Marijuana Infused Giardiniera Is Now For Sale In Chicago Because Jim Graziano Is A Certified Genius

Chicago Eater - J.P. Graziano and nuEra are unleashing GiardinuEra, a limited-edition cannabis-infused version of Chicago’s preferred spicy pickled condiment.

Chicago-style giardiniera is a product of immigrants and dolloped on Italian beef, burgers, pizzas, eggs — everything. 

J.P. Graziano, one of the last independent businesses along Randolph Street in West Loop — once a haven for local business and now overridden with national chains — is known for its Italian sandwiches and packaged goods. 

They ship giardiniera all over the country ensuring folks can enjoy a little bit of Chicago away from the city. So why would the family-owned business want to get tangled up in the cannabis business?

Jim Graziano says a long-time customer named Alex, who works at nuEra, recently stopped in for a sandwich. Alex asked if Graziano was interested in a collaboration: “Coincidentally, I’d been tooling around the idea of getting into cannabis,” Graziano writes.

The two set up a meeting and the idea bloomed.

NuEra will also allow customers to pair the infused condiment with one of Graziano’s Italian beef kits. This super-charged pickle will only be available in Illinois at all nuEra locations and select other dispensaries. It’s $14 for a 4-ounce, 25mg THC-infused jar made with Grazizano’s hot giardiniera recipe spiked with THC. 

Jaramillo adds that GiardinuEra is the perfect holiday gift for folks hard to shop for — Carmy Berzatto probably wishes he had some to calm down: “I guarantee you they don’t have infused GiardinuEra in their cupboard,” she adds.

An idea so good that I'm honestly a little surprised/disappointed I didn't see it coming sooner. Like when Playstation first debuted the PS2 in the early 2000s with Eddie George on the cover of Madden 2001 and they included juke-move functionality. One of those groundbreaking moments in life when you realize things are going to start changing much better and faster in life. From graphics to streaming capabilities and online play. Everything started with that PS2 and I think the exact same when I find out JP Graziano is dealing marijuana infused giardiniera product. This is just the beggining. 

At 25mg you have plenty of ammunition to get extremely high in one sitting or spread out the buzz over a couple beefs. And admittedly, about half the jar would do a remarkable job on most of us. So at $14, you're talking about a sensibly priced buzz and that's before we even consider the fact that we're talking about world glass giardiniera. 

So good that it's on the shelf at EATALY (non THC giard) right there with the imported olive oils and truffle salts. Tuscan sun dried tomatoes right next to 901 W Randolph peppers. Do you need more credibility than that? The peppers belong on the field against anybody else in the world. They're simply that good. 

Now come back and remember we're infusing these peppers with local cannabis and it really ties out beautifully. And just in time for the holidays no less? Treat your uncle Gary to an 11am snack for the Lions game that all but guarantees a subdued conversation over Turkey. Or maybe a little kick to Aunt Nancy's gravy dish? Or you want to spoon feed yourself into a Cowboys 2nd half nap. Whatever the move, the world's your creamy little oyster and I think it needs some GiardnuEra. 

You can get it in Chicago at the nuEra Dispensary at 1308 W North Avenue which is by the Home Depot and right off I-90 with plenty of parking. 

They're also at Dispensary33 on Randolph and Zen Leaf on Halsted.  Go support a couple of local guys that care about your taste buds.