Nicole's Divine Crackers - Media Articles.

Chicago MetroMix

Chicago Tribune - FOOD
by William Rice, Photo by Bill Hogan

Being in the cracker and bread business, Nicole Bergere of Nicole's Bake Shop has a vested interest in party dips and spreads. The tastier and more tempting these creations are, the more her fresh-made products are likely to be consumed. Lately with the fall party season in full swing, she has been experimenting to perfect new recipes.

"You can be so creative with dips," she says.
"I like to make them up off the top of my head using what's on hand in my refrigerator and pulling bottles off the spice and condiment shelf. I made one the other day with cheese chutney and some fresh herbs I chopped up.

There are no fixed rules, she insist, though she does believe that if multiple dips are presented at a party, they should have different textures as well as different flavors.

"A dip doesn't have to be cheese-based and there's no reason not to experiment. I didn't have any dill to go with some smoked salmon, so I used basil and it worked fine. (See Tipsy Salmon Dip) All that's needed really, is the common sense to know what goes together and what clashes. Then when you are blending ingredients, use your nose to smell the mixture. It will warn you if you if you're on the wrong track.

There is nothing ordinary about her all-natural ingredient, no- preservative crackers, to which the names given to the seven versions in the line attest. They are: "simply sumptuous salt," "slightly sensuous sesame" "perfectly peppery people," "oh for the love of herb," "crackin' good cheese," "Chicago fire" and risky rye." They are sold at Whole Foods, Treasure Island, Wild Oats, People's Market and other food stores.
Here are three of Nicole Bregere's recent Dip Creation Recipes > > >

Lerner - The Eat Beat - July 21,1999
by Leah A. Zeldes - Food Editor

North siders may remember Nicole's Bake Shop, which stood a Touhy and Ridge for a decade until partners Nicole Bergere and Grace Colucci moved to larger quarters five years ago to concentrate on their wholesales trade providing breads and other baked goods to the likes of the Ritz Carlton Chicago, Erie Cafe and Trattoria No. 10 selling quiches to local supermarkets and more recently marketing Nicole's Divine Crackers to gourmet shops nationwide.

Now Nicole's baked goods are available directly to consumers again, in a brand new shop. Nicole's carved out of the commercial bakery. Besides breads, cakes and cookies (try the heavenly lavender biscuits) Chef Bergere is serving light lunch fare, including panini and other sandwiches, quiches, chilled summer soups, teas and her own blend of Intelligentsia coffee, for carryout as well as at the bakery.

The pretty little shop offers seating for eight inside and a few more tables outdoors. Located at 1505 N. Kingsbury St., Chicago (off Sheffield south of North Avenue), Nicole's is set back from the street and so a little hard to spot-look for a wrought-iron fence. The shop is open 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and will open on Saturdays soon. Call (312) 640-8883.

Nicole's Divine Crackers 1505 Kingsbury, Chicago, Illinois 60622 Phone 312-640-8883 Fax: 312-640-0988