OyChicago articles

Christina Noel Photography

Cleetus Friedman has had two professional lives. First he spent years as an actor performing improv and in solo shows across the country. Nowadays, the stage for Cleetus is his monthly Supper Clubs. City Provisions is a delicatessen meets catering company with monthly supper clubs where Cleetus and his staff work hard to provide local, sustainable, organic fare to their clientele. In their world of catering they pride themselves that, “With 48 hours notice [they] can do just about anything.”

So whether you love yourself some local, organic fare, spend summer nights outdoors with strangers or look alike for Chris Daughtry, Cleetus Friedman is a Jew You Should Know!

1. What is your favorite blog or website?
I read the Chicagoist daily. I use Twitter and Facebook to stay on top of things these days. Flipboard on my iPad rocks. I aggregate these [sites], plus wired, uncrate, bon appetite, and more.

2. If time and money were limitless, where would you travel?
Japan, then Africa. Does the moon count as an answer?

3. If a movie was made about your life, who would play you?
Chris Daughtry— it would be his entry into film from music.

4. If you could have a meal with any two people, living or dead, famous or not, who would they be?
Everyone asks this question and I can never pin it down.
Richard Pryor— one of my biggest comedic influences since I was a kid.
James Baldwin— a literary influence.
Chuck D— one of the greatest lyricists of all time in the world of hip-hop.
Rick Bayless— although I consider rick a mentor and we chat frequently, it would be great to sit down and actually have a few hours to talk and shoot the shit about food, farmers, and the biz.

5. What's your idea of the perfect day?
Lately, my perfect day has been Sundays, hanging out with my wife and kids. It has become so rare that I see them due to my schedule. At work, my perfect day is the farm dinner days. Having a cigar by the bonfire, watching 40 people laugh and party that were all strangers 10 hours earlier is the greatest pleasure.

6. What do you love about what you do?
Everything. I have created a company where I look forward to coming in each day. I can work 80 hours in a week and still look forward to coming back the next day. Every aspect of working with local farmers & producers, to my staff, to our product...it's all about passion and I love what I do.

7. What job would you have had if not the one you have now?
A stunt man, car driver.

8. What's your favorite Jewish thing to do in Chicago?
Does eat corned beef count?