Gutierrez covers the gamut from manufacturing to market. She takes you along to La Criolla, a woman-owned food manufacturing company. La Criolla started in 1957 as a local distributor of spices. Since then other products have been added including beans, peas, olives, olive oil, sauces, and pasta.
Gutierrez also introduces you to one of Chicago's most popular restaurateurs, Geno Bahena. Bahena opened three restaurants in three years including the popular Chilpancingo, and is now ready to open his fourth. His success is an inspiration to many of his employees who are following in his footsteps.
On a larger scale, Gutierrez then takes you to the Maxwell Street Market, which has been a Chicagoland fixture for over 120 years. Every Sunday the market is packed with vendors selling their wares to shoppers enveloped in the sounds and smells that would have you believe you were at a street market in Mexico.
Garcia introduces you to Nancy Garcia Sharp, co-owner of Food for Thought, a catering company that has been in business for 20 years. Food for Thought is one of the premiere catering companies in Chicago and has a client list that includes the Field Museum, Museum of Science and Industry, and the School of the Art Institute. Upon entering Food for Thought, you sense a family type atmosphere, where they attribute much of their success to the fact that they encourage continuing education for their employees.
Baca introduces you to the ProStart Program, which is sponsored by the Illinois Restaurant Association. ProStart is a national school-to-career program that got its start in Chicago. It provides high school students the opportunity to learn about careers in the food service industry. Students gain valuable life and career skills and get to work side-by-side with some of Chicago's top chefs.
"Tapestry Presents: The Ñ Beat" is produced by Lisa Lubin, and will have an encore airing on Saturday, September 20th, 2:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
More info on Ñ Beat from September 13th @ 6:30pm
(Encore Presentation: September 20th @ 2:00pm)
The New Maxwell Street Market
548 West Roosevelt Road
Chicago, Illinois 60606
(312) 922-3100
The Department of Consumer Services
Richard J. Daley Center - Room 208
50 West Washington Street
Chicago, Illinois 60602
(312)744-4006
Fax (312) 744-9089
http://www.ci.chi.il.us/ConsumerServices/maxwellstreetmarket.html
Chilpancingo Restaurant
Geno Bahena
Executive Chef/Owner
358 W. Ontario Street
Chicago, IL 60610
312.266.9525
www.chilpancingorestaurant.com
Ixcapuzalco
2919 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Chicago, IL 60618
773.486.7340
ProStart School to Career Program
Illinois Restaurant Association
200 N. LaSalle Street
Suite 880
Chicago, IL 60601
312.787.4000
www.illinoisrestaurants.org
Food For Thought Catering
Nancy Garcia Sharp/Managing Partner
7001 Ridgeway Ave.
Lincolnwood, IL 60712
847.982.2608
www.foodforthought.com
Chicago Historical Society
Clark Street at North Avenue
Chicago, IL 60614
312.642.5035
La Criolla
Carmen Maldonado/Owner
907-909 W. Randolph St.
Chicago, IL 60607
312.243.8882
