Chicago cooking school, with recipes

The Wooden Spoon, 5047 North Clark Street, Chicago, offers evening and weekend classes from $65 per person. For a class schedule or to reserve, call 773/293-3190, or visit woodenspoonchicago.com.

The neighborhood
Andersonville, the neighborhood that's home to the Wooden Spoon, has a retail district restricted to small, entrepreneurial businesses. Along Clark Street, the heartbeat of the neighborhood, bakeries and restaurants dating back to the area's Scandinavian roots mix amiably with contemproary shops and boutiques specializing in everything from Sicilian pastries to Scotch plaid custom upholstery. Here are some favorites:

Scout, 5221 N. Clark, features a well-edited mix of metal and wood furniture with utilitarian origins updated for a timeless, contemporary feel (773/275-5700; scoutchicago.com).

George Lowell, 5123 N. Clark, presents a sophisticated collection of furniture and accessories plus design services aimed at urban living (773/754-8106; georgelowell.com).

City Olive, 5408 N. Clark, delights with more than 70 varieties of olive oils as well as vinegars, carefully selected gourmet foods, and skin care products (773/878-5408; cityolive.com).

Brimfield, 5219 N. Clark, gives "camp" new meaning with its selection of cabin-motif furnishings and comfy furniture custom-upholstered in classic Scotch plaids. 312/593-6414.

Pasticceria Natalina, 5406 N. Clark, bakes up a tempting selection of Sicilian pastries and desserts in this tiny, seductive storefront (773/989-0662; p-natalina.com).

Recipes begin here.