New take on popcorn: iced on stick
Go figure. One of the more talked about items to be had at this year's Taste of Chicago is on a stick.
The popcornsicle -- a popcorn ball put on a stick and flash-frozen in liquid nitrogen -- will be among the offerings at the Garrett Popcorn booth.
What else can you eat on a stick at the Taste?
Gator sausage
Blue Bayou, Booth 14
Sesame beef
The Noodle Vietnamese Cuisine, Booth 18
Vegetarian BBQ twist
Soul Vegetarian East, Booth 2
Grilled shrimp with garlic potato
Oak Street Beach Cafe, Booth 41
Frozen chocolate dipped cheesecake bar
JR Dessert Bakery, Booth 46
Whole pickle
Vienna Beef/Gold Coast Dogs, Booth 27
The popcornsicle is the result of collaboration between the company and "Top Chef Season 5" runner-up Richard Blais for a promotional gig for the Garrett location in New York.
"Top Chef" fans will recall Blais as the faux-hawked chef with a penchant for liquid nitrogen -- which also happens to be the key ingredient in the popcornsicle, along with Garrett's signature cheese and caramel corn mix.
Vendors will be dipping the popcornsicles to order in vats of liquid nitrogen (and no, Blais won't be on hand to help).
This is the first time Garrett Popcorn has participated in the Taste. There are two other new vendors this year: the old-school deli Manny's, 1141 S. Jefferson, and Blue Bayou, 3734 N. Southport.
Jack Aiello, Garrett's vice president of marketing, says the company wanted to mark its Taste debut in a big way, with a product perfect for hot weather.
The popcornsicle "creates a subzero feeling in the mouth," Aiello says.
The popcornsicles -- which will cost six tickets each, or about $4 -- should stay cold for a few minutes, Aiello says.
The Taste of Chicago opens Friday and runs through July 5.