Home Grown Chicago

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United States
Chicago, IL
Home Grown Chicago

Connecting local chefs with our local community of farmers and producers.
-Local products < 300 mi

09/27/2025

🍔✨ One of the best nights in Chicago’s food scene! The Hamburger Hop at Gourmet brings together some of the most talented chefs from all across the city, each showcasing their creativity and passion in the ultimate burger competition.

This year we had the privilege of having Slagel Family Farm, our Homegrown Chicago partner, as the main burger patty that chefs chose to build their creations. 🌱🍔 It’s incredible to see how this event not only celebrates culinary talent but also helps us showcase and grow our local farmers and producers through initiatives like this.

We were also honored to have two of Chicago’s finest — Chef Joe Flamm and Chef Sarah Grueneberg — join us as judges and emcee for the night, adding even more star power and excitement to the competition. 🌟👨‍🍳👩‍🍳

Year after year, it’s inspiring to see the energy, craftsmanship, and friendly rivalry that this event creates. From bold flavors to unexpected twists, every chef brings their A-game, making it a true celebration of Chicago’s culinary talent.

We’re proud that Sysco Chicago is a sponsor each year, helping support an event that highlights incredible chefs while strengthening our hospitality community. 🙌

Illinois Restaurant Association
Sysco

05/29/2025

🌟 We’re in Bloomberg! 🌟
After years of dedication, countless volunteer hours, and the unwavering passion of our team and community, the Home Grown program is officially in the spotlight — featured in a national Bloomberg article! 🙌📣

What began as a passion project at Sysco Chicago is now a powerful platform highlighting farmers and producers within a 300-mile radius — all offering unique, high-quality products. 🌽🐝🥬

Our mission? Simple:
Support the “small guys”. Amplify their stories. Help them grow — not as a “money grab”, but for purpose. 💚

In the Great Lakes Region, our Culinary Test Kitchens are solving real challenges, like navigating tariffs, by sourcing local and building a stronger, more resilient supply chain. 🧑‍🍳🔁🌎

This feature is a huge milestone and a tribute to everyone who has helped shape this movement. We see you. We thank you. We grow together. 🌱

04/03/2025

"Wow… just WOW! ✨ Yesterday’s Bring Back the Summer Showcase was an absolute success, and it’s all thanks to our incredible homegrown vendors and amazing community! 🌿💛 Events like this remind us why we do what we do—bringing people together, celebrating local talent, and creating unforgettable experiences. Thank you to everyone who showed up, supported, and made the day so special! Until next time! "

09/16/2024

We are proud to partner in another event with the Wisconsin Restaurant Association and 19 of Milwaukee’s finest restaurants for a night that toasts Milwaukee’s vibrant food scene. At Cheers to Hospitality, indulge in a feast of flavors—from exquisite wines to artfully crafted cocktails and gourmet bites—all within the stunning backdrop of Discovery World Museum. As we gather on November 9, we’ll honor the stars of today’s hospitality and nurture the leaders of tomorrow.

09/13/2024

We are excited to announce another new Home Grown partner this week that means “serious business”. Welcome Serious Mary Mix by Elevin City out of Chicago, IL!

“Crafting a Bloody Mary is serious BUSINESS – an art. It’s got to be done right. We found true inspiration tasting so many sensational Bloody Marys at fantastic Diners & Brunch spots around the country …so in 2008 we set out to craft our very own Serious Mary Mix. Ten months later, after countless tastings with neighborhood regulars, Family & Friends (a respectable number of self proclaimed Bloody Afinionados), we found the Magic – A little heat up front & a clean citrus finish - Made in Small Batch , No Preservatives, Gluten Free , Fancy Glass Bottle, Made in Chicago. We are so thrilled to share this with you in crafting your Signature House Bloody Mary.”

09/12/2024

We would like to welcome a new Home Grown partner in Michael’s Premium Melting Cheese, based out of Highland Park, IL.

Developed by Michael’s Grill & Salad Bar (EST 1977) this recipe is designed to melt. Michael’s Cheese Sauce offers any chef a great melting cheese for any recipe.

SUPC - 7318212 in 2/10lb containers.

06/05/2023

New partner alert 🚨

We are excited to announce a new partner in the Home Grown program OMG… It’s Gluten Free. If you are not familiar with OMG… It’s Gluten Free, please see below for details straight from the owner Julie Courzins and visit the Home Grown website for more information.

WOMAN-OWNED BUSINESS
We were founded by a driven entrepreneur, Julie Couzins, who started OMG…It’s Gluten Free when she was diagnosed with Celiac disease and discovered her four children were also gluten intolerant. The original OMG…Its Gluten Free begun as a cafe and carry-out, and it has developed into a small manufacturer selling to direct and wholesale buyers. From our gluten-free family to yours, we want to help those struggling with dietary restrictions and provide them the best gluten free food available.

https://omgitsglutenfree.com/

05/12/2023

We’re headed to Wisconsin! Home Grown products are now available throughout the state of Wisconsin! Checkout the Home Grown Website *link in bio* to view the products available to you!

04/25/2023

Checkout our new website featuring everything about Home Grown, our farmer/producer partners, product lists, partner map and testimonials. Visit the website to stay connected with active partners, new products and updates! **Link in Bio**

01/23/2023

MEET GREG, OUR MASTER SALUMIERE partner here at

About Greg:
quit his day job and booked a one-way ticket to Parma, Italy, the home of Prosciutto, seeking to train under the best salumiere in the world. By chance, he was able to directly learn the ins and outs of the protected secrets of Italian Salumi. Utilizing superior quality spices, meats and curing methods rooted in the old world, uniquely brings another level of Italian quality meats to the US.

Greg Laketek spent summers with family in Italy. His earliest memories are of his grandfather taking him to friends’ farms to eat cheese, salumi, bread, and wine. When Laketek took a brief off-ramp into the world of corporate consulting as an adult, it was just a technicality, a sideways route to a deeper culinary calling.

Back in the States, Laketek graduated from University of Kansas, using his business degree to start a consulting company. Warm Italian summer days still glowing in his heart, a restlessness kicked in, and Laketek found his daily office life less and less fulfilling. Laketek enrolled in culinary school, still unsure what his next step would be. It was only when he and a friend began discussing the lack of quality charcuterie in Chicago that the light bulb finally went off.

Once it went off, Laketek was all in—even seeking out the renowned Massimo Spigaroli for a never-been-done internship at his salumeria. Working alongside Spigaroli at Antica Corte Pallavicina (which also houses two Michelin-rated restaurants), Laketek learned the art of salumi. Four years later, in April of 2013,

Laketek was back in Chicago, ready to open the doors of West Loop Salumi—the first USDA-certified salumeria in the city, serving clients, including

01/06/2023

Slagel provides SYSCO with options for those customers looking for the highest quality, LOCAL products.

From Louis John:

The has been raising livestock in Central Illinois for generations. The farmstead we currently operate (LouisJohn Slagel, my wife Leslie and our children: Branson, Colton, Amandrea, and Declan) is only a mile away from the farm where our great-great Grandfather settled in 1888. Sam Slagel purchased the original farm on November 1st, 1888, and the Slagel family has raised livestock there ever since. My dad, Dennis, my mom, and younger brothers and sisters live and work on a farmstead about five miles from us. We all work together to run a small, diversified farm raising hogs, cattle, sheep, goats, chickens, ducks, rabbits, corn, soybeans, hay, and pumpkins. Over the generations, instead of modernizing all aspects of the operation, we stayed focused on operating a smaller scale farm which focused more on quality rather than mass production. We control every aspect of our operation from breeding and genetics to the feed rations fed to the livestock. By combining the correct factors, we can present you with consistent, high quality, wholesome meat

📷by

12/21/2022

New Texas Hot link Sausage custom made for us locally.

We’ve partnered with Ogden foods, a local sausage maker and smokehouse, to produce a Home Grown branded true Texas hot link made to our exact specifications.

Ogden has been producing naturally smoked meat products for Chicago for the better part of the decade. Their products are produced using old world, artisan techniques.

I’ve toured the factory and this place is a true Chicago gem.

I worked personally with the team at Ogden, making small batches of sausages and reformulating for over and month until we created a perfectly spicy, smoky, and delicious Texas hot link.

There is truly nothing else like this in Chicago.

Made with 80% beef and 20% pork flavored simply with cayenne, thyme, and black pepper. These hot links come smoked, fully cooked, and ready to eat.

Truly,

CHEF 👨🏻‍🍳

Address

Chicago, IL

Website

http://www.homegrowngl.com/

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