Taste.

Everyone commented (you know you did) when Jason and I moved to Chicago that we had to, absolutely must take part in Chicago's annual 4th of July festival, The Taste of Chicago. Or just "Taste" as we locals call it.
A Monday El ride south dropped me and neighbor Heather off at the gates of the food fest. Food stalls line the main drag of Grant Park, offering an amazing choice of meals, desserts or "tastes" -- the small samplings that you get for just $1.50 or $2.00 worth of festival tickets. It saves the worrying decision of trying to pick just one, best food to have for lunch, when there are so many to pick from. Even still the choice is hard. There's roast corn, ribs, greek food, indian food, pizza ('course, it is Chicago), seafood, cheesecake, ice cream and fried dough. I enjoyed tastes of steak taco, plantain chips, (both pictured) fried pierogis, and baklava. A nice cold beer washed it all down.
The crowd helps you master the art of simultaneous food balancing and walking, while taking the experience all in. For me the bonus round involved taking photos of your food while walking, watching and balancing. As I was thoroughly warned by those who had been-there, done-that, it is crowded and hot. "Zoo" was an oft-repeated description. But there are trees to tarry under to watch the bands play or enjoy the street performers who bring their stages to the Park for the day. With my new resident eagerness, my enjoyment of the day was not to be deterred.
There was no need for dinner that night, with my belly full but my legs tired from the day's event.



Better photos than I can take, are here, thanks to the Tribune.