Chef Michael Garbin Shops At Farmer's Market In Federal Plaza
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Chicago's farmers markets attract all kinds of people, including the man who's been running the kitchens at the Union League Club of Chicago for more than two decades.
Michael Garbin, the award-winning executive chef, is a regular shopper at the farmer's market in Federal Plaza.
"We buy about 75 percent of our produce from them," Garbin said, to supply the always-changing, farm-to-table menu at the Union League Club.
This week, he was spotted marveling at a ten pound orange mushroom, WBBM's Nancy Harty reports.
Steve Freeman of Nichols Farm in Marengo showed off the behemoth Chicken in the Woods to Garbin, who estimates he buys two-thousand dollars worth of Nichols' produce each week.
"It has a beautiful flavor to it,' Garbin said. "If you sauté it with some shallots, olive oil, and a little salt and pepper."
Podcast
This is the peak of the season, Freeman said. Tomatoes, sweet corn, melons, apples and other fruits and vegetables overflow from his yellow plastic crates.
"The corn is absolutely beautiful," Garbin said. "The melon is just phenomenal. And they have so many varieties; apples are just starting to come in now."
Garbin suggests sampling each week a new variety of tomato or apple or other offerings at the farmer's market to find your favorite.
Garbin said fresh ingredients help the club compete with Chicago's world class restaurants.
"They can do the same things for a long period of time," Garbin said. "Where we have to keep changing."
Next month will mark Garbin's 24 years at the private club.
In that time, he's served at least four US Presidents and three Secretaries of State.
