Located in the Ogilvie Transportation Center, the new Chicago French Market (131 N. Clinton St.; 312-575-0306, chicagofrenchmarket.com) is a welcome addition for Loop commuters and nearby concrete-canyon dwellers. Since the indoor market’s more than two dozen kiosks offer a little bit of this and a little bit of that, we organized the vendors we liked by type: breakfast, lunch, grocery shopping, and gift sellers.

Photograph: Anna Knott

Croissants from Vanille
 

BREAKFAST

Both the perpetually late and the chronically underbreakfasted are in luck: There’s plenty here to grab on the go. The perfectly crispy-on-the-outside cinnamon crumble muffin ($2.50) from Sweet Miss Giving’s (312-575-0212) comes with a side of philanthropy: The bakery donates part of its proceeds to HIV/AIDS outreach. Delightful Pastries (312-234-9644), a Jefferson Park staple and Old Town newbie, has its sour cherry Danishes at the western end of the market. A bite of the almond croissant ($2.70) from Vanille Pâtisserie (312-575-9963) proves why it’s the best in the city. Feeding the office today? A fresh chocolate chip coffeecake ($6) is wrapped and ready at the Polish-owned Provo’s Village Bake Shoppe (312-207-1261). If you have time, try a hot wheat crêpe (from $3.95) at FliP Crêpes (773-321-0210).

Photograph: Anna Knott

Gourmet banh mi from Saigon Sisters
 

LUNCH

Suddenly this corner of the Loop offers more midday possibilities. At Chicago RAW (312-831-2729), the fresh-food enthusiasts Polly Gaza and Carole Jones churn out kale salads and a grapefruit spirulina smoothie ($8). Nearby, Saigon Sisters (312-496-0094) assembles a savory pork belly banh mi ($7) that, while delicious, has an unfortunate name: The Porky. Located next door to each other, both Fumaré Meats (312-930-4220) and Pastoral (312-454-2200) make sandwiches to order. And the Netherlands native Jeroen Hasenbos opened Frietkoten, an Amsterdam-style frites shack that also sells Belgian beers on tap and in bottles.

Photograph: Anna Knott

Fancy cheese at Pastoral
 

GROCERY SHOPPING

The selection of hard-to-find fruits and vegetables—such as fennel, kohlrabi, pomegranates, fingerling potatoes, and mangoes—at Produce Express Company (312-454-4540) fills a void in the neighborhood. Chicago Organics stocks organic produce, dairy products, and some meats. For major meat shopping, City Fresh Market (312-575-0230) carries Tallgrass brand grass-fed beef, Amish chickens, and fresh-never-frozen fish. Go to the Wisconsin Cheese Mart (312-234-9900), an outpost of an established Milwaukee cheese store, for curds and years-aged Cheddars.

Photograph: Anna Knott

The goods at Pop This!
 

GIFTS

Off to a dinner party straight from work? Stop at Pastoral for an interesting bottle of wine and a wedge of fancy cheese. Abbey Brown Soap Artisan (312-775-9110) sells its line of handmade organic soaps and candles. Canady Le Chocolatier (312-454-8700) can box up a custom mix of its exquisite candies. Necessity Baking Co. (312-382-9600), a farmers’-market favorite out of Highland Park, sells artisanal boules and foccacia, but look at its cute vinyl shopping bags, too. Pop This! (312-775-9028) makes a mean kettle corn; we also liked its messy-but-delicious cheese-covered caramel corn. No French market would be complete without a flower vendor: Les Fleurs (312-463-1111) smartly sells lovely bouquets, ready to go.

Photograph: Anna Knott