Standard Market- Open House March 23, 2012

WESTMONT, IL – Standard Market, 333 E. Ogden Avenue, a new 33,000 sq. ft. specialty food store, announces its inaugural Open House on Sat., Mar. 24, 2012, from 11am to 8pm, with demonstrations and events scheduled around the clock. Festivities will include a Standard Market Chefs’ Chili Cook-off judged by customers and local foodies, wine tastings, “Meet the Farmer” sessions, vendor samplings, face painting, local live entertainment, and prizes on the hour all leading up to the day’s main event, “Standard Market Sweep.”

Schedule of Events:
• 11am-1pm: Local Talent Show (battle of high school bands, local high school cheerleaders and dance teams), balloons & face painting
• 11:30am-12:30pm: Media Luncheon: members of the media are invited to receive a private tour of Standard Market, which will conclude in a complimentary lunch at the Grill. Reservations are required through Heron PR.
• 1pm-5pm: Vendor Fair (Sweet Ali’s Gluten Free Bakery from Hinsdale; Two Fat Guys Bar B Q from McHenry; McClure’s Pickles from Detroit/Brooklyn; Chocolate Twist from Riverside, Local Folks Foods from Indiana; and others) and “Meet the Farmer” events
• 2pm-3pm: Standard Market Chefs’ Chili Cook-off
• 2pm-8pm: Wine and Cheese Showcase
• 3pm-4pm: Standard Market Sweep Game Show

“Standard Market Sweep” will pit three teams against each other in a series of challenges involving fun questions testing product knowledge. The teams with the most points will gain entry into the Scavenger Hunt Round requiring contestants to locate and load items into a shopping basket within 5 minutes. The winning team will receive one (1) $200 Standard Market gift card and all other participating teams will each receive one (1) $50 gift card. Contestants will be chosen through a trivia contest. Trivia questions will be posted on Standard Market's Facebook and Twitter pages and at the Customer Service desk twice-weekly beginning in Feb. For each correct answer submitted, a customer will receive one (1) entry to be considered for the “Standard Market Sweep” game. Six lucky participants will be selected at random from all collected entries to take part in the game. Winners will be notified the week before the event and will choose one companion to serve as his/her teammate for the purpose of the game. Contact Standard Market for Rules and Regulations.

Standard Market is a destination for thoughtfully selected and beautifully displayed fresh and prepared foods. The chef-driven Market features departments laid out to evoke European-style open-air markets brought together under one roof, selling everything from handpicked produce to expertly butchered meats to top-quality fish and seafood. The Market also includes a complete from-scratch bakery, an in-house delicatessen, and an extensive wine and cheese collection, along with choice dairy and pantry offerings. At the heart of the Market is Standard Grill, a sophisticated fast-casual restaurant that showcases seasonal ingredients and the culinary talents of the pedigreed chef team. Chicagoland’s new “celebration of food” grocery store appeals to consumers who want to explore and discover a carefully curated selection of amazing foods made in Standard Market’s kitchens, sourced from local farmers and producers, and brought in from exotic locations around the globe.
The shopping adventure begins in the Farmer’s Market. Temperature-controlled islands piled high with fresh produce are arranged for a sensory, eye-popping experience. The area also features a visually stunning array of fruit and vegetables pre-cut in-house for ease and convenience, as well as a tasty collection of house-made salsas, hummus, and other dips. A fresh-squeezed juice station offers an ever-rotating variety ranging from Clementine Orange to Carrot. The floral section displays not only colorful bouquets and bunches, but also special offerings such as orchids and roses.
The Wine, Beer & Cheese Shop at Standard Market contains over 500 wines, including over 150 selections under $15. Additionally, the department showcases more than 150 cheeses and 150 beers from around the world, with a strong focus on American artisanal offerings. The Shop includes a bar where customers can sample or purchase drinks by the glass, or enjoy wine, cheese, and antipasti flights. The department also hosts weekly events such as “Grilled Cheese & Soup Fridays.” Standard Market features an innovative Cellar Club, allowing members to attend monthly tasting events before taking home two to three bottles, complete with tasting notes and pairing suggestions, selected by the Shop’s seasoned wine experts. Additionally, Cellar Club members gain admission to limited-seating winemaker dinners and other special events.
The Delicatessen serves a range of prepared foods all made fresh on site, serving a variety of dishes behind a pristine and open counter space. Selections range from classics like tuna salad and macaroni & cheese to chef-inspired fare such as beet & root vegetable salad and Thai coconut chicken tenders. Hot fare like baby back ribs and chicken vesuvio are also available, along with grab-and-go salads and sandwiches. Additionally, the Delicatessen offers quality meats and cheeses from domestic purveyors like La Quercia from Iowa and Creminelli from Utah, jamón ibérico de bellota imported from Spain, an extensive world olive set, and house-roasted meats.
A Standard Market highlight is the “What’s for Dinner Tonight?” meal for two, which comes with an entrée and several sides for $15.99–$16.99. Fully cooked dinner selections, which follow a weekly schedule and change seasonally, include comfort foods like Cheese Lasagna, Pot Roast, and Chicken Parmesan. These easy-to-reheat chef-prepared meals—made fresh daily—give shoppers the home-cooked meal experience without the work.

In the Standard Market Bakery, all artisan breads—over 35 varieties—are baked from scratch daily. Offerings include French baguettes, flaky almond croissants, and a variety of focaccia, as well as other hearty batards, rolls, and loaves. For the sweet tooth, the pastry chefs working behind large glass windows compose delights such as peanut butter and jelly cookies, citrus cheesecake, and mouthwatering coconut cake drizzled in passion fruit sauce.
The Butcher Shop features a large selection of USDA Prime and Choice beef (wet- and dry-aged in-house) sourced from Aurora Angus in North Aurora, FreeBird antibiotic-free chicken, and Compart Duroc pork. The department also prepares an ever-changing selection of house-made sausages and house-smoked slab bacons. Customers can choose from a wide offering of pre-packaged meats from Niman Ranch, Nueske’s, and Sausages by Amylu. Furthermore, the chefs in the Butcher Shop have developed a number of gourmet recipes ranging from bacon-wrapped brie & asparagus-stuffed chicken breasts to apple & cherry-stuffed pork chops, available at the counter or in ready-to-bake containers.

In the Fish Market, fresh whole fish and seafood are flown in daily from around the world. In addition to fresh domestic shrimp and sushi-grade salmon, the department also features more exotic fare such as parrot fish, mako shark, and sea urchins. Fish is available both whole and in fillets (all cut down from whole fish on site). House-made items range from smoked fish, seafood soups, and recipes ranging from frutti di mare to a seafood tapas set, all made in Standard Market kitchens. A sushi station, hosted by restaurant-quality chefs, creates endless varieties of maki rolls, sashimi and nigiri to order using the same sushi-grade fish sold in the Market.
In the Chef’s Case customers will find a variety of house-made fresh pastas, including spaghetti, fusilli, and lasagna sheets, each made on a pasta machine imported from Italy, accompanied by home-style sauces such as marinara, bolognese, and white clam. The Chef’s Case is home to many delicious soups and stocks including vegetarian black bean, creamy tomato basil, and chicken spaetzle, all created using original Standard Market recipes. Another popular feature is take-and-bake pizza, made on dough hand-formed in the Bakery.

To complement the multitude of fresh and prepared items throughout the Market, the Pantry and Dairy departments stock the highest quality and best tasting items, whether they are nationally recognized brands or lovingly crafted by local food artisans. Specialty purveyors include Vermont Creamery, McClure’s Pickles, and Noosa Yoghurt. Midwestern area producers are well represented by brands including Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, Kalona SuperNatural, Wild Child Granola, Bron’s Bees, and Vosges Haut-Chocolat. Coffee enthusiasts will find local Intelligentsia and Metropolis alongside offerings from specialty roasters such as Portland’s Stumptown and Durham, N.C.’s Counter Culture. An in-store coffee bar opening in March will feature a selection of these coffees, alongside pastries from the Bakery. A dazzling wall of confections is also worth visiting before ending the shopping journey.
Standard Grill provides a casual, yet sophisticated, dining environment, showcasing inspired cuisine made with quality seasonal ingredients prepared by experienced chefs. Popular items include burgers, all made with a blend of brisket, chuck, and sirloin ground fresh daily in the Butcher Shop and served on freshly baked buns from the Bakery; sandwiches such as the Balsamic Chicken; and salads including the #1 Tuna Cobb, featuring seared tuna sourced from the Fish Market. Rounding out the menu are hand-tossed pizzas; daily soups from the Chef’s Case; the lunchtime favorite Buddha Bowl; and dinner specials, featuring seasonal items such as bone-in filet mignon and grilled salmon. Standard Grill features an impressive fruit-infused water bar; non-alcoholic beverages; and a curated selection of wine, beers, and cocktails. All 500 wines from the Wine, Beer & Cheese Shop are also available with no corkage fee.

A true celebration of food, Standard Market tantalizes patrons’ senses from the first step in the door with visually arresting, thoughtful selections of high quality items at every turn. Standard Market provides customers with a haven for culinary delights, served in an inviting environment that inspires discovery. It is located at 333 East Ogden Avenue in Westmont. For more information, visit standardmarket.com or call 630.366.7030.