Lula Cafe Chef's Improbable Journey Continues With New Cookbook

WDCB’s Gary Zidek catches up with Lula Cafe co-founder & executive chef Jason Hammel to talk about writing, cooking and his new book, THE LULA CAFE COOKBOOK.

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WDCB 90.9 FM · The Arts Section: Lula Cafe Chef Jason Hammel Authors Cookbook

“The stars aligned in a major way. Being able to enter this space without a huge debt meant a lot of freedom. We were able to try things out, and just be ourselves for years. We also found the farm-to-table movement, or whatever you want to call that, concurrent with our opening. When we opened is when Green City Market first started, and when some of the (other Midwest) farmers recognized Chicago as a potential marketplace for high quality organic fruits, vegetables, meats and other products. That market kind of exploded at the same time Lula did. So, we were so excited about discovering new farmers, being part of this new movement toward knowing your farmers and knowing where things come from.” - Lula Cafe co-owner/executive chef Jason Hammel talking about the different pieces that came into place at the very beginning.

Lula Cafe’s Jason Hammel

A beautiful new cookbook offers readers a glimpse inside one of Chicago’s most celebrated restaurants. The Lula Cafe has been winning over diners since it first opened its doors in September of 1999. Lula executive chef and co-owner Jason Hammel is known as a pioneer in the local farm-to-table movement. The restaurant’s ambitious approach to cooking helped make Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood the culinary destination it is today. The new LULA CAFE COOKBOOK sheds light on that innovative spirit, featuring 90 full recipes and 40 “building block” recipes designed to elevate your cooking in simple ways.

But the 272-page book also offers some insight into the improbable journey Hammel and his wife/partner, Amalea Tshilds, have taken over the past 25-plus years.  When Hammel arrived in Chicago in 1996, his plan was to be a writer. In fact, he came to the city’s Logan Square nieghborhood after working on his masters at Illinois State under the mentorship of renowned author David Foster Wallace. The discovery of a neighborhood spot known as Logan Beach changed everything, and within a few years, Hammel & Tshilds were running a restaurant. Twenty-four years later, Lula Cafe is among Chicago’s most popular restaurants, and Hammel just wrote a new cookbook.

Lula Cafe on a fall day.

The LULA CAFE COOKBOOK is available everywhere books are sold. The book’s author Jason Hammel will be taking part in a book signing event at the Museum of Contemporary Art on Tuesday 10/17. You can find info here. And go to lulacafe.com for more info about the restaurant.