| The Taste of Chicago has grown every year. With a lot of emphasis on the food. Being a Chicagoan I am not excited about the prospect of paying 4 to six times the normal cost of a menu item. There are a very few unusual items to taste that you would not normally find. Taste would have a greater meaning to me if the foods were exotic rather than local. Some people came get excited about eating a turkey leg in public but I miss the thrill on that one. From the visitors prospective Taste of Chicago is a colorful and happy event. There is so much to taste and see. It is a family event that many look forward to and plan their vacations around. |
From the vendors prespective the Taste of
Chicago can be a daunting venue. I came
across this one tent where the grill man was
loosing control of his grill. His co workers
were trapped with him under the smoke filled
tent. The crowd loved the smell of the
smoke and gathered around the tent buying
up the ribs, steak, hamburgers and sausage
links. The smoke seemed to be more of a
sensual effect to promote the desire to eat
grilled meat. No one out side the tent had
any Idea that the grill man had lost complete
control of his grill. From this point I focused
on the behind the scenes activity at the
Taste of Chicago.
Chicago can be a daunting venue. I came
across this one tent where the grill man was
loosing control of his grill. His co workers
were trapped with him under the smoke filled
tent. The crowd loved the smell of the
smoke and gathered around the tent buying
up the ribs, steak, hamburgers and sausage
links. The smoke seemed to be more of a
sensual effect to promote the desire to eat
grilled meat. No one out side the tent had
any Idea that the grill man had lost complete
control of his grill. From this point I focused
on the behind the scenes activity at the
Taste of Chicago.
| After leaving the grill tent I visited other vendors who worked like bees preparing and serving food to the visitors. The appeared to be well organized and efficient in selling their products. The Vendors were mostly young people, teenagers and college age men and women. You would think that they worked together all the time. Maybe some of them did. I am sure that workers from the restaurants were supervising the food preparation to insure it tasted like it was meant to taste. |
It is hard not to get excited about all the food. There are so many
varieties. The downer was the ticket price. Since the first Taste ticket
prices have about doubled and the portions have remained the same.
I don't like the tickets, Its a way to disguise the outrageous prices
being charged for finger food.
Of course the atmosphere adds to the enjoyment of the food....If you
like to walk around in public eating...something that many people
have a problem doing.
I for one like to be alone when I eat. Maybe its a left over genetic
instinct but I cannot enjoy my food while walking around in a crowd
of.............eating, talking, coughing, sneezing, laughing, shouting,
people
varieties. The downer was the ticket price. Since the first Taste ticket
prices have about doubled and the portions have remained the same.
I don't like the tickets, Its a way to disguise the outrageous prices
being charged for finger food.
Of course the atmosphere adds to the enjoyment of the food....If you
like to walk around in public eating...something that many people
have a problem doing.
I for one like to be alone when I eat. Maybe its a left over genetic
instinct but I cannot enjoy my food while walking around in a crowd
of.............eating, talking, coughing, sneezing, laughing, shouting,
people
These grill men had
the right idea. They
placed their grills
outside the tent so
the smoke could
escape into the air.
If I had any tickets at
this point, these guys
would have gotten
them all.
The only way to eat
grilled meat is right
off the grill.
My code word for that
is " fresh kill"
The meat is at its
absolute best the
second it leaves the
grill. Once it sits for a
few minutes, it looses
the heat of the flame
and smoke. It is fast
on its way to
becoming classified
as a left over.
the right idea. They
placed their grills
outside the tent so
the smoke could
escape into the air.
If I had any tickets at
this point, these guys
would have gotten
them all.
The only way to eat
grilled meat is right
off the grill.
My code word for that
is " fresh kill"
The meat is at its
absolute best the
second it leaves the
grill. Once it sits for a
few minutes, it looses
the heat of the flame
and smoke. It is fast
on its way to
becoming classified
as a left over.
I saw these imitation ribs on a grill and wondered what they were
trying to get for these......after all they had the real thing right next
to them........Maybe its a sign of things to come at the Taste.
Processed foods may become a big player in future events.
trying to get for these......after all they had the real thing right next
to them........Maybe its a sign of things to come at the Taste.
Processed foods may become a big player in future events.
These people don't cook anything. I don't know why they were there...
packaged food is creeping into the scene along with the processed
foods.....Not to mention the banks ATM machines.
packaged food is creeping into the scene along with the processed
foods.....Not to mention the banks ATM machines.
These Vendors appeared tired and busy. I would have
interviewed some of them but there were too many knives
laying around for me to take a chance on aggravating
someone with a unimportant question.
I could tell by the rough looks that No one had taken a break in
a while.
interviewed some of them but there were too many knives
laying around for me to take a chance on aggravating
someone with a unimportant question.
I could tell by the rough looks that No one had taken a break in
a while.
When I saw the ATM Machines at the taste It really rang home that this event is about money, revenues, taxes for the city of Chicago.
If you are not careful you can spend hundreds of dollars at the taste for about $40.00 worth of food. It can be like gambling, where as you can't
get enough, You got to taste just one more food item and then another and another until you have put a sizeable dent in your pocket.
If you are not careful you can spend hundreds of dollars at the taste for about $40.00 worth of food. It can be like gambling, where as you can't
get enough, You got to taste just one more food item and then another and another until you have put a sizeable dent in your pocket.
The Taste has added Live entertainment and rides to the things you can do. Not many but it may also be a sign of things to come at the Taste. I
predict that the Taste will move to the lake front in the future and the event will include water attractions and other beach related events.
predict that the Taste will move to the lake front in the future and the event will include water attractions and other beach related events.
| AND OF COURSE ALL GOOD THINGS MUST COME TO AN END |
| As a Chicagoan I feel that they are going to do a whole lot more to the taste to make it worth visiting in future. Amidst all the food and people I found the Taste to be a quite boring event. |
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