Taste of Chicago 2017 to Feature 67 Food Vendors

This year’s edition of Taste of Chicago, held July 5 to July 9 in Grant Park, will feature 67 food vendors. 17 newcomers including El Patron, Lawrence’s Fish & Shrimp, and Hakka Bakka Indian Rolls are among them. Last year’s festival featured 69 vendors.

In an unconventional move, the festival has partnered with an insurance company, Humana, to offer healthier options from some vendors. This is a departure from an event famous for cheesecake on a stick and other heavy-caloric options.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel joined Illinois Restaurant Association CEO Sam Toia for the vendor unveil, and Toia made sure to mention food trucks — of which there are 16 this year including six new ones — as a “great addition” to the festival. The trucks’ increased profile should be welcome, as many food truck owners are angry with the city and the restaurant association, arguing that they’re being forced out of Chicago.

The mayor also took time to recognize last night’s bombing victims in Manchester, England, spoke about the city’s culinary diversity, and brought up Conde Nast Traveler’s declaration that Chicago was the best restaurant city in the U.S. He continued to stress the city’s importance as one of America’s culinary centers.

The city’s vendor reveal this year took place at La Sardine in the West Loop. It was poignant a move considering that it’s been more than a year since the restaurant’s chef Jean-Claude Poilevey died in a car accident. His son, Oliver Poilevey, is one of the fest’s chef du jours, part of an all-star line up with Big Jones’ Paul Fehribach and Parachute’s Beverly Kim and John Clark, who each will serve a special dinner during the fest. The younger Poilevey is cooking on July 7 and preparing a classic French feast in honor of his father, who also cooked at La Bouchon in Bucktown. He was a pioneer when it came to French cooking in Chicago.

Ashok Selvam

“I’m trying to do a little mix of what he did and what I did,” Poilevey said. For example, Poilvey’s doing an apple tart and substituting the vanilla ice cream topping. That’s a move dad wouldn’t approve of, Poilevey said. “I’m definitely excited, but I’m definitely kind of nervous,” he continued. “If this was just for me I wouldn’t be as nervous. But it’s for him and I have to make sure it’s good.” Attendees can buy tickets for Poilevey’s tribute and the other dinners.

Check out the Taste’s vendor lineup below.

Five-Day Restaurants

• Beat Kitchen
• Ben's Bar Be Cue
• Billy Goat Tavern & Grill
• BJ's Market & Bakery
• Caffe Gelato
• Carbon Live Fire Mexican Grill
• Chicago's Dog House
• Churro Factory
• Connie's Pizza
• Dia De Los Tamales
• Doom Street Eats
• Farmer's Fridge
• Franco's Ristorante
• Frannie's Cafe Inc.
• Gold Coast Dogs
• Iyanze
• Kasia's Deli
• La Bomba Restaurant
• La Mexicana
• Lawrence's Fish and Shrimp
• Lou Malnati's Pizzeria
• Miller's Pub
• Oak Street Beach Café
• O'Briens Restaurant & Bar
• Porkchop
• Punky's Pizza & Pasta
• Ricobene's on 26th Street
• Robinson's No. 1 Ribs
• Star of Siam
• Texas de Brazil
• The Eli's Cheesecake Co.
• The Fudge Pot
• Tuscany
• Ukai Japanese Restaurant
• Vee-Vee's African Restaurant

Pop-Up Restaurants

• Brightwok Kitchen
• Broken English
• Dinky Donuts Inc.
• Garifuna Flava: A Taste of Belize
• Hakka Bakka Indian Kati Rolls
• Jin Ju Restaurant
• Just Salad
• MAD Social
• Pork & Mindy's
• Puffs of Doom
• Riva
• Rojo Gusano
• Seoul Taco
• The Little Beet Table
• Warm Belly Bakery
• Yum Dum

Food Trucks

• American Glory
• Auntie Vee's
• Aztec Dave's Food Truck
• Beavers Coffe + Donuts
• Bop Bar Truck
• Bruges Brothers
• Cheesie's Pub and Grub
• Da Lobsta
• El Patron
• Giordano's
• Harold's Chicken
• La Cocinita Food Truck
• Stan's Donuts & Coffee
• The Cajun Connoisseur
• The Fat Shallot
• The Lifeway Kefir Shop