{"id":191097,"date":"2025-10-24T08:02:46","date_gmt":"2025-10-24T06:02:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/?p=191097"},"modified":"2025-10-24T08:11:39","modified_gmt":"2025-10-24T06:11:39","slug":"a-night-to-remember-celebrating-rakija-day-in-chicago-with-balkan-bakery-blacklisted-rakija-video","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/a-night-to-remember-celebrating-rakija-day-in-chicago-with-balkan-bakery-blacklisted-rakija-video\/","title":{"rendered":"A NIGHT TO REMEMBER: Celebrating Rakija Day in Chicago with Balkan Bakery &amp; Blacklisted Rakija (VIDEO)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong><em>On October 18th\u2014officially Rakija Day\u2014Balkan Bakery and Blacklisted Rakija transformed our La Grange bakery into a vibrant hub of Balkan flavors, tradition, and innovation. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The evening was a true celebration of Rakija Day, bringing our community together for a feast of the senses\u2014filled with laughter, connection, and the kind of authentic experiences that keep our guests coming back for more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>A Grazing Table Like No Other<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The centerpiece of the night was a stunning grazing table, overflowing with our newly unveiled Balkan charcuterie boards. Guests explored all three signature variations:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Balkan-bakery-Blacklisted4-576x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-100000199058\" srcset=\"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Balkan-bakery-Blacklisted4-576x1024.jpg 576w, https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Balkan-bakery-Blacklisted4-169x300.jpg 169w, https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Balkan-bakery-Blacklisted4-768x1365.jpg 768w, https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Balkan-bakery-Blacklisted4-864x1536.jpg 864w, https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Balkan-bakery-Blacklisted4.jpg 1152w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 576px) 100vw, 576px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Market (vegan):<\/strong>\u00a0A vibrant, plant-based spread with hummus, seasonal fruits, nuts, and Balkan specialties\u2014proving that tradition and inclusivity go hand in hand.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Picnic (pork):<\/strong>\u00a0A savory tribute to classic Balkan gatherings\u2014cured pork delicacies, artisanal cheeses, olives, and accompaniments.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Luxe (beef):<\/strong>\u00a0For those who crave the extraordinary\u2014beef prosciutto, gourmet cheeses, and elegant accompaniments, all beautifully arranged.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>We debuted our new charcuterie options for every occasion:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Balkan-bakery-Blacklisted-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-100000199056\" srcset=\"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Balkan-bakery-Blacklisted-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Balkan-bakery-Blacklisted-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Balkan-bakery-Blacklisted-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Balkan-bakery-Blacklisted-1200x1600.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Balkan-bakery-Blacklisted.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Mini To-Go Box:<\/strong>\u00a0Grab-and-go gourmet, available daily in-store.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Small 12-inch Tray:<\/strong>\u00a0Perfect for intimate get-togethers or family celebrations\u2014available for catering.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Large 14-inch Tray:<\/strong>\u00a0Designed for parties, corporate events, and special occasions\u2014available for catering.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Balkan-bakery-Blacklisted3-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-100000199062\" srcset=\"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Balkan-bakery-Blacklisted3-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Balkan-bakery-Blacklisted3-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Balkan-bakery-Blacklisted3-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Balkan-bakery-Blacklisted3-1200x1600.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Balkan-bakery-Blacklisted3.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>TOGETHER TOWARDS GOURMET SATISFACTION: <\/strong>Owners of Blacklisted Rakija and Balkan Bakery<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Spirit of the Balkans, Bottled<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The highlight of Rakija Day was a guided tasting by Blacklisted Rakija\u2014a brand rewriting the rules for clean, craft spirits. Guests sipped on rare, small-batch rakija made from 100% heirloom, non-GMO, glyphosate-free fruit, sourced exclusively from Serbian family farms.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Balkan-bakery-Blacklisted2-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-100000199057\" srcset=\"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Balkan-bakery-Blacklisted2-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Balkan-bakery-Blacklisted2-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Balkan-bakery-Blacklisted2-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Balkan-bakery-Blacklisted2-1200x1600.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Balkan-bakery-Blacklisted2.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Each bottle is a labor of love, crafted from over 30 pounds of handpicked fruit, copper pot-distilled, and finished with nothing but purified water. No sugar, no additives, no chemicals\u2014just pure, refined spirit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-video\"><video controls src=\"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG_2466.mov\"><\/video><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Blacklisted\u2019s mission is as bold as its flavor:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>&#8220;<em>Luxury meets wellness, meets screw the status quo&#8221;.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Female-founded and independently owned, Blacklisted stands for clean ingredients, transparency, and the courage to challenge the ordinary\u2014one bottle at a time. Their rakija is never mass-produced or corporately controlled, delivering an elevated cocktail experience you can truly feel good about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Balkan-bakery-Blacklisted5-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-100000199061\" srcset=\"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Balkan-bakery-Blacklisted5-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Balkan-bakery-Blacklisted5-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Balkan-bakery-Blacklisted5-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Balkan-bakery-Blacklisted5-1200x1600.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Balkan-bakery-Blacklisted5.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why You Can\u2019t Miss the Next One<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This Rakija Day celebration was more than just a tasting\u2014it was a tribute to heritage, craftsmanship, and community. Guests left inspired, satiated, and already asking about the next gathering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Ready to experience it yourself?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Stop in any day for our new mini charcuterie boxes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Order small or large trays for your next celebration or catering need\u2014choose Market, Picnic, or Luxe to match your style.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Balkan-bakery-Blacklisted1-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-100000199059\" srcset=\"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Balkan-bakery-Blacklisted1-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Balkan-bakery-Blacklisted1-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Balkan-bakery-Blacklisted1-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Balkan-bakery-Blacklisted1-1200x1600.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Balkan-bakery-Blacklisted1.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Explore our full menu and place orders at\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.balkan-bakery.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">www.balkan-bakery.com<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>And don\u2019t forget to follow us and Blacklisted Rakija for the latest on future tastings, new products, and exclusive events.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><em>We can\u2019t wait to welcome you to the next unforgettable night at Balkan Bakery!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Balkan-bakery-Blacklisted6-576x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-100000199060\" srcset=\"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Balkan-bakery-Blacklisted6-576x1024.jpg 576w, https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Balkan-bakery-Blacklisted6-169x300.jpg 169w, https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Balkan-bakery-Blacklisted6-768x1365.jpg 768w, https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Balkan-bakery-Blacklisted6-864x1536.jpg 864w, https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Balkan-bakery-Blacklisted6.jpg 1152w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 576px) 100vw, 576px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Article: <\/strong>Promo <strong>Photo: <\/strong>Balkan Bakery \/ Blacklisted rakija<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On October 18th\u2014officially Rakija Day\u2014Balkan Bakery and Blacklisted Rakija transformed our La Grange bakery into a vibrant hub of Balkan flavors, tradition, and innovation. The evening was a true celebration of Rakija Day, bringing our community together for a feast of the senses\u2014filled with laughter, connection, and the kind of authentic experiences that keep our [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":191099,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"newspack_featured_image_position":"","newspack_post_subtitle":"","newspack_article_summary_title":"Overview:","newspack_article_summary":"","newspack_hide_updated_date":false,"newspack_show_updated_date":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[9316,9317,45,9319,583,9318],"class_list":["post-191097","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business","tag-balkan-bakery","tag-blacklisted-rakija","tag-chicago","tag-la-grange","tag-serbian-food","tag-serbian-rakija","entry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Serbiantimes.info EN","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/191097","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=191097"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/191097\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":191098,"href":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/191097\/revisions\/191098"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/191099"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=191097"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=191097"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=191097"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}