Five things we like about Taste
Sure, Summerfest has it's appeal, but there are just some things about Taste of Chicago that we look forward to every year. Here are five things we like about Taste vs. Milwaukee's summer extravaganza:
1) It's FREE
No daily admission charges in addition to the food/beverage ticket price. Compare that to Summerfest, which would set a family of six adults/teens back $48 just for a single day's admission. In these tough economic times, free sounds like a pretty good deal to us. Plus, there's a FREE trolley system that takes festgoers to and from Grant Park and the Metra station, the Museum Campus and various stops along Michigan Avenue. And, if you really want to save the cost of gas and parking the car, ride your bike and park it for FREE at the bike valet at Monroe and Lake Shore.
2) The Original Rainbow Cone (Booth 39).
Rain or shine, we've made a beeline to the home of this delectable treat for as many years of Taste as we can remember. Chocolate, strawberry, Palmer House and pistachio ice creams and orange sherbet piled high on a cake or waffle cone just makes us smile like no other dessert treat can. On a hot summer day, it's worth those precious eight tickets. The leftover four tickets (from your strip of 12) will net you a taste portion of toasted cheese ravioli from Tuscany at the booth next door. How convenient is that?
3) Dominick's Cooking Corner
Seriously, take a load off and learn a few kitchen tips from some of Chicago's best chefs. Saturday's lineup, for example, features chef Mark Mendez from Carnivale (11 a.m); executive chef Rick Tramonto of Tru, Osteria de Tramonto and Tramonto's Steak & Seafood (noon to 2 p.m.); Sandy Gluck and Emma Feigenbaum from "Everyday Food" (2 p.m.); Ying Stoller of Ying's Kitchen (3 p.m.); executive chef Chris Rook, Morton's (4 p.m.), and chefs Alfonso Avila and Lidia Benitez, La Cocina de Frida (5 p.m.) Think of it as the Food Channel live on Chicago's lakefront.
4) "Toons at Taste"
Bring a blanket! Bring the kiddies! This is one of the most fun additions to Taste. Enjoy classic "Looney Tunes" cartoons on a jumbo screen in Butler Field on July 5 from 9 to 11 a.m. Nothing says "Saturday in the Park" quite like Bugs Bunny, Sylvester, Tweety Bird and Yosemite Sam on a giant screen. Plus, you can purchase breakfast goodies to feed your tummy while the 'toons feed the child in your soul. Also on hand will be a face painter, stiltwalker and balloon artist. And for the first time, Bugs Bunny and Sylvester will be on hand to lead a parade to the Family Village once the cartoons are over. Sufferin' succotash!
5) The Independence Eve fireworks and concert (8 p.m. July 3, Petrillo Music Shell).
So what if a sea of folks start congregating around noon at the Petrillo Music Shell for this annual extravaganza? If you've never rung in the 4th of July with this star-spangled concert by the Grant Park Orchestra (under the direction this year of conductor Christopher Bell), you really need to make an effort to do so at least once in your lifetime. If you don't particularly care for a patch of green on which to rest your bones, you don't have to get there at noon; all you have to do is look skyward along the lakefront Taste area at 9:30 p.m. The combination of live orchestral music and the fireworks overhead just brings out the Yankee Doodle Dandy in everybody.
-- Miriam Di Nunzio