Chicago’s own Martin Sorge, a Lincoln Square resident and winner of “The Great American Baking Show,” has turned his love of Midwestern cooking into a new cookbook titled Great Bakes: Modern Classic Recipes from the Midwest. Published on August 4 by Evanston‑based Agate Midway Publishing, the book showcases recipes that blend iconic regional foods with contemporary twists.
Local flavors take center stage
Sorge’s collection includes a Chicago hot‑dog served on focaccia bread, a coffee cake inspired by the now‑closed Swedish Bakery in Andersonville, and a giant cherry pop‑tart made with tart Michigan cherries. He also offers a stollen recipe—a German fruit‑bread hybrid he began making after Dinkel’s Bakery in Lakeview closed its doors.
“I wanted to give this cookbook a real sense of place about being in the Midwest,” Sorge explained. “I featured photos around the city and some of myself in a field of rye down in central Illinois to showcase that life in the Midwest is both beautiful rural farmland and big, complicated cities.”
Roots in family and community
Raised in Fort Wayne, Indiana, by parents who prized seasonal produce and local dishes, Sorge began cooking at a young age and later discovered a passion for baking. His professional background is in economic development and public policy, with experience at the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce, Uptown United, and the Chicago Department of Planning and Development. He says supporting small businesses is a core motivation.
“Small businesses really are the lifeblood of our neighborhoods, especially in Chicago, but also in small towns and rural areas across America,” he said.
From TV competition to cookbook tour
In 2023, Sorge competed on “The Great American Baking Show” alongside two other Chicagoans and emerged as the season’s champion. While he enjoyed the experience, he described himself as “not a very competitive person” and expressed interest in teaching, presenting, or hosting cooking classes rather than pursuing further reality‑TV contests.
Following the book’s release, Sorge is touring the Midwest and other parts of the country to promote his recipes. He will return to Chicago for a book event on October 13 at Women & Children First bookstore in Andersonville. Details are available on his website.
Connecting food, faith, and family
Beyond the cookbook, Sorge writes a cooking newsletter called Great Bakes, where he shares seasonal tips and stories that reflect his Christian faith and commitment to family‑centered meals. The project underscores his belief that food can strengthen community bonds and honor the traditions that shaped his upbringing.
For readers interested in exploring Midwestern cuisine at home, Great Bakes offers a blend of familiar comfort foods and inventive new dishes, all rooted in the region’s agricultural heritage and vibrant urban culture.
Original reporting: Block Club Chicago — read the source article.
