Cleveland, Toronto, Montreal... all cold weather cities with far better markets.

I'd give up 30 varieties of tomatoes at our market if you could just get some decent fresh meat.

I think it all comes down to the need for a permanent bricks and mortar location for Green City. I'm sure that'd allow for a broader array of food products.

Think about the Philadelphia Reading Terminal Market and San Francisco's Ferry Plaza Market. Indoor markets with many food vendors. They aren't all produce, but you have cheese, pies and jams, meat, ice cream, spices, etc. On "Market" days the Ferry Plaza is surrounded with produce, etc. like our markets, but on other days it's still open, just without all the fresh green foods.

I don't think I've lived a sheltered life, having grown up and resided here in Chicago for almost 60-years now, but I don't think street food/street (prepared food) vendors have been much a part of the culture of the city and its residents over those years as might be suggested in some of the comments here.

The only street food vendor I remember from my first 16-years, living in the West Engelwood neighborhood near 69th & Ashland Ave., was the old Italian man who'd wheel his hot dog cart down the street almost every night at 9 p.m. and park it across from the fire house at 69th & Justine (he'd head for home at 1 a.m.). He'd stop at the steps to our front porch when he passed by, and we'd all get a Tom Tom Tamale or hot dog. We had no other street vendors I can recall. There was the vegetable vendor, though, the man who drove his old truck through the alley calling-out his presence - but I put him in the same category as the Pine Crest Dairy truck that would make the rounds through the neighborhood almost daily. The street food I'd see was mostly at the old Maxwell St. Market, where I worked almost every Sunday a.m. for two or three years.

I've been on the North Side of the city since the early to mid-1970s and haven't, over the years, seen many vendors. The influx of Mexicans into our community has brought the vast majority of vendors I've seen. On a daily basis when the weather's nice I see a couple of paleta carts moving down sidewalks all over the North Side. I see, too, the tamale and elote carts. On Devon Ave., in front of a couple or several of the fruit/grocery stores, I see store employees selling peeled mango on a stick, freshly-squeezed cane juice and other produced prepared for individual consumption. I don't, though, see other ethnic groups with food carts.

Most of the time, regulatory bodies promulgate health and safety rules because a need has been demonstrated. I lived in Mexico City for six years - it's a environment with countless street vendors with food. It's also a city where there's an epidemic of gastro intestinal problems and a high rate of Hep. A. Standards of hygiene there are virtually non-existent (amongst the street vendors), and there's little or no regulation by the local government. I can accept the regulations we have with little difficulty.

I don't see a pent-up (or the strong possibility of any other) demand for more street (prepared food) vendors in the city. "Farmers Markets", though, is a different situation - I think there's enough support amongst consumers in the city to sustain a couple of really good ones.

Findlay Market - Cincinnati, OH





Moore Street Market - Dublin, Ireland

I don't think I've lived a sheltered life, having grown up and resided here in Chicago for almost 60-years now, but I don't think street food/street (prepared food) vendors have been much a part of the culture of the city and its residents over those years as might be suggested in some of the comments here.

Well, considering how much of your life has been lived under the street-neatness-freak Daleys (first elected 53 years ago), my guess is you'd have to be 70 or 80 to really remember a time when there were street vendors all over Chicago. As with the reputation of Chicago as a late-night, wide-open, toddling town, that was long ago in another country.

Permanent markets are a bit of a different animal. Last year I visited Cleveland's West Side Market. I haven't been to the Milwaukee Public Market yet, but my understanding is that it's similar, albeit considerably smaller than Cleveland's. What those markets primarily offer is the convenience of having everything under one roof: produce, meats, baked goods and sweets, etc. (FWIW, I thought the quality of the produce and meats in Cleveland's market was top-notch, similar to our best stores for those items, while baked goods and sweets were mediocre, and that's being kind.) While we really don't have anything like that here in terms of the numerous purveyors, Fox & Obel comes close in terms of the quality and variety (at a high price, to be sure). Outside of F&O, you lose the convenience of one-stop shopping, but you can still get all the same items by stopping at specialty stores. For example, in the near northern suburbs, you can hit Marketplace on Oakton for produce, Zier's for meats, the Spice House for spices, etc. It would be nice to have everything under one roof like in Cleveland, but I don't feel like we can't fill an identical shopping basket with several stops here.

However, I would still kill for a pastry shop offering top-notch quality and greater variety than those we already have.

Permanent markets are a bit of a different animal.

Well, and the real difference to me about the Cleveland market is, all that fruit comes out of boxes from Florida or Chile or wherever. It's not at all doing the same job as Green City, with its firm commitment to upper-midwest farm products; it's more like the wholesale markets on Randolph. I wish we had a permanent market like Cleveland's, but doing roughly what Green City does, not competing with Jewel on Sunkist oranges and Chiquita bananas.

(None of this is to say that the Cleveland market isn't way cool and worth a visit, particularly for meats, 25 flavors of pierogi, and general cool atmosphere.)

leek wrote:Think about the Philadelphia Reading Terminal Market

Reading Terminal Market is awesome, but very few people go there to shop -- they go there to eat. There's almost no fresh produce, and what little there is is of mediocre quality and uncertain origin. Meat and seafood is well represented though, some of it very good.

Yesterday, around lunchtime, I saw a Jamaican catering truck selling his wares on the southeast corner of the Sears Tower. Didn't stop and don't even remember the name.

Also there is a thread about a catering truck catering to the African and Middle Eastern cab drivers somewhere south of the river and east of Michigan Ave on the upper level. They serve a variation on the pastie, but spicier. Good goat stew.

These coupled with the elote and tamale vendors at the Hispanic supermarkets and the vendors at Maxwell St Market indicates there is a vibrant but by no means stellar (as compared to other cities) street food market here in Chicago. Do not forget the almost weekly neighborhood festivals in Chicago. Lots of booth (not quite street) food there.

You just need to know where to look.

I do miss the hot dog vendor that used to be outside of the Drivers Facility on Congress. Mmmm... Steamed hot dog and bun with a tamale or two.

Also my bride and I did have a dog or two from vendors in NYC years ago and thought they were pretty good! But then again I am a sucker for grilled onions on my dog.

This discussion compels me to link to one of my favorite Chowhound posts of all time; contributed by coolerbythelake, it's known to many of us old-timers as ""I give you a little penis for free."

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/113017

Webster's dictionary:
vibrant. One entry found.
Main Entry:
vi·brant
Pronunciation:
vi\-brənt\
Function:
adjective
Date:
1616
pulsating with life, vigor, or activity.

Jazzfood wrote:Webster's dictionary:
vibrant. One entry found.
Main Entry:
vi·brant
Pronunciation:
vi\-brənt\
Function:
adjective
Date:
1616
pulsating with life, vigor, or activity.

A quick drive along 26th St on a Saturday or outside the supermarkets or a stop at the vendor in downtown with 15 cabbies pulled over and double parked will give you that feel. Perhaps even at Maxwell Street Market. But by no means is it all around the city.

Unless you were talking about David's post?

FYI

Toham African lunch truck is parked on Eerie between McClurg and Fairbanks on the North side of the street every week day as far as I can tell. Eat there often, good food. Similar specialties to the ones described in the excellent Chowhound link above - not sure if they have stewed bull cock, however.

Habibi wrote:FYI

Toham African lunch truck is parked on Eerie between McClurg and Fairbanks on the North side of the street every week day as far as I can tell. Eat there often, good food. Similar specialties to the ones described in the excellent Chowhound link above - not sure if they have stewed bull cock, however.

That's the one! Always busy.

Thanks!

Chicago's (lack of Official Street Food) is more of a battle between Restaurant Owners lobbying against those that they feel challenged by- than an issue of Hygiene (please- I've gotten the trots from LEYE restaurants to Taquerias to Northern Thai restaurants I love and adore)....
When I lived and went to school in Philly-there was a spot @ Penn's campus, where Lunch Trucks the size/shape of a UPS Truck would convene,daily. These various Food Truck Vendors served food ranging from garlic+ginger Wok Stir fry to Philly CheeseSteak to Gyros and Souvlaki to Vegetarian Falafel's....all outstanding- and safe-and fresh. Knowing where to "dine" in NYC- which carts had which ethnic specialty- made "knowing" New York- a big ol' Food Safari.

Looking into Chicago's mixed up/arcane Rules and Regs- (I had at one time looked into doing the same here)- (Fresh Liquados- Global Soups and ethnically inspired Wraps)- I concluded if you "knew" someone at The Park District- you could do such a thing.
Why?
Because as any Chicago native knows- the Park District in Chicago operates as its own entity. They have their own Police. They run their own Streets and San operation. And- when it comes to selling food in the public way- they have different rules and regs that our City Council has adapted.
Ever notice the food sold at Chicago's beaches in the summer? The Taco Vendors in the park at Montrose and Wilson near the soccer fields?
Who do you think regulates that?
The Chicago Park District.
Wound up never wanting to swim upstream as it were- and went on to other Ventures....

One thing that I do enjoy- Real Street Food in Chicago- that comes to YOU- are the Mexican Fruit Carts- selling fresh cut Mangos- seasoned with Lime Juice and a sprinkle of Chile -yummmmmmm. When the girlfriend "hears" the Honk-Honk, of the cart vendor- she'll act like a Pavlovian Puppy- running to the front door- $1.50 in hand.
I especially like when they peel the Mango- and put a stick up its "b_tt"- cutting the fruit into a flower shape- then drizzling the Lime and Chile atop.....
beauteous...

nsxtasy wrote:Permanent markets are a bit of a different animal. Last year I visited Cleveland's West Side Market. I haven't been to the Milwaukee Public Market yet, but my understanding is that it's similar, albeit considerably smaller than Cleveland's. What those markets primarily offer is the convenience of having everything under one roof: produce, meats, baked goods and sweets, etc. (FWIW, I thought the quality of the produce and meats in Cleveland's market was top-notch, similar to our best stores for those items, while baked goods and sweets were mediocre, and that's being kind.)

A few comments:

1) The West Side Market thrives because Cleveland has MISERABLE grocery stores. Ahold's Tops Markets and Giant Eagle's Rini Rego pretty much dominate the market. There are few sources of good produce at a REASONABLE price.

2) The bakery at the WSM is generally pretty expensive and the quality is just OK. They do have some unusual items.

3) You better know who you are dealing with when it comes to produce. There are about 25 vendors of produce and perhaps eight of them sell 1st rate produce (like you would find at a Caputos). Most vendors sell older "surplus" produce. the stuff that a good produce house will not send its best customers. Personally, that doesn't bother me as long as 1) the price is right and 2) I can use it in a few days. I would generally hit the market at 7 am and spend Saturday mornings processing the produce so that it would get used up.

4) The meat is generally pretty good, but again, some is not all that great, especially the suasages.

Back to the topic at hand. Personally, if the WSM was duplicated in Chicago. it would hold no interest to me. There are dozens of markets - Moo and Oink, Eurofresh, etc. that I would shop at first.

Thinking about this topic, when visiting family in the smallish town of Fort Morgan in northeast Colorado there are several street vendor vans throughout the city mostly taco vendors (some had some great El Pastor!) but there was one in particular that stood out.

A middle aged woman had a stand that was open until perhaps 2 pm and would serve many baked food items; awesome cinnamon Rolls, cabbage pockets (3 different kinds daily) that sometimes include some meat, pig's in a blanket and a variety of specials of the day.

Here is a town of 11,000 with 5 street vendors. Half of them very good and the other half passable.

(side note for LAZ and RheS: Fort Morgan is where Phillip K Dick is buried. Next to his sister.)

I suppose it's not the same as being there but here's a DVD on the subject. I found it my local library. Interlibrary loans work too.
http://www.pbs.org/previews/tomarket-tomarket/

Is the winter green city market worthwhile? I looked over their site and it has one or two references to a move the notebaert nature museum but nothing about parking.

Jazzfood wrote: a vibrant street scene contributes to a dynamic city.

I did notice that all the areas I was in were clear of any "street life" - no food carts, knock off dvd/ purse/jewelry stands and only one fairly mellow street performance in front of the Chicago Museum of Art. I don't even think I saw many homeless people. The street life you see in NYC (and elsewhere) adds a lot of texture and increases the fun factor, but the pay off is that your city is remarkably clean, including the public transportation systems, and easy enough to navigate without being overcrowded.

Those roasted nuts are so great on cold days spent outside....bring them back!!

You need to get to some different neighborhoods next time. Plenty of "street life," if not roach coaches. Pilsen, Uptown, Logan Square, Bridgeport, Chatham jump to mind as 'hoods with great food and great tableaux.

Are we talking about the same city? I have visited many cities in the USA, Canada and, Europe. Chicago has one of the most vibrant street lives in the world. No it does not have a great street food scene that rivals Paris, London, Barcelona or, Berlin. Even Toronto's famous hot dog/polish carts add a charm to that great upcoming world city. But, to say street life is missing is absurd. Where did you go? Was it a bad weather day (Chicagoans will not stroll on the streets and boulevards when the weather is bad)? North Michigan Avenue and the adjacent streets and neighborhoods(Rush St., The Navy Pier area, Grand and many northside neighborhoods (Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Wicker Park/Bucktown) are vibrant districts (especially in the spring, summer and early fall) that will rival many other commercial/residential districts in other cities. Can it be improved? Of course it can. Our mayor is a little paranoid and sometimes behaves like a dictator but his grip will have to change as more people across the world discover this great city.

The other thing Chicago does well is our many festivals, everything from Taste of Chicago and Chicago Gourmet downtown, to many neighborhood and suburban festivals. Not that they are all perfect or necessarily represent all of our finest foods - which may merely reflect how difficult it is to represent the full range of quality and diversity we have - but they are a big component of our casual outdoor dining opportunities.

But we are SO parochial about some things. I was shopping this morning. Nearly every cart at Costco and Trader Joe had wine in it - and of course, you can't buy alcohol before 11 am in Chicago. People were freaking out in line when told they couldn't check these items out (TJ at least has a big sign out front, Costco had checkers yelling "no alcohol before 11 am")

Hey, we're well ahead of much of the country in that regard - I remember being amazed that you didn't have to go to a package store for liquor, and that you could buy alcohol at all on a Sunday.

Uh, NY had a no-booze-at-all-on-Sunday blue law until Pataki repealed it in, I think, 2003. After that, there was a noon opening. More recently, I think they dropped it back to 8 am. So, in the City that Never Sleeps, like the Toddlin' Town, blue laws were/are reality.

Chicago would do well to have something like the Midtown Global Market in Minneapolis (http://www.midtownglobalmarket.org/) combining food stands, sit-down restaurants, community meeting space, local produce and craft vendors into a building/complex that also houses apartments, a transit center, a medical center, and a hotel. It sits at the crossroads of several central Mpls neighborhoods, some completely hipster-fied, others not. The only drawback is that, with the exception of its two restaurants (which close at 11) the whole complex shuts down at 8pm.

Forget Target--if Daley and Alderman Shiller would just take the initiative that our punk-rock mayor, R.T. Rybak, did in Minneapolis, and make this project the centerpiece of the Wilson Yard development, we'd hear a lot less complaining.

Evan B. Druce wrote:Chicago would do well to have something like the Midtown Global Market in Minneapolis (http://www.midtownglobalmarket.org/) combining food stands, sit-down restaurants, community meeting space, local produce and craft vendors into a building/complex that also houses apartments, a transit center, a medical center, and a hotel. It sits at the crossroads of several central Mpls neighborhoods, some completely hipster-fied, others not. The only drawback is that, with the exception of its two restaurants (which close at 11) the whole complex shuts down at 8pm.

Forget Target--if Daley and Alderman Shiller would just take the initiative that our punk-rock mayor, R.T. Rybak, did in Minneapolis, and make this project the centerpiece of the Wilson Yard development, we'd hear a lot less complaining.

I may have missed something but the MetraMarket site shows the latest brochure (downloadable), as being updated November 08.
http://chicago.metramarket.com/web_html/index.htm