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Store Fri Jul 02 2010
Masi's Italian Superior Bakery
Not every shop can trace its lineage to the Italian village of San Vitaliano, but not only does Tri-Taylor's Masi's Italian Superior Bakery do so, it acts as a living link to the baking traditions first established there. In 1933, when the first iteration of Masi's appeared in Chicago as "Western Avenue Bread," legions of devotees became addicted to their freshly baked breads, taralles, biscottis, and pastries, and have flocked to their doors ever since. And while it looked like the Masi brothers had come to the end of their line back in 2005, long time patrons and brothers Angelo and Jake Saccameno stepped in and have kept the hearth alive.
All of this history can be found on their on their website, but to really understand why Masi's has had such longevity, you've got to make the trek down to Western Ave. and Taylor St. and take in their breads, pastries, and perhaps the finest pizza in the city. Best eaten straight from the tray at room temperature, these densely packed slices with their perfect crust are not the usual fare you're accustomed to eating. Grab some of their pignoli cookies, a bottle of top-shelf olive oil and a filone made of spelt on your way out, and you're good to go. And then in a week or so, you'll be back.
Visit them Tuesday thru Sunday 7 am to 1 pm at 931-33 S. Western Ave.
Leah / July 3, 2010 11:08 PM
Love the history! Must put it on my bucket list.
http://chitownfoodies.blogspot.com/