Red Hen Keeps Focus on Quality, Handmade Bread

Much like in the popular children’s book The Little Red Hen, the Red Hen Bread cafe is all about quality, handmade bread.

Only here, even if customers aren’t contributing to making the bread, they still get to share in eating the countless artisan breads, pastries, sandwiches and more that Red Hen Bread creates.

Red Hen opened in 1996 in the Bucktown-Wicker Park area, and about four years ago opened an Oak Park location. Besides its retail locations, Red Hen’s breads are found in many places throughout the Chicago area by wholesale, including La Scarola and Buona Terra.

“We kept growing into more places because people just wanted the bread,” owner Rose Picchietti said. “It’s truly made by hand all day, we never stop. It’s what we like and what we believe in.”

Rose joined Red Hen after her husband, Robert, got involved early on. Robert is now the president and CEO of the company. Rose brought a strong background in retail, so she oversees the operations in the two Red Hen locations. She never thought she would get involved in the bread business, but said it’s been great joining Red Hen.

“I’ve always had a passion for quality,” she said. “It was a natural match. We’re consistent with what we do well.”

Rose said she thinks Red Hen fits in well in both the Bucktown and Oak Park communities, especially because there seem to be large groups of clients in those areas interested in fresh, handmade products. There’s an authentic and local feel to everything about Red Hen.  

The cafe offers breads, pastries, cookies, cupcakes, tarts, sandwiches, soups, salads and coffee. Rose said the baguettes are some of the most popular items. The sandwiches are also fantastic because Red Hen takes a type of bread and decides to create a sandwich around it, essentially pairing quality bread with other ingredients that make sense. There’s even a kids menu at both locations.

“It’s the perfect place to start your day,” she said.

Visit Red Hen Bread at 1623 N Milwaukee Ave in Bucktown or 736 Lake St. in Oak Park. Learn more at the Red Hen Bread website.