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Taste of Chicago 2009
Rating Details »
Category: Local Flavor [Edit]
Neighborhood: The Loop500 S. Columbus Avenue
Grant Park
Chicago, IL 60604
- Nearest Transit:
-
Adams/Wabash (Orange, Brown, Purple Express, Green, Pink)
Harrison (Red)
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
9 reviews for Taste of Chicago 2009
I was there this past Saturday evening for the Counting Crows/Augustana show - crowded, but not too overwhelming. I highly recommend taste (4 tix each) portions of the Mustard fried catfish from BJ's Market (33) - I have gotten this every year it's been available!, Chimchurri Masala Chicken Wings from Vermilion (10) - very spicy!, the Grilled Anjou Pear Salad with Walnuts and Maytag Blue Cheese from Grill on the Alley (12) helps cool the heat, Sweet Potato Fries from Hashbrowns (16) and the Fruiti di Bosco Sorbet from Canady Le Chocolatier (15)
I split the Gator Sausage on a Stick (8 Tix) from Blue Bayou (14) and though while very very tasty, I was a little disappointed in the size.
Going back for more crazy this Saturday. . .
I'm going tomorrow! ! ! *YAYE*
(rating subject to change)
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Updated 6-28-09 7:42pm
Getting major sunburn waiting in line for free Eli's cheesecake
-2 stars
*wince*
Wow. The number of food stalls is down considerably. More room to walk, but a big cut in the selection. Otherwise the same as always.
Having lunch at Taste of Chicago on their first day is always a great adventure - picking out the one food stall to make the focus of my first "taste." My winner this year is again BJ's Market. Their mustard-fried catfish, covered with hot sauce, is fabulous. I followed it with peach cobbler, hot and cinnamony in a Taste size portion. Delicious.
The majority of the standard restaurant participants are back. Eli's cheesecake is still there, as is Robinson's Ribs (but with only a rib tip serving, not full ribs). All the pizza places have returned, and Lagniappe is there again with their chicken and waffles and their beignets. Billy Goat, several Thai choices, and plenty of sweets. Even Garrett Popcorn Shop is there this year. But some of the more exotic choices are gone. Only 56 food stalls on the guide map.
So in general it's the same as prior years. They've added a big selection of desserts at The Chef's Table - small plates of desserts from about a dozen restaurants, like brownies from Ina's and cupcakes from several of the prominent bakeries in town, all served at one place to make their overhead manageable.
Manny's Deli is doing the turkey legs this year - I brought a pair home for our dinner. Eh, not that special.
I'll be going back, for the jerk chicken with red beans and rice at Vee-Vee's African Cuisine, Lagniappe's beignets, and Eli's cheesecake, all highlights from 2008. Would I go if I couldn't walk there from home or the office - probably not.
I came here for the Broadway in Chicago concert and that was okay, I liked that they offered that. Since I was there, I figured I would try some of the eats as well.
The food, however, was not worth the price of admission....which was free. I tried numerous things and most of it was not very good at all (and some downright bad). The number of stalls were down and there seemed to be less interesting small restaurants represented.
I definitely am glad I didn't head down there just for the tastes and don't know if I will return at all (it would have to be a great concert to lure me down there).
Where's the place to go in the loop for lunch that has enough variety for your whole group? Okay, do I really have to answer?! Of course, the Taste of Chicago!
Went here today for lunch with a group of coworkers and found that it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Granted, from my work, I can see the Taste from our window and seeing all those moving bodies just did not make me want to go down there. However, the they've moved the booths farther from the middle to allow more room for walking. It also seems to be extended a block, which also helps. Most of all, if you go at lunch, and especially before the lunch crowd, it's definitely even better.
My word of advice: bring cash to buy your tickets. There are only a couple credit card ticket locations and the lines were long. Whereas, the cash lines were very pretty much nonexistent.
I really enjoyed the mustard fried catfish from BJ's Market and Bakery and the crispy noodle shrimp from Polo Café and Catering! Soda cost 4 tickets, which equals out to $2.67, so I recommend bringing your own drink if you can. There was no security at lunch, so you might be able to...
Good news is I have extra tickets and will be heading back this week for lunch again (even if it was overpriced)...
What's different?
12 tix = $8.00
Vendors are more spaced out since the number of offerings is decreased (?). More expensive side is the North side of the Taste, head to the south end for meals with more value. That first stand behind the Art Institute with the turkey legs, 1 leg = 12 tickets! WTF! That's $8.00.
Dominick's has a stand offering big wedges of watermelon for 4 tix. The lowest quantity of tix you can buy is the special for $8 dollars. Better ice cream options (w/ flavors) on the south end as well, Moms and Dads.
Since the vendor count is lower there is more space to walk, when you avoid the parents with double wide strollers. The food.. seemed the same to me. Harold's chicken offers 1 wing with a hush puppie for 4 tix. How crazy is that. At a Harold's restaurant it's $1.05 / wing or 4 for $4.85. Just saying.
I wish So-Co was here (like in 2008) with their signature slushy hurricanes. If you can handle the walk and heat, in the middle of the Taste you can find alot of non food vendors like Illinois lottery where you can spin a wheel to win cash prizes or goody items. That new cell phone company with the low rate packages hands out hand held fans, Best Buy stage with an area to play electric guitar and drums.. maybe it's Rock star (?) and a cooking corner sponsored by Dominick's. Check out the website for full details at http://www.explorechic...
Lots of vendors and lots of food. Eli's Cheesecake is at The Taste of Chicago again with their delicious treats. You can find them at booth #22. This year they are offering Frozen Chocolate Chip Toffee Crunch; Oreo Cookie Cheesecake with Vanilla Ice Cream; Turtle Cheesecake; Plain Cheesecake (with or without strawberries)
This year Julius Meini is also there offering their Vienna Torte. They are located at the Chef's Table at the 2009 Taste of Chicago.
Todor Krecu
http://hotfortea.yelp.com
More room to walk,
Tasty food (hell yes to indian/latin fusion)
Better layout, and I did not want to murder everyone at the end.
Best Taste yet.
"Only reason why this got a 1 star is because 0 wasnt an option!!
DO NOT GO... DO NOT GO...
Food is OVERPRICED, COOL and HORRIBLE...
Seriously over crowded, overpriced $hit. Can honestly see why people got food poisoning last year, and how someone got shot."