Loaf Lounge
The players Ben Lustbader and Sarah Mispagel-Lustbader. The chefs left their restaurant gigs (she was the pastry chef at Sepia and Proxi, he was a chef at Giant and Chef’s Special) to go all in on bread and pastries.
The bread Country-style sourdough loaves embellished with gourmet twists like roasted ramps or caramelized onions and Gruyère. Start off with the giardiniera bread, which is rolled in sesame seeds and fennel, or the whole wheat bread with polenta and two types of olives.
How to get it A permanent location is in the works; for now, place orders ($5 for small loaves; $10 for large) on Tock or Toast and pick up at Superkhana International (3059 W. Diversey Ave., Logan Square), or order on DoorDash for delivery.
Lyman Ave. Bread
The player Tim Giuffi. A chefturned-stay-at-home-dad, the sourdough savant bakes around 75 loaves a week in a makeshift bakery in his Oak Park basement.
The bread Crusty country-style sourdough loaves made with heritage grains, such as Turkey Red, emmer, and einkorn wheats. This bread is so good, he’s got a waitlist.
How to get it Move to Oak Park, or tap a friend who lives there. Giuffi delivers his loaves in a 20-square-block area on a bicycle outfitted with a breadbox. He also offers pick up at his home. A loaf-a-week subscription is $90 for 12 weeks, or $33 for four weeks. Order on Instagram at @lymanavebread.
The Black Bread Company
The players Charles Alexander, Mark Edmond, and Jamel Lewis. Following George Floyd’s death last summer, Edmond pledged to buy from more Black-owned businesses but couldn’t find a Black-owned sliced-bread company. So in February he and his pals from high school launched their own by contracting out of a Midwest bakery.
The bread Old-school sandwich bread, available in white and honey wheat. Both are perfect for a PB&J or grilled cheese.
How to get it The loaves ($4.99) are available at many small area markets, including food co-op Dill Pickle (2746 N. Milwaukee Ave., Logan Square). You can also order at blackbreadco.com.
BreadBX
The player Ian Savas. The former management consultant launched a company to connect subscribers to better bread during the pandemic and teamed up with a local bakery.
The bread Quintessential sourdough, with a chewy crust and tender crumb, baked in an oblong shape that falls somewhere between a country-style loaf and a batard.
How to get it Deliveries are available within Chicago city limits every Saturday: $12.99 a loaf for weekly, biweekly, or monthly subscriptions, or $13.99 for a one-time single-loaf order. Order at breadbx.com.
That’s delicious, thank you very much
Just had my first loaf of bread BX, the sourdough bread. It was a free loaf because to me 1399 a loaf is ridiculously absurd. This is the best bread I’ve ever eaten in my life and I grew up in France! First day I tried it I just bit off a hunk it’s chewy on the outside but not too chewy, soft it’s on the inside but not mushy. Then I toasted it with butter and dipped it in my coffee and almost cried it was so good. Now when I walk by the kitchen I just grab a hunk and shove it in my mouth without bothering to toast it or butter it or anything. I now believe bread can be worth $15 a loaf. You have a convert!
Hello! We’re so glad you enjoyed the bread and we’re glad to have a convert. When starting breadBX we were very much inspired by the quality of bread in Europe, so it is extremely exciting that it meets your standards! If you ever need help re-ordering or want to signup for reoccurring deliveries, let our team know and we’d be more than happy to help!