Food & Dining

Schmaltz Deli

Schmaltz Delicatessen is working to evolve and modernize the “Traditional Jewish Deli”. Although we still embrace our roots of classic Jewish delis of NYC’s Lower East Side.
Our FAMOUS CORNED BEEF and PASTRAMI are served up warm, juicy and delicious. We cook a number of our meats in house,
including our incredible BEEF BRISKET and ROAST BEEF. You would be hard pressed to find better deli meats anywhere. In fact,
we’ve received accolades, awards and recognition for our overall food taste, quality and service.
If you are a lover of lox, we offer the finest buttery & lightly smoked lox served with our own house made cream cheeses
on a fresh made Bagels. Our bagels are traditional New York City style and are boiled, topped, proofed & baked fresh daily in a variety of flavors.

Meitav’s kitchen

Meitav’s Kitchen is a home-style kosher (not supervised) kitchen bringing the bold, comforting flavors of authentic Israeli cuisine to your table.

Every dish is crafted with love, tradition, and fresh ingredients — just like back home.

From shakshuka and schnitzel to savory stews and vibrant salads, Meitav’s menu is all about warmth, flavor, and that unmistakable Israeli touch.

Perfect for Shabbat, holidays, gatherings, or when you simply crave a taste of home.

Homemade. Israeli. Always made with care.

Desiree Chocolates & Desserts

Why Choose Desiree?

Desiree prides herself on creating chocolates & desserts that are truly custom & personal. Whether it’s a chocolate gift, candy box, or an entire dessert display, Desiree works individually with each and every client to capture the exact theme, colors & feel of what they are looking for. When designing gift packages, she personalizes them with names or messages and color-coordinated packaging. For events, her sweet tables & dessert stations are customized from start to finish. Aside from creating top notch personalized desserts, she designs the display at your venue with creative flair & a large array of beautiful display pieces. By adding color, elevations, lighting & custom signage to her desserts, Desiree is able to showcase a presentation that is not only spectacular but most importantly — unique to you.

She will strive for that wow factor every single time!

A Sweet Thyme

🌿 About Gwen

Hi! I’m Gwen Wolken, the founder of A Sweet Thyme — a recipe blog focused on healthy, whole-food cooking that doesn’t compromise on flavor.

For over 40 years, I’ve been crafting simple, nourishing recipes that are gluten-free, paleo-friendly, low in sugar, and always big on taste. From Mediterranean classics with a modern twist to naturally sweetened chocolate desserts, my recipes are made to inspire creativity in your kitchen — without the stress.

I live in Chicago, a city bursting with culinary inspiration. I’m a proud mom of three grown boys, two of whom are married and creative cooks themselves. My love for food started in childhood, learning from my mom, who taught me that cooking is love. She passed down a rich collection of Jewish and Mediterranean recipes that I still cherish — and reimagine — today.

I launched my food career in 2009 through Dove Chocolate Discoveries, where I became one of the top 5 chocolate educators in the country. Yes, I’m a die-hard dark chocolate lover — and I’ll be sharing those indulgent recipes too!

🍽 About A Sweet Thyme

I started A Sweet Thyme in 2019 as a way to share my passion for real food with friends and family. After a brief pause during the pandemic, I relaunched in May 2023, and haven’t looked back since.

My recipes are inspired by:

My Jewish & Mediterranean upbringing
Restaurant visits & reader requests
A desire to make healthy food easy, exciting, and satisfying

You’ll find dishes that are:

Whole food-based and minimally processed
Gluten-free, paleo, or Whole30-inspired
Simple to prepare and tested again and again

At A Sweet Thyme, my goal is to help you feel your best through what you eat — because healthy eating should be joyful, flavorful, and fulfilling.

Food & Dining

Hofherr Meat Co.

Sean Hofherr – Crafting Tradition with Vision

Rooted in generations of butchering heritage and fueled by a passion for culinary excellence,
Sean Hofherr is redefining what it means to honor the past while cooking for the future.

From the steakhouse kitchens of Chicago’s River North to his leadership as Kitchen Director at Stormy’s Tavern,
Sean has built a reputation for bold flavors, meticulous technique, and award-winning signature dishes.
His early apprenticeship at Zier’s Prime Meats shaped his deep respect for craft butchery, which continues to influence every cut and plate he creates.

A proud member of the Butcher’s Guild and Illinois Barbecue Association, Sean’s culinary journey is grounded in family legacy
tracing back to his great-great-grandfather in Germany and his great-grandfather’s original Hofherr Meat Company on Chicago’s South Side.

Today, Sean is on a mission to revive the Hofherr name in Chicago’s rich stockyard history
merging tradition with innovation, and serving food that tells a story.