Eataly Chicago
Eataly made big news when it opened in downtown Chicago on December 2, 2013, and since I was planning to spend the Christmas holiday with my Chicago daughter and family I was particularly interested in all the publicity about it. Before I even had the chance to ask them to take me there they asked if I would like to see it…which of course I would…so we drove in from the suburbs on the Saturday between Christmas and New Year’s Day. We read countless stories about how crowded it would be and several of my Chicago blogger friends told us to expect huge crowds so I was a little apprehensive about trying to see the store a few days before New Year’s Eve shoppers descended on it.
We arrived at 10:30 am and as you can see the store was almost empty. I was so excited that I grabbed my camera and tried to take as many photos as I could while the aisles were clear and I could get some decent shots. I half expected somebody to tell me I couldn’t take pictures, but that didn’t happen. These shots will give you a good idea of what the store is like…huge is the first word that comes to mind. Over 63,000 square feet with 8 restaurants, 7 casual and 1 fine dining. The first week they were open over 120,000 people visited the store and they were forced to close for a day to restock. As expected, it is very pricey but we did manage to purchase pastas and a few Italian imports that were too tempting to resist. They claim to produce 70% of what they sell…the rest is from local sources and imported items. I hope you enjoy this little tour. I still can’t believe I was able to get so many pictures. By the time we left several hours later the store was packed and the opportunity was gone. I’m showing you only a small part of the store, maybe 40%. You will have to explore the rest on your own.
I hoped to see some snow on Christmas Day and, boy, did I get my wish. It was beautiful and very cold, and I was more than impressed by how efficiently Chicago handles cleaning the roads. They use salt, which we don’t here in Oregon, and I have to admit it really works. I managed to fly out on January 4th between snow storms, and I saw on the news this morning that there are many people stuck in airports in the Midwest and East. I’m so thankful to not be among them and I pray they all make it to their destinations very soon. It’s dicey business traveling in the winter.
This post is linked to FOODIE FRIDAY at Rattlebridge Farm.
My friend Joyce from Atlanta/Chicago has been and was telling me how fabulous it is….I have never been to the one in New York…it looks wonderful…all except for that price of $227. was that olive oil or Balsamic vinegar….either way….that’s crazy….the cheese section looked amazing….and happy to hear you got back home in one piece….
Suzanne recently posted..BREAD BAKING AT THE VIKING SCHOOL……5 Hours in Dough Heaven!!
It was balsamic vinegar, Sue. For that kind of money it must be great!
Cathy recently posted..Chicago’s Eataly…a must see when you visit the Windy City
I would love to visit it!
My kind of shop:) while touring..
Foo things..:)
Monique recently posted..La Galette Des Rois~
FOOD things..the d got stuck:)
Monique recently posted..La Galette Des Rois~
I would love to visit, but probably be in big trouble because I would want one of everything. Did you buy any equipment/cookware?
Madonna/aka/Ms. Lemon recently posted..Crème Anglaise and Strawberry Coulis
I just bought a few small food items. I know my suitcase would be full on the way home so I tried to restrain myself. Sure was fun to look at all the beautiful things.
Cathy recently posted..Chicago’s Eataly…a must see when you visit the Windy City
I was there at the same time on the 28th! Fabulous store – wish we had one in Detroit!
I’ve been to a couple of Eataly’s, here in NYC and in Turin, Italy and they are consistently wonderful. So happy that my Chicago friends now have access to all these products. BTW, that price for the aged balsamic is high – but there is nothing to compare with traditionally aged balsamic. It can take as long as 25 years to get a product like that, so the producer needs to recoup his investment. A little goes a long way.
Ciao Chow Linda recently posted..Clams Oreganata
Cathy,
This looks like a wonderful holiday trip with snow and a visit to this special store.
Now I am going to wish for them to open here in Portland. Love markets with
all these specialty foods.
Marilyn recently posted..Monday’s Quotes
Hi Marilyn –
There are many wonderful food markets in Chicago. We have nothing like them here unfortunately. I love the huge ethnic grocery stores. I can just wander the aisles for hours.
Cathy recently posted..Chicago’s Eataly…a must see when you visit the Windy City
I had no idea there was one in Chicago. I will add this to my list for our next trip most definitely! Sounds like you had a great trip (snow and all). Happy 2014!
Debra recently posted..Pumpkin-Tomato Soup with Beans and Chickpeas
I had a great trip, Debra. Be sure to put Eataly on your list for your next visit to Chicago. Happy 2014 to you as well.
Cathy recently posted..Chicago’s Eataly…a must see when you visit the Windy City
This looks WONDERFUL.. Is this the same outfit that has a place in NYC? I think I remember something similar on Pat’s blog. Boy,, would I love to go there.
Glad you made it home safely.
xo
Sheila
Hi Sheila – Yes, its the same. I could have wandered around in there all day. A store like that will never come to my town. It’s way too small. But it sure is fun to visit. Happy 2014!
Cathy recently posted..Chicago’s Eataly…a must see when you visit the Windy City
Oh, what a fun place! I told my SIL that the next time we go to NYC we are going to the Eataly there. I didn’t know there was one in Chicago as well. Fun!. Glad you made it home safe:-).
Becki’s Whole Life recently posted..Five Things I’m (Randomly) Loving From Trader Joe’s
That will be on my list of places to visit the next time I’m in Chicago to visit my son. Not this week though! 🙂
Betty recently posted..Gingered Carrot Soup
What wonderful photos you got Cathy. I visited Eataly in NYC las year and was amazed. It’s hard to describe but you’ve done a great job.
What a great trip! I love exploring markets of all kinds and this will be on my list on my next visit to the Windy City. So nice you got to spend so much time. My family would be rushing me right through!
Abbe@This is How I Cook recently posted..White Bean, Bacon and Kale Soup and Dallas: Are You Working Today?
The Chicago EATALY looks very much like the NYC EATLY. It is always fun to browse the aisles of these stores for authentic Italian products. I always enjoyed the pasta selection.
Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti recently posted..O. Henry: The Gift of the Magi
I was thinking about you and hoping you were able to get out of Chicago. It sounds like you had a wonderful Christmas and New Year’s with your family. Eataly looks like a destination in itself…I’m sure I could spend hours there.
Karen (Back Road Journal) recently posted..Peppers With Lamb And Rice Stuffing
I could easily live there… not Chicago… Eataly 🙂
Karen recently posted..Pumpkin Roll
Looks like you had a fun visit Cathy and also nice you had a chance to take so many great pics! So glad to hear your trip back home wasn’t impacted by all this crazy weather:@)
Happier Than A Pig in Mud recently posted..Multi-Seeded Rolls
I’ll have to revisit your post later in the afternoon–after 5 p.m.. Why? Because it will be time for a glass of wine and a leisurely “stroll” among the aisles of Eately! See you later.
Best,
Bonnie
Bonnie recently posted..Snow and Mulled Cider
Glad you made it home safely! I can’t wait to see Eataly, but it will wait until Spring, which could be in July, the way the weather goes here in Chicago land. I pretty much am hibernating in this bitter cold and snowy weather, except to shovel and snowblow!
What a wonderful place it must be! I’m so glad you had the opportunity to walk through before the crowds arrived. How wise of you to arrive early.
I believe Chicago got even more snow last weekend. We, in Milwaukee, were spared, thankfully.
Susan recently posted..Lentil Soup with Ham and Kale
Wow did you pick the perfect time to go Cathy! Lucky you. I haven’t been back yet but plan to go with my girlfriends soon. The day I went we valet our car and parking was only 14.00. My daughter went on a whim one Friday night and parked across the street in a parking garage and when she left the ticket said 43.00 and that was validated! She said the lines where too long for the valet, so I clearly have to get the parking situation straight before going again. I so wish we could have met but crazy weather and holiday stuff. For sure next time you come out Cathy!
Marie recently posted..Farro and Arugula Salad
how fun and hope your christmas was wonderful, happy new year
Rebecca
rebecca recently posted..Meet Walter- Country Gourmet Traveler
What a fabulous place! My arms would have been loaded with several of those gorgeous loaves of bread. Chicago is an exciting and happening place.
I’m so glad you are finely home safe and sound Cathy. You had us worried there for a while that you might never get out. I enjoy seeing the first snow fall – then once is enough for me. After living in the Poconos for several years early in our marriage, I made my husband promise I would never have to be cold again, and he’s kept that promise. Now we follow summer and the sun 🙂
Sam
Sam @ My Carolina Kitchen recently posted..Revisiting Black-eyed Pea Soup for Good Luck for the New Year
Chicago has an Eatily??? My good friends just moved to Chicago (Naperville) and I’m gong to send her this post and insist she pay a visit. It was kind of amusing. I was on Facebook and my friend Greg posted that he was at Midway airport on the runway getting ready to take off, and it wasn’t but a few seconds later that you put your post up. He was heading to Miami however.
Lea Ann (Cooking On The Ranch) recently posted..Crockpot Country Style Pork Ribs for #SundaySupper
I would love to have walked the aisles with you at Eataly Cathy. I am trying to convince my husband to take a trip to New York this coming summer, but now knowing that Eataly is in Chicago, we may just go there. We have family in SW Michigan so we could make a combined trip. So glad you made it home between snow storms. I remember midwestern snows very well. This weather is crazy. Even here in Florida.
Penny recently posted..Chicken Over Warm Kale and Asparagus Salad
Wow, what a place. I would love to visit it.
That’s awesome, Cathy. I haven’t been to Chicago in years. I’ve been to the one in NYC though…they’re Mario Batali’s aren’t they?
Barbara recently posted..Gwen’s Original Corn Chowder
I am glad you had a good time with your family in Chicago! I guess I should make the effort to go to the one in NYC, maybe in the Spring if I can find someone to go with me!
Thank goodness you got out when you did! I saw on your FB page you had some probs. Glad you are home safe.
I will catch up here. I am taking a blogging break, so I will actually have time to go visit my old friends! Happy 2014, Cathy, may 2014 be kind to us!
Kathleen recently posted..Happy 2014~Let’s Dish
Oh my, but there have been rumors of an Eataly opening here in Los Angeles, and this post just makes me more hungry for the place. What a store! What a post! Thanks for the insider view. And Happy New Year to you!