So, if any of your from the Chicago area, then you can probably recognize the two pictures above... the Taste! The Taste of Chicago is a large food festival that happens every summer in Grant Park in downtown Chicago. With around 50 vendors present, an estimated 100,000 head to the taste each day for the 10-day festival. The food ranges from African-inspired dishes to empanadas to deep dish pizza.
Despite a few weeks of cold weather, Chicago has finally warmed up. This made this weekend the perfect opportunity to head to Grant Park. Even though the Taste was packed with people, we still managed to weave through the traffic and find food that hit the spot. My first taste portion was rollof Rice and goat from a Nigerian restaurant. The second--and by far my favorite--was the jibarito. Originally from Puerto Rico, a jibarito is a sandwich made with fried plantains (instead of bread) steak, lettuce, tomatoes, and a garlic sauce/mayonnaise. Just look below to see what this sandwich looks like...
What goes nicely with food? I cannot think of anything better than a free concert by one of my favorite bands... the Counting Crows. After eating our fill at the Taste, we walked about 5 minutes across the park to the band shell, where the Crows and Augustana took the stage. Spending a good deal of my time listening to the Crows, I cannot tell you how enjoyable it was to see them in such a great setting. There is nothing like a free concert in the middle of the city, a stone's throw from the lake and from Michigan Avenue. Chicago really has so much to offer.
What a drastic change the last few months have made on the makeup of the city. Just 3 months ago, I was in Chicago interview for internships this summer... the streets were barren and windswept. Now the city feels alive. There are multiple festivals every weekend, free concerts in the Grant/Millennium Park, and farmers' markets around every street corner. Chicago is such a great place in the summer, the city seems to truly thrive on the heat.
Thanks for reading.... I gotta run. I live about 2 block from the beach (its still a beach, even if its on a lake, right?) and the sun is calling my name. Hope this summer is treating you all well. Happy 4th!
Love & Honor,
Matt Hoffman
