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Food Local

Shopping at the Cheese Market

Shopping at the Marion Street Cheese Market

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Brandon and I had a rare kid-free afternoon, so we went out for a lunch date at the Marion Street Cheese Market. It is a restaurant as well as a market, and after having one of the best meals I’ve had all year (Brandon’s was good, but mine was excellent), we still had some time left before we had to pick up the kids. We decided to browse the market side.

Browsing at the Marion Street Cheese Market

The wine selection is impressive. We don’t drink often, but I do love to see all of the labels and the rows upon rows of bottles.

Wine Selection at the Marion Street Cheese Market in Oak Park, IL

Wine Bottles at the Marion Street Cheese Market

Say “cheese.”

Cheese Selection at the Marion Street Cheese Market in Oak Park, IL

Marion Street Cheese Market

We spent more time than we intended to, reading all of the labels and trying to figure out which varieties to bring back home. We picked two that looked good, along with some meats and olives, and then we got to the really good stuff: the chocolates. We bought two of their fleur de sel caramels, and we picked up a few candies for the kids.

Chocolate Shopping at the Marion Street Cheese Market

Chocolates

We don’t go out often enough, but we did bring everything we needed back home with us to recreate a little Italian night. We can wait until the kids are asleep and pop in a movie, sure, but I’m thinking we ought to take our date to go. With me working at home and Brandon watching the kids all day, getting out of the house is nice.

San Pellegrino, Flowers, and Cheese from the Marion Street Cheese Market

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  • Cheryl
    November 15, 2012 at 8:05 am

    This is off topic, but where did you get that darling dress?

    • DWJ
      November 15, 2012 at 9:58 am

      Yes, I want to know about the dress as well! Super cute.

      • norah
        November 15, 2012 at 10:26 am

        I want to know about the dress toooooooooooo!

    • Making it Lovely
      November 15, 2012 at 11:43 am

      It’s from Madewell, and I added a tights and a thin sweater beneath to make it work for fall/winter.

  • Callie Grayson
    November 15, 2012 at 8:14 am

    My favorite cheese market! I shop there a lot but have yet to eat in the restaurant.
    What a great time for you and your husband!
    Xx
    Callie

  • Erin
    November 15, 2012 at 8:50 am

    And another random query — where are your fantastic boots from?

    • Making it Lovely
      November 15, 2012 at 11:57 am

      I got them last year. I’m traveling right now so I don’t have them with me, but I think the brand was Hive & Honey? They were inexpensive, and though they’re cute and comfortable, the leather isn’t holding up well.

  • Chedva
    November 15, 2012 at 8:51 am

    Sound like a great outing, Nicole! Can you please share the source of your dress?

  • Brittany Lauren
    November 15, 2012 at 9:27 am

    Oh this is such a great post. I would love to visit Marion Street Cheese Market if I was ever in the area! I’m actually quite obsessed with cheese shops and I’m always on the hunt for a good one! Cute dress by the way!

  • Kristina
    November 15, 2012 at 9:37 am

    Sure, your dress and boots are lovely, a usual, but let’s get down to brass tacks: what Was this best meal you’ve eaten all year? Details, please!

    • Making it Lovely
      November 15, 2012 at 11:46 am

      I can’t remember the name! Isn’t that awful? It was part of the brunch menu, and it was braised pork with eggs over easy, avocados, roasted tomatoes, chips, and salsa. I love breakfast and I love Mexican food, so it combined my favorite things into one amazing dish.

  • Brianne Heape
    November 15, 2012 at 10:25 am

    Oooh this seems like a perfect date night! Thanks for sharing.

  • Guylaine Côté
    November 15, 2012 at 12:43 pm

    Hi!
    It’s beautiful and it open the appétit!!!

  • Guylaine Côté
    November 15, 2012 at 12:44 pm

    Did you say open or opens? :)

    • Guylaine Côté
      November 15, 2012 at 12:54 pm

      I’m french speaking and I’m not very good but I can say that I love what you do…

  • Robin-Lynn
    November 15, 2012 at 12:46 pm

    We have a “cheese shop” date every other Friday afternoon. Its nice to look around and pick out a new cheese. Then on Saturday once baby is asleep, we bust out the wine and cheese (usually Applewood smoked cheddar for me, a blue for him) and watch SNL together.

    It’s the little things isnt it? :)

    • Making it Lovely
      November 15, 2012 at 12:59 pm

      That’s a nice date tradition.

  • Jayna
    November 15, 2012 at 12:53 pm

    I love gourmet shops like that, especially for wine and cheese! Glad to see you had fun with the hubs :)

  • casacaudill
    November 15, 2012 at 1:09 pm

    I love everything about your outfit in this post.

  • Jamie
    November 15, 2012 at 1:12 pm

    Ohh, Marion Street is one of my favorite places in OP. My husband and I used to grab dinner there on the regular, before we relocated. I miss it! Make sure (if you’re beer people) to try their Metropolitan Brewery fare on tap – Krankschaft and Flywheel are my favorite. They’re also in the cooler case, and you can (as of recently) also pick them up at TJ’s on Harlem & Lake.

  • Ella
    November 15, 2012 at 1:27 pm

    Nicole, the bit that we can see of your necklace looks so cool! Source?

    And an afternoon of browsing for wine and cheese and munchies with the husband sounds like heaven. I hope it was fun and restorative for you both!

    • Making it Lovely
      November 15, 2012 at 1:40 pm

      That’s the infamous bubble necklace of blogland! I hopped on that trend late, but I don’t care – I still like it a whole lot.

  • Cher
    November 15, 2012 at 2:07 pm

    Oh I love MSCM! I used to live two blocks south of it, and would stop by once a week on my way home from the train to pick up wine, cheese, and CHOCOLATE. I LOVE my new place so much but miss the convenience of being so near the Cheese Market. Have you tried Lake Street Kitchen + Bar? The service has improved since its opening and they have similar, but simpler, fare.

  • Victoria Rosas
    November 15, 2012 at 2:35 pm

    I’m sorry but that dress just stole the whole blog post! A-MAZING!

  • a fellow oak parker
    November 15, 2012 at 2:49 pm

    I love this place and love seeing local places highlighted in the blogosphere.

  • Yelle
    November 15, 2012 at 6:29 pm

    This. Place. Looks. Magical! I would spend every weekend in a shop like this.

  • Audrey
    November 15, 2012 at 7:01 pm

    Sad! The San Pelligrino link isn’t working.

    (PS – Love the dress!)

  • Evii
    November 15, 2012 at 7:32 pm

    Oh my~ wine + cheese + chocolates<3

    By the way, your outfit is too darling~ I love green!

    xoxo
    EV

  • Michelle
    November 16, 2012 at 9:51 pm

    Thanks so much for choosing MSCM for your brunch date! So glad you both enjoyed the meal and shopping. We appreciate the love. – Michelle, GM / MSCM

  • kate
    November 19, 2012 at 10:40 am

    I do love that dress!

  • Mad 4 Madewell. « Quirk On.
    November 20, 2012 at 9:20 am

    […] Dress / 2. Lovelock Clutch / 3. Chelsea Boot / 4. Striped Duet Dress (as worn by Nicole here!) Share this:ShareFacebookLike this:LikeBe the first to like […]

  • Chloe Moon
    November 20, 2012 at 11:40 am

    I could go in debt in about an hour if I went to this market…I would buy one of everything!

  • Dawn
    November 27, 2012 at 9:32 pm

    My husband and I LOVE the MSCM. We don’t live in the area but our wedding reception was at the little hotel down the street. We loved going there so much during the planning process that we stopped in with our photog on our wedding day to take a couple pics in the alcove with all the wine bottles!!