News Chicago
Jordan’s Food of Distinction has been cooking for Chicago weddings, galas and private parties for more than 20 years. Behind the name is Chef Jordan Spritz, a North Shore native who trained at the Culinary Institute of America and cooked under Charlie Trotter, and a family that runs the company together out of a scratch kitchen at 1551 W. Thomas St. in Wicker Park.
NewsChicago first featured the company in October. Afterward, Pam Spritz of the family business answered our questions about how it started, how it works and what it is known for.
From Farmers Markets to Charlie Trotter’s Kitchen
Spritz spent much of his childhood working at farmers markets, where he learned to value fresh, seasonal ingredients and the people who grow them. He went on to cook meals in the homes of family and friends and to work in a private country club kitchen that served events of up to 1,200 guests.
After the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, he worked with celebrated chefs, including Charlie Trotter. “His years in Trotter’s kitchen taught him discipline, precision, and respect for every ingredient,” Pam Spritz wrote. He brought those principles into his own kitchen when he founded Jordan’s Food of Distinction with his family’s support. Today he leads the company as owner and executive chef.
A 42-Acre Farm in Wisconsin
In December 2015, the family bought a 42-acre farm in Portage, Wisconsin, about three hours northwest of Chicago. It brought Spritz “full circle to his farmers market beginnings,” and it shapes the menus: the kitchen sources meats from farms neighboring the property and builds dishes around seasonal produce.
Every Menu Starts From Scratch
Jordan’s does not work from a fixed catalog. Every menu is built around the client’s tastes, traditions, vision and budget, and the kitchen cooks across cuisines. One event might call for an elegant plated dinner, the next for a beloved family recipe or a late-night snack. “We want guests to feel that the food belongs to that particular celebration,” Pam Spritz wrote.
The one dish clients ask for by name is the bacon-wrapped dates. “They are one of those bites people remember and request again,” she wrote.
The service staff is a big part of the experience. Many of them have worked with the company for years, know its standards and know how to work together, which the family credits for the personal touch at each event.
Big Budgets and Tight Ones
Asked about their most memorable event, the family could not pick one. Some events push the kitchen’s creativity further; others ask it to work within a tight budget to make someone’s plans happen. “Both are incredibly rewarding,” Pam Spritz wrote. “What stays with us most is the people: the families we get to know, the milestones we help celebrate, and the trust clients place in us.”
Spritzology for the Bar
The company’s sister brand, Spritzology, handles beverages with the same approach: cocktails, wine and zero-proof drinks chosen to fit the client and the celebration.
How to Book
New clients start with the inquiry form on the company’s website, jfod.com. The team follows up to learn about the event and what matters most to the client, then builds a custom menu and proposal from there. Jordan’s Food of Distinction can also be reached at (773) 278-8111.
Business Details
Website: https://jfod.com
Location