Local Foods Grocer & Distributor

We have some very exciting news on the whole-animal butchery front…

Former Head Butcher at Butcher & Larder, Jacob Calthorpe, is back with a new whole-animal project…

Introducing ! If you’re looking for high-quality, ethically raised, and sustainably processed meat in Chicago, be sure to check them out.

Swipe to see Cut Once offerings for Beef, Pork, Lamb, and value-added products, available for pickup at Chicago farmer’s markets or for delivery!

Want to connect and shop in person? Drop by the Uptown Farmers Market on Wednesdays, or the on Saturdays.     

Almost everything on the menus will be available at the market, but preorders for market pickup (or delivery) are the best way to make sure Cut Once has what you need! And for those missing the B&L jerky… Jerky will be available at the markets!

Give them a follow to stay up-to-date on their offerings, and email them at [email protected] with any inquiries or to place an order.

Many of you have been asking how you can continue supporting and accessing Local Foods products. Distributing the Best of the Midwest to Chicagoland restaurants and food operations has always been the core of Local Foods business.

The independent restaurants highlighted in our post barely scratch the surface of who we work with - from restaurants to university dining, retail grocery stores to caterers. If you're committed to supporting our mission, please ask your favorite restaurant; "Do you purchase products from Local Foods?" Or, if you have a question about a specific restaurant, feel free to DM us!

Thank you for continuing to support local food systems, the farmers, ranchers, artisans and all those who continue to advance our cause!

Looking for access to pork and beef?

We recently expanded our Wholesale Whole Animal Program, offering premium beef and pork raised sustainably by LaPryor Farms in Ottawa, IL to our retail and restaurant wholesale customers.

Swipe for more details –

Yesterday marked the final day of operations for the retail side of the Local Foods Market and Butcher & Larder. These past 8 years of growth, support, and community have been nothing short of amazing – we thank you for your persistent support of local food systems in Chicago.

A lot of you have asked how you can continue to support the Local Foods mission. And although our retail chapter is coming to a close, our mission continues.

The wholesale side of local foods – the side that connects local vendors and farmers with Chicago restaurants, school systems, and retail stores – is continuing regular business and is growing each year.

Moving forward, this platform will serve as a way to keep you all connected with the Local Foods mission. We will continue to highlight local vendors, chefs, butchers, restaurants, and other businesses within our Chicago network, connecting you, as always, with the best of the Midwest.

A final round of updates from the market and the butcher.

Another round of updates.

Thank you all so much for your support.

A round of updates concerning Local Foods and Butcher & Larder.

Thank you for your support of Local Foods Market and Butcher & Larder over the past 8 years. Our distribution business is still going strong and will continue to supply your favorite restaurants with the Best of the Midwest.

We will continue to post information regarding our sale throughout the month, so keep an eye out for more information.

Avoiding the Valentine's Day restaurant rush and opting for a night in? We have incredible cuts of dry-aged steak, foie gras, and many other elevated options that are sure to impress your date. ⁠We’re open from 10 until 7 tomorrow!
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👀Swipe for the most delicious OG cuts

Introducing Butcher & Larder's new line of house-made marinades: the perfect way to impart flavor before searing, grilling, baking, or roasting your favorite cuts.⁠
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Be sure to swing by or shop these marinades online!

Reminder that we are officially OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK, and there’s nothing stopping you from picking up our fresh butcher sandwiches, prepared daily!

The gorgeous samich featured above is our Pastrami. It’s loaded with B&L’s house-made capocollo & pastrami, topped with provolone & arugula, slathered in a giardiniera-aioli, and sandwiched between a delicious, crusty bolillo by ⁠🤤🤤

New produce drop😤

Whoever said winter was a bad season for fruit & veg clearly hasn’t tried ninja radish before. We are absolutely loving all the exciting winter citrus, root vegetables, and bitter greens we have in right now!

Come and claim your goodies now, we’re open all weekend🥕🥔🍓🍐

We’re doing one more giveaway before the year is over!

This one goes out to all the folks who simply don’t want to leave the house after the holiday season. We get it — the holidays are crazy busy, and you deserve a chance to stay in, throw on those sweats, and relax. And we want to help you out — we’re giving away some of our all time favorite stay-at-home foods.

To enter, tag some friends that you’d love to stay in with. 1 tag is 1 submission, and multiple tags are allowed. For an additional 5 submissions, post this to your story. The giveaway ends this Thursday, December 29th at 8:00 pm, when the winner will be announced. ⁠

Pickup will be available Friday, December 30 and Saturday, December 31.

We know Christmas & Hanukkah aren’t over yet, but it’s never too early to start prepping for those New Years parties!

From the finest butchers cuts to deliciously decadent, house-made accoutrements - our holiday store is totally loaded & ready for your preorders!

Preorder via the link in the Local Foods’ bio - preorders close Monday, December 26th at 7pm🎉

⚠️HOLIDAY GIVEAWAY ALERT⚠️⁠
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This holiday season we're giving away a decadent at-home Steakhouse Dinner for two! Enter to win an expertly raised, dry-aged bone-in ribeye, ethically & sustainably raised foie gras from , beef bone marrow, house-made demi glace, and blue cheese from a local creamery! ⁠
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To enter, tag the person that you'd love to share this dinner with in the comments. 1 tag is 1 submission, and multiple tags are allowed. For an additional 5 submissions, post this to your story. The giveaway ends December 16 at noon, when the winner will be announced. ⁠
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Pickup will be available at Local Foods (427 W Willow St, Chicago, IL) between 12/16 and 12/19. Best of luck.

GoldenRod - a washed rind, mixed milk cheese from - is something we’ve been seriously obsessing over lately! It’s decadently creamy - a firm center with gooey edges, the flavor is buttery and slightly ye**ty from the local Belgian Stule Saison used to wash the rind. It’s absolutely perfection on the cheeseboard, and is ideally served alongside some fancy crackers & a fruity jam to cut through the cream.

Our Holiday Store is officially open from now until Sunday, December 18, and we have a selection of the most decadent butcher’s cuts available, guaranteed to make any holiday celebration lavish.

Sustainable and top-quality meat hand cut by our highly experienced butchers – if there was ever a time to treat yourself & your loved ones, it's now.

So don’t hesitate, place your order with us via the link in the ’s bio! Happy Holidays💛

You have until TOMORROW at NOON to place your Thanksgiving preorder, and our Holiday Ham is one of those dishes you really can't get anywhere else. ⁠
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Our local ham goes into a brine of honey, molasses, red pepper, herbs, and garlic, and is slowly smoked over a mix of hickory, oak, and cherry wood. It's smoky, a little sweet, and super juicy — a real crowd-pleaser.

Place your preorder at holiday.localfoods.com

THE WAIT IS OVER! is officially on our shelves once again! Original, Chocolate Mousse, and Strawberry Cheescake! Come and get it before they’re gone - because you know they’ll go fast.

Whether you've talked all things charcuterie, cheese, or wine with Mickey, odds are you've left the conversation feeling a little bit wiser & happier than when you started. ⁠
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And for those of you who don't know him, it's our pleasure to officially introduce our resident cheesemonger and whole animal butcher, Mickey! ⁠
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Mickey has worked in kitchens and restaurants his entire life, from washing dishes as a kid to eventually working with butchers. Mickey's dream is to raise his own animals one day, to give them the respect they deserve. ⁠
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His favorite cut is the Denver cut, which he says is the best steak on the animal. ⁠
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Mickey’s all-time favorite cheese at Local Foods is an aged, alpine-style cheese called Pleasant Ridge Reserve by . ⁠
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And finally, Mickey left us with his best tips for cheese lovers everywhere: ⁠
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"Please let that cheese come up to room temp before serving it. You'll be shocked at the difference it makes! And, we're very blessed in the midwest to be surrounded by world-class artisanal cheese. Check what creameries are around and check where to find their cheese."⁠
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And speaking of local cheese, Local Foods carries nearly 100 local cheeses – all from the Midwest (with the exception of one from Connecticut, and 3 that are imported!)

Why do we source our birds from for your Thanksgiving table? Because, quite frankly, our customers deserve the very best. And Ferndale Market – an independent, 3-generation family farm in Cannon Falls – has been dedicated to humanely raising turkey since 1939.⁠
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It's turkey without shortcuts – all Ferndale turkeys are pasture-raised, naturally processed, and free of antibiotics and growth hormones. ⁠
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And you can preorder your turkey right now (along with other fantastic, locally-sourced, and handmade Thanksgiving dishes), via the link in our bio!

Local Foods Grocer & Distributor updated their business hours.

Spring Cleaning Clearance! 25% off select grocery items! Goes until everything is gone!

*excludes and our produce department.

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The seasons are changing and so are our store hours!

This summer we will be operating
Sunday + Saturday: 10am-6pm
Monday: 10-7
Tuesday + Wednesday: CLOSED
Thursday + Friday: 10-7

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We are super excited to announced that we are bringing In Store Tastings back to Local Foods!

It’s been a long time coming but we are happy to be able to invite you into our store to meet our awesome vendors and taste all of their amazing products!

First on our schedule is ! Come mix and mingle with Dee (co-owner) this Saturday from 12-2pm. Come try these amazing mixers on their own or in a cocktail!

What better way to spend your Saturday?!

Shop for gifts that mom will LOVE!

Mother’s Day is around the corner. Shop locally and support Chicago vendors and businesses in the Midwest.

We will be fully stocked with Floral Bouquets from , Local Chocolates, Cards, and much more!

“Named after the lovely goat on our label, Tea Rose is a breath of Spring.” - Capriole Goat Cheese]

With its fresh, bright curd, its dusting of fennel pollen, and its shower of herbs and aromatic flower petals, Tea Rose honors the optimism and renewal of Spring.

This Chèvre invites some floral and herbaceous pairings—from light, floral white wines to flowery teas and tisanes.

Capriole Goat Cheese] has been crafting goat cheese by hand in Greenville, Indiana, since 1988 and it’s truly exceptional.

Swing by our cheese counter to grab this gorgeous cheese today!

The Public School Blend by is a great reason to drink more coffee! We offer this Fair Trade, organic-certified coffee in our market. Now your passion for top-quality coffee can support Chicago’s quest for better educational opportunities throughout the city!

A portion of the proceeds of the sale of this coffee is allocated to support selected Chicago Public Schools.

Happy Earth Day!

Earth Day is a day set aside to celebrate the Earth, learn about the environment, and promote conservation but for us, everyday is Earth Day.

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