This week’s Made in Chicago brings us new flavors of an ancient treat.
Diane Joseph grinds pistachios from California in a West Ridge kitchen.
The owner of Sheekar Delights explains Sheekar means “sugar” in Assyrian.
Joseph is first-generation Assyrian and grew up in the northern suburbs baking baklava and other Middle Eastern treats with her mother.
When she decided to go into business selling them, she got more than permission from her parents.
Joseph says her dad “pulls out an envelope and in there he had creative marketing pieces, pictures of my mom’s baklava. They were going to call it Marge’s Baklava. They were going to do like a baklava delivery.”
Sheekar Delights began in the Northfield farmers market in 2010 and spread to others in Evanston, Andersonville and Logan Square.