Carnival makes dinner a dream with fresh-cooked meals straight from new kitchen

by Paulette Wittenberg
Special to Inside
Carnival Foods, a neighborhood food market that has become a local institution at Dickens St. and Lincoln Ave. (458 W. Dickens St.), has been at the corner of the grocery business for many years. And now its local fame has by-passed its larger competition because not only does the store carry your usual fare of grocery items, liquor and prepared foods; it also has a gourmet carryout business that will make your dinner dreams come true.
“Now you can work all day, pick up dinner and enjoy these meals at home,” said Arthur Paris, Carnival’s owner. He and Chef Daniel Huebschmann have created a menu that is not only a great value but perhaps under-priced for the meal you will receive. Each dinner entree comes with a choice of a starch, a vegetable and a field green salad with house vinaigrette. For the salad, add on another dollar.
The collaboration on a new menu has just been completed and I must say that after sampling most items, I can highly recommend them; and you can trust the kitchen to put out excellent food consistently, cooked to order with generous portions and fair prices ($12.99 to $16.99).
While the ground floor of the store remains a full service grocery store, Paris has converted a large portion of their second floor warehouse space into a full-scale professional kitchen where fresh meals are prepared to order. “We feel there is a real market here in Lincoln Park for high end, gourmet meals ready to eat,” he said. “And so far the response from our customers has been very positive.”
Their chicken is served three ways: Chicken Limon ($14.99), a chicken breast sautéed in a light egg batter with a lemon chicken reduction, couldn’t be more perfect. The Chicken Picatta ($14.99) is another perfect choice for chicken, sautéed in a light egg batter served with a white wine caper sauce. The Chicken Paisano ($14.99) is a different preparation, this one marinated in white wine with herbs and roasted on the bone.
The Alaskan Halibut ($16.99, available in season) is oven roasted and a wonderfully moist and flavorful fish. I’ve ordered it at least three times and have been thrilled each time. The farm raised Tilapia at ($14.99) is prepared pan seared.
There are three pastas on the menu including Chicken Linguine $12.99) with fresh tomato, asparagus and basil. The Vegetable Fettuccini ($12.99) has yellow squash, zucchini, tomato, asparagus, mushrooms and herbs. The third is the Wild Mushroom Lasagna ($12.99), a lasagna built on the plate with sautéed fresh tomato.
Other items on the menu are a New York Strip Steak; Spedini, thin strips of sirloin stuffed with fresh tomato and herbs then grilled; and the herb Marinated Shrimp, which are the Indian black tiger shrimp, marinated in fresh herbs and then grilled.
With each entree you receive a choice of either a Mascarpone crushed Yukon Gold Potato, a Roasted New Potato, the Lemon Garlic Orzo or for something really exciting try the Wild Rice with Mushrooms.
A choice of vegetable also comes with the meal and you can choose from the Sautéed Green Beans; Spinach with roasted Garlic; or Broccoli with Caramelized Onions and Grilled Vegetables.
The ordering process is easy too. You telephone Carnival Grocery Store at (773) 472-2929 and tell them that you want to order dinner.
You are immediately connected to someone who will take your order and tell you what time to pick it up. When you arrive at the store, it is usually waiting for you, piping hot.
The Gourmet Carry-out Section has been open for a few months and the process runs quite smoothly. Owner Arthur Paris is not a newcomer to the grocery business. He was the owner of John’s Finer Foods, a block away at Sedgwick St. and Armitage Ave., for seven years.
“With all of the big box stores in our vicinity we needed to separate our store from the other big-box retailers,” said Paris. “We know that most Lincoln Park home makers would prefer to prepare their own meals for the family but that is not always an option today,” he said.
It’s going to be tough going out with school back in session, the baseball playoffs on, the Bears, Hawks and Bulls seasons starting, new network and cable programming to catch. So, with a new gourmet carryout in the Lincoln Park neighborhood, pick up a deluxe dinner, relax at home, put your feet up and enjoy the ambiance (no need to tip the waiter!).
Gourmet Food Carry-Out hours are seven days a week from 5 to 9 p.m.