Taste of Chicago 2009

Garrett Popcorn, a frequent LTH request for what should be showing off Chicago at the Taste, is finally participating for the first time this year. Of course, they're offering this classic:



Flash-frozen nitropopcorn on a stick.

In a collaboration with Richard Blais from Top Chef Season 5 to promote Garrett in NYC.

What other delights are you looking forward to?

My absolute favorite is BJ's mustard fried catfish. The Taste is the one time every year I indulge in this delight.

Being in the burbs no where near them, I always have to get at least 3 rainbow cones. Its my favorite thing every year

Manny's is making their fiorst appearance. Alas, no corned beef, but other delights including roast beef sandwiches.

Just a reminder for anyone planning to go to Taste of Chicago this year, tomorrow, June 25th, is the last day to get discounted tickets from Dominick's. Starting Friday, each strip will be 8 dollars instead of 6.

Here's my question: if you live in Chicago, why would you go the Taste? It's usually hot, sweaty and crowded. There's nowhere to sit. It's not a good value. The food isn't prepared nearly as well as it is at the restaurant's home base. If you have a "taste" for a particular item, why not just go to the restaurant itself, and get the real McCoy? I understand the argument on the other side--that of aggregation--but it doesn't outweigh the negatives, IMHO.

Olde School wrote:Here's my question: if you live in Chicago, why would you go the Taste? It's usually hot, sweaty and crowded. There's nowhere to sit. It's not a good value. The food isn't prepared nearly as well as it is at the restaurant's home base. If you have a "taste" for a particular item, why not just go to the restaurant itself, and get the real McCoy? I understand the argument on the other side--that of aggregation--but it doesn't outweigh the negatives, IMHO.

Well, when I worked at the Art Institute the Taste made for a very welcome change of pace from the usual food options in the area. Going on a weekday, mid-day generally removes the issue of crowding from the equation.

Primarily, going for me has been more about the social aspect of meeting friends and spending time together there, along the lake, at a museum nearby...than about the food itself. The occasional happy discovery of a new eatery or new dish worth pursuing under better conditions at a later date is just a bonus.

This will probably be the first year since about 2001 that we havent gone down to the Taste for a day. Our previous visits had bery little to do with the food, more with enjoying a summer day on the lakefront in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. We went not expecting much food wise, so we were never disappointed.

As for the crowds, they dont bother me, and the people watching is interesting as well. We dont get too many gang bangers, or shootings out west where I live.

I'm with olde school , to me, Taste is kind of "roughing it'!

Like I say every late June...."Cannot wait to not go to the taste this year."

Only tolerable when as a teenager, I slanged beefs and toasted ravioli at the Tuscany booth. Besides practicing a "one for you, one for me" policy with the toasted rav, I loved trading food with the other vendors. As a civilian though, it indeed rough as hell.

I look forward to the Taste every year. . . as well as the LTH thread discussing new additions, and the plusses and minuses of the event.

I do go early, get my few items and get away from the crowd. I used to live within walking distance, which is when I started this tradition. This year, I plan to go early one day with my kids, grab some items, eat them on a blanket nearby, then stroll through the park, and hit one of the architectural boat cruises in the early afternoon when the crowds in the park will get more dense.

My must have's every year are:

BJ's catfish, and I think the high turnover and smaller pieces of catfish at the Taste make for a better product than they serve at the restaurant, more crisp and hot.

The Rainbow cone, which is a once a year treat for this northsider who can't quite make that long destination trip for ice cream.

My old standby, the Turkey leg, which to me perfectly exemplifies the gluttony that is the Taste. This year the previous turkey leg purveyor is gone, and Manny's will be replacing it with roasted legs, which will be roasted off-premesis (neither at the restaurant or the Taste). We shall see how they fare.

Pierogi. A must-have for the wife.

Something new. I usually try to hit anything new that looks decent.

Something "exotic", usually curried goat or similar.

The Taste is crowded. The food can be hit-or-miss. . . with many misses. But I appreciate the effort the city is making, including all the restaurants who come out, to show off some section of our food scene. It is an attempt at Chicago street food, and while not nearly the best, in a mostly street-food barren town, any attempt is appreciated by me. Plus I just love the way this city looks, and I'll take the Grant Park backdrop for my meal any day.

Could it be better, definately. But I prefer this city with the Taste of Chicago.

Call me debbie downer, but I loathe the taste. The food is okay, the heat is unbearable and so many rude people, I don't see what the attraction is. When I was young, I loved it, but in the past two years that has all changed for some reason and I'm not a negative person. I could honestly do without it, so I do.

Shaggywillis wrote:Call me debbie downer, but I loathe the taste. The food is okay, the heat is unbearable and so many rude people, I don't see what the attraction is. When I was young, I loved it, but in the past two years that has all changed for some reason and I'm not a negative person. I could honestly do without it, so I do.

There's your problem. I loved it too when I was younger. My wife and I would go every year on July 4th. We'd get there early, as soon as they opened, and we'd leave before the crowds got too bad. I haven't been there now for at least a dozen years.

Still young, still enjoy it. I did all "taste" portions so I could try more stuff.

I had the catfish at BJ's as was recommended, and it was the highlight. I liked the sweet mustard and the breading wasn't too salty or overseasoned.

I also enjoyed the toasted raviolis from Tuscany and the pierogies from Kassia.

The jibarito from Sabor Latino was a disappointment, but a good size portion for four tickets. The plantains were dry and there really wasn't enough meat on the sandwich.

And to top it off I had my first rainbow cone and it lived up to the hype. The pistachios were a pleasant surprise indeed.

I'll be back next week to try more.

I’m with turkob (if the definition of “still young” allows for increasingly gray hair).

Went today for Taste Run #0901 (the North leg and the East leg):
-- thoroughly enjoyed a couple of Old Favorites: Jerk Chicken w/ Red Beans & Rice from Vee Vee’s; and roasted corn (plain – no butter or salt necessary) at Soul Vegetarian East
--was pleasantly surprised by a couple of new treats: Mac-and-Cheese from Manny’s (!); and a very refreshing Grilled Pear Salad with Walnuts and Blue Cheese from Grill On The Alley.
--didn’t much care for: listless Jambalaya from Blue Bayou; and tiny and disappointingly bland Chimichurra Chicken Wings from Vermillion.

Will start Taste Run #0902 at Booth #21 at work my way South. It appears that ~20% fewer food booths are at this Taste. Pity.

My coworkers went and I chose to go get felafel and kafta kebab at Oasis instead - I'm extremely happy with my choice. The coworkers who went (who had never been before) were disappointed - mediocre food, huge crowds, etc.

Personally, I'm waiting for the Green City Market Summer BBQ, which (as Jonah pointed out) is the real Taste of Chicago.

-Dan

I don't mind the Taste when I feel like going downtown and hanging out there. I know what to expect and what not to expect. Last year I went on a beautiful 75 degree, sunny day with a light breeze and small crowds. Also took a nice skyline boat ride. It was great. I have done the Taste on the dreaded July 3rd, and it was insane, but that was in 1994. I doubt I'll be back on a July 3rd, but this year I might be going on July 5th, a Sunday, which can be a bit crowded. We'll see. I have someone coming in from out of town that really wants to go down there.

turkob wrote:And to top it off I had my first rainbow cone and it lived up to the hype. The pistachios were a pleasant surprise indeed.

I had this for the first time as well. Yummy.

I'll admit that I have no idea what a rainbow cone is - is this the cone that is offered at a historic south side spot?

Ghazi -- The Sun-Times article describes it as:

"The dessert that founder Joseph Sapp invented consists of chocolate, strawberry, pistachio and Palmer House ice cream -- vanilla with cherries and walnuts--and orange sherbet."

I used to hit Taste to meet friends. I would eat a turkey leg, corn on the cob, and that fried mess of shrimp and sweet potato from Pasteur + listen to a great musical artist.

I never ate that much, but a warm summer evening in Chicago with food, friends, and anyone from Al Green to Stevie Wonder. You gotta love it!

I still have fond memories of going alone 6 years ago. I studied all day downtown for the Bar exam took my blanket, some food grabbed from my beloved Zoom Kitchen, and listened to Erykah Badu in peace. It was one of 3 breaks I took that summer while studying for the Bar.

I would love to see #44 do a mini-version at the White House Yep he can take a national approach, he's gotta have a loco moco right, but great idea. There is nothing like food to spread bipartisanship IMO.

I'm not going this year (I don't think), but the Trib had a thing about how the Taste this year is spread out over more square feet, and with fewer vendors (the latter confirmed by jimwdavis's observation). Taken together this would seem to ease the sardine factor, so I'm curious to find out from people who are attending whether they're noticing any improvement in this department.

We went last night because we wanted to hear the concert (which was a lot of fun) & had a little to eat there. The best thing we had - the gelatos at the Canady booth, just delicious & a great addition to the Taste line up. It definitely felt there were fewer booths, but that was fine by us, in most of the areas except close to Petrillo the sardine factor was definitely way down (we could walk without barging in to people & there were actual places to sit & eat comfortably). We got to meet Emeril too (he was doing a book signing). With the weather cooperating it was a very pleasant evening.

My first bite of the sweet potato hashbrowns from Hashbrowns was my last; bland, bordering on slimy, and most unforgiveably, unbrowned. Into the can with it.



The steak jibarito from Sabor Latina, which I also purchased in a tasting portion, has compelled me to conclude that this Chicago original is a misbegotten gastronomic folly. Substituting fried plantains for bread is a novel idea but it results in a very dry sandwich, even when accompanied by a generous squirt of garlicky mayo. For those who've never had this much-talked-about local creation, it's nice that understandable curiosity can be satisfied with 4 tickets (about $2.66).



I ate everything I could get my hands on from this booth. And it was free.



My basic position on the Taste is that any celebration of food is a good thing. I keep telling myself that.

David Hammond wrote:The steak jibarito from Sabor Latina, which I also purchased in a tasting portion, has compelled me to conclude that this Chicago original is a misbegotten gastronomic folly.

David,

Drawing conclusions from a Taste of Chicago tasting portion is risky business. I suggest a jibarito from Borinquen before writing it off as "misbegotten gastronomic folly"

Jibarito



Enjoy,
Gary

Borinquen Restaurant
1720 N California Ave
Chicago, IL 60647-5104
773-227-6038

G Wiv wrote:

David Hammond wrote:The steak jibarito from Sabor Latina, which I also purchased in a tasting portion, has compelled me to conclude that this Chicago original is a misbegotten gastronomic folly.

David,

Drawing conclusions from a Taste of Chicago tasting portion is risky business. I suggest a jibarito from Borinquen before writing it off as "misbegotten gastronomic folly"

Jibarito



Enjoy,
Gary

Borinquen Restaurant
1720 N California Ave
Chicago, IL 60647-5104
773-227-6038

Thank you, Obi-wan. I’ve had jibaritos from Borinquen and elsewhere over the years, of course, but what I meant was, if one has not had this sandwich before, they are fortunate to have the opportunity, at Taste, to try a small portion rather than a whole plate. Actually, I think a tasting portion is easier to eat than a whole jibarito sandwich because it’s, you know, smaller. At Borinquen and elsewhere, because the slices of plantain are somewhat unmanageable, my usual strategy is to create two open-faced sandwiches. No complaints about the flavor; I’m turned off by the logistical challenge of slamming a double layer of dense, dry carbs into a mouth even as capacious as my own.

I do agree, though, that no food – whether a tasting portion or regular size -- shows at its best at Taste in that most of the stuff is prepared off-site, trucked in, held for hours, and prepared by folks who may have come on-board just for this event and who may lack a lot of foodservice experience. It’s challenging, too, for the eater to enjoy any food at Taste for all the obvious and well-recognized reasons (heat, teeming masses, necessity of eating standing up, etc.).

David Hammond wrote:
I do agree, though, that no food – whether a tasting portion or regular size -- shows at its best at Taste in that most of the stuff is prepared off-site, trucked in, held for hours, and prepared by folks who may have come on-board just for this event and who may lack a lot of foodservice experience. It’s challenging, too, for the eater to enjoy any food at Taste for all the obvious and well-recognized reasons (heat, teeming masses, necessity of eating standing up, etc.).

Knowing this fact is exactly why I can't understand going there. It's hard enough to produce great food under the best of conditions. When overwhelmed by feeding 3.5 million people over the course of 10 days (their stats from their website) it's hard enough to just keep up, let alone produce a good-great product.

We here @ LTHForum live "Taste of Chicago" everyday with better results. I'd say leave the bad taste of Chicago for the civilians.

Jazzfood wrote:

David Hammond wrote:
I do agree, though, that no food – whether a tasting portion or regular size -- shows at its best at Taste in that most of the stuff is prepared off-site, trucked in, held for hours, and prepared by folks who may have come on-board just for this event and who may lack a lot of foodservice experience. It’s challenging, too, for the eater to enjoy any food at Taste for all the obvious and well-recognized reasons (heat, teeming masses, necessity of eating standing up, etc.).

Knowing this fact is exactly why I can't understand going there.

Professional obligation.

jazzfood, we going to declare our Independence from Food Day sometime soon...or have you had second thoughts?

One of the reasons I continue to go to the Taste (with all the caveats in place, of course) are the "taste" portion offerings, generally 2-4 tickets. Over the years these have become more various and, occasionally, substantial, and a menu of these--like small plates--leaves room for error and experimentation. Cases in point:

I'd never understood the praise for BJ's catfish, probably because I've eaten from bad/ancient batches in the past. This time it was right on, and probably wins my Best of the Taste.

Also high on my taste/value quotient are Kassia's pierogis, the taste offering (4 tickets) gives you two (spinach, cheese or potato w/ sour cream), the full version (7 tickets) gives you three. You do the math . . .

. . . and a nice slab of sweet potato pie (4 tickets) at Soul Vegetarian. A worthy finish.

To be avoided: The boneless rib at Sweet Baby Ray's. Everything that's wrong with some Chicago BBQ is on display here.

Taste of Chicago = only for the masses


They should consider doing a Taste of Chicago featuring only offal. Now that would be something I would go to.