, spicy guacamole that was fantastic.
Their Caesar salad dressing was out of this world and I hope I can come close to duplicating is at home…
The cheese and wine and spirits areas were something else. They feature many local cheeses I wasn’t familiar with and it was fun tasting and learning about them. It is strange to me to see hard liquor in a grocery store mixed in with beer and wine. We have a State Liquor Commission in Oregon that regulates sales and alcohol is only sold in state run stores. I don’t think much of the system, but that’s how it’s done here. All prices are strictly regulated. Oregon is almost perfect…but not quite.
- 2 pounds beets, roasted, peeled and diced**
- 1 large navel orange, peeled and cut into segments***
- ½ cup canola oil for dressing
- ¼ cup red wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
- ¼ cup chopped cilantro, or to taste
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- queso fresco cheese, crumbled (feta works well too)
- 1-1/2 cup canola oil for frying the shallots
- 2-3 large shallots, peeled and thinly sliced*
- Place diced beets in a large bowl
- Combine canola oil, vinegar, orange juice, sugar, orange zest, cilantro and salt and pepper. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Pour over beets (moisten them well but don't use more dressing than you need). Arrange beets on a serving platter. Add orange slices.
- Garnish with crumbled quesco fresco to taste and a little extra cilantro.
- Top with crispy fried shallots. Serve at room temperature or chilled.
*******
*Fried Shallots are so easy to make and are a great garnish for many dishes. I love them on top of a creamy serving of homemade mashed potatoes. Talk about elevating an ordinary dish to something special! Find out how to make them at SEVEUR.COM.
**Don’t know how to roast beets? You can find an easy tutorial HERE.
***Questions about how to segment an orange? Take a look HERE.
This post is linked to FOODIE FRIDAY at Rattlebridge Farm.
Wow what an amazing market. lol…that’s what we like to do when going to different towns, we go grocery shopping.
Beets are something I just have not had much. If I had a really good beet salad then I would probably like it.
It sure is pretty.
Yum! I’m always finding wonderful salads that inspire posts at our Whole Foods. In fact there is a gigantic one a few miles away that is almost scary—they have everything in the world. and I can barely get down one aisle without hyperventilating!
Love this beet and orange salad, and I wish I could put a little handful of those fried shallots on everything I eat 🙂
Sue/the view from great island recently posted..DIY Tagalong Girl Scout Cookies: when you’ve been too good for your own good
It sounds like Marie gave you some good advice about that cake. This salad looks pretty darn delicious too – one of my favorite pairings is beets and oranges and it seems you’ve upped the market’s version one better.
ciaochowlinda recently posted..Scallops in Blood Orange Sauce
Marie has been so helpful and generous in giving us tips about what to see and where to go for the best shopping and food. It’s fun to know that I have shopped in some of her favorite Italian delis and markets.
Cathy recently posted..Roasted Beet and Orange Salad ~ Deli Style
This looks so good…I am going to try it. Canola oil is listed twice in the ingredients…is that correct?
Kate recently posted..Apple, Watercress and Stilton Salad
Hi Kate – Yes, it is correct, but confusing at the same time. Thanks for pointing it out. I added a notation that the 1/2 cup oil is for the dressing and the 1-1/2 cup is for frying the shallots. I hope you enjoy this salad. I thought it was delicious.
Cathy recently posted..Roasted Beet and Orange Salad ~ Deli Style
Wow…what a store! That salad looks so interesting!!! I bet it is divine!!!
If you lived near me Cathy, you would have an endless supply of oranges, avocados, lemons, and grapefruit!!!!!
xo Kris
PS I love Ina too!!!
Wow, I would love that!
Cathy recently posted..Roasted Beet and Orange Salad ~ Deli Style
Sounds like a foodlovers dream! I am anxious to try the beet/orange salad…we love both main ingredients.
Marigene recently posted..Sunny and Bright
WE have a couple of mini versions of this store like Choices and Urban Fare. They should put them both together for one big happy shopping experience. Love the beet salad too!!!
bellini recently posted..Pining for Spring with Garlic Soup Provencal
I don’t know if finding out about the Standard Market is a good thing. I can see it would be easily addictive!! This salad looks delicious. I’ve made Ina’s beet and orange salad many times and love it. I think I’ll give this one a try as well.
It snowed all day yesterday but was just a fine mist and the temperature was in the mid-30s so the sidewalks and roads stayed o.k.. North got much more.
Best,
Bonnie
Bonnie recently posted..Chicken and Artichoke Casserole
What a beautiful, colorful salad Cathy. I’ve pinned it and look forward to making for a Spring party soon!
renee recently posted..Super Creamy Italian Chili
What an awesome looking store! I grew up in PA where alcohol is sold through state stores and distributors as well, crazy archaic system.
Rhonda (@diningalone) recently posted..Favorite Things #45 – Spring Training
Lucky you to be able to find this in a deli. I’ve never seen it anywyere. It’s so attractive I bet it sells well. I’ve used Ina’s recipe, but yours is a lot prettier than mine turned out to be.
Sam
Sam @ My Carolina Kitchen recently posted..Ina’s Beef Bourguignon and a Man in the Kitchen
I behave the same way when I get into a store like that. I think Bev would love this salad and I might too if it had no beets 🙂
Larry recently posted..2013 Blogger Party Planning
What a fun adventure to the market. The salad does sound and look delicious!
Marilyn recently posted..Camillia Japonica vs. Sinensis
Ahh..we eat roasted beet salads a lot..on beds of spinach:)
Love your take..Merçi!
Monique recently posted..Baked Bang Bang Shrimp~
What a fun market to visit Cathy, no wonder your daughter loves it! Beets are a favorite of mine and I know I’d enjoy this salad:@)
I love this, Cathy! You know…it reminded me of my mother’s old stand by (this ought to bring back some fun memories for you too)….her pickled beet salad. My kids HATED that. They would LOVE this. What a marvelous deli that is and wasn’t that sweet of them to print the recipe? Good for them! And lucky us!
Barbara recently posted..Sweet Potato and Pea Fritters
Yum! My youngest daughter and hubby were in Chicago last summer for a soccer tournament and my girl LOVES Chicago now…especially the PIZZA! She wants to back.
Kirstin recently posted..Easy Sandwich Rolls, recipe link
Craig adores red beets. Me? Not so much. Don’t get me wrong I don’t dislike them. I just don’t love them. However, I can handle this salad because I would think that the acidity of the citrus, plus sweetness, the earthiness of the beets and the cheese makes this a mighty fine salad. Craig would love this, and I think I would, too.
Foodiewife recently posted..Chilean Sea Bass with a Pineapple-Dijon Pan Sauce
I often wish we had markets like that one in my little rural town! No such luck though. Don’t you just love all of the wonderful markets in Chicago? One of my boys lives there and we have such a delicious time when we visit. The beet salad sounds absolutely wonderful. No one else here likes beets, so I never have to share. 🙂
Betty @ scrambled henfruit recently posted..Spicy Curried Butternut Red Lentil Soup
Oooh that salad looks beautiful Cathy and I love the addition of crispy shallots! Now I haven’t tried the caesar dressing but the ranch I always buy we love it. So glad you liked the coconut cake Cathy, it’s really not too sweet so there must not be many calories in it right? (I wish!)
Marie recently posted..Bundt Pan Chicken and Winter Potato Salad
That salad is calling my name! I love beet salads.
What a beautiful store! My husband’s aunt and uncle used to live in Elmhurst and he has a cousin who lives in Glen Ellyn but we rarely get there anymore, sadly, because I would love to visit that place.
Susan recently posted..Easy Chocolatey Bundt Cake
Always looking for new ways to use beets. I love the idea of citrus and a salty type cheese. Might have to incorporate a new way to cook beets!
Ah this sounds wonderful. I should make a batch and take some over to Norm. I miss cooking the most through all this.
what a great salad and that deli really sounds amazing
rebecca recently posted..Shitake and Pancetta Farro Risotto
This sounds delicious, and it touches on all flavor buds. Did you serve this with a protein, or is this a meal in itself?
Madonna/aka/Ms. Lemon recently posted..Cured Lemons
That’s a huge market!
The roasted beet salad looks so bright and appetizing!
Angie@Angie’s Recipes recently posted..Mung Bean Sprouts Salad with Parsley Root and Carrot
The salad is so colorful and vibrant – it’s beautiful!! The market looks amazing. I can’t imagine liquor in the stores. I’ve never lived in a state that sold it anywhere but a liquor store.
Pam recently posted..Cheese Tortellini Soup with Turkey Italian Sausage and Kale
What a beautiful & lovely food shop! All of the displayed foods look amazing, very well stocked & pretty too!
Your beet salad is looking very attractiven pretty & amazing too! Delish! x
drooooling! i must have this salad! the cheese and fried shallots sets this right over the edge, delicious!!
teresa recently posted..White Beans with Prosciutto
What a great colorful salad! We really like beets and they must taste so good with the addition of orange slices. Yum!
~Judy
JG recently posted..Happy 109th Birthday, Dr. Seuss!
That looks amazing. I am a bit of a beet addict. I wish my recipes were that creative.
Mrs. Tuna recently posted..The Real Sheldon of Orange County
I LOVE beets! This looks like heaven, I have GOT to try this!
ATasteOfMadness recently posted..Eggnog Brandy Cake
Your salad looks wonderful! I think I could eat beets everyday! Love them.
Erin @ Making Memories recently posted..Birthday Cake Postcard
I love beets and your salad sounds terrific. All the flavors sound perfect together.
Karen (Back Road Journal) recently posted..Thai Green Coconut Curry