Chicago - December 21, 2005

Bake Off

Just Baked Foods

You’ve never been opposed to a little wake and bake.

Of course, that phrase has taken on a different meaning in recent years. Nowadays your morning cravings tend to center around baked foods rather than a baked you.

Time for a hit from Just Baked, the new gourmet food store run by former Mas pastry chef Paula Anast. This friendly Euro-inspired market flaunts copper throughout, from the charming sign out front to the pots hanging in the window. But what really shines is the stuff coming out of the kitchen — everything from Greek orzo salad to venison carpaccio.

Baked mac and cheese loaded with white cheddar béchamel, wild mushrooms, and applewood-smoked bacon is irresistible, as is poached chicken salad with house-made garlic mayo. Prepared sandwiches include the Frenchie (Red Hen bread loaded with Rouge et Noir brie, green apples, spinach, and cracked peppercorn vinaigrette) and the Piggy (served on sourdough with slices of pork tenderloin, spinach, and apple brown sugar mustard).

Your sweet tooth will savor torched-to-order crème brûlées, triple chocolate parfaits, mango sorbet, and cookie dough to go.

It’s the perfect place for any case of the munchies.

Just Baked Foods, 901 North Damen Avenue, at Iowa Street (773-252-1022).