Here’s How You Can Celebrate Taste Of Chicago This Year

Colby Smith • July 8, 2020

Taste of Chicago will continue to showcase the Windy City’s best eats with Taste To-Go.

According to the city’s government website, more than one million people flocked to Taste of Chicago to enjoy good food, live music, and a whole lot of tasty festivities. On June 9, however, the city announced that Taste of Chicago, among other summer festivals in Chicago, would have to be transformed, scaled down, and reimagined in order to go on in a safe manner. Today, the reimagined Taste of Chicago festival begins. Here’s what it looks like:

This year, Taste of Chicago is supporting community restaurants and nonprofits as well as frontline workers with an expanded “Community Eats” program that is supporting 25 neighborhood restaurants and food trucks, as well as featuring online demonstrations from local chefs, and a food truck procession.

Community Eats

Taste of Chicago’s Community Eats program encourages featured eateries to host free meals between now and July 12 for community organizations and neighborhood first responders. The program seeks to make a positive social impact in communities across Chicago. The restaurants, eateries, and organizations/communities that will they will benefit, follow as such:

Advocate Trinity Hospital provided by Coastline Catering
Austin Coming Together provided by Smokey Zo’s
Care Kitchen Chicago donation to East Garfield Park neighborhood at The Hatchery
Casa Catalina Food Pantry provided by Doom Street Eats
Farm on Ogden provided by Gayle V’s Best Ever Grilled Cheese
Jackson Park Hospital provided by Bombay Wraps
La Casa Norte provided by Aztec Dave’s
Lawndale Christian Health Center provided by Kasia’s Deli, Inc.
Lawrence Hall provided by Yum Dum
MADO Healthcare – Douglas Park provided by Moti
Mt. Sinai Hospital provided by Whadda Jerk and Eli’s Cheesecake
New Covenant Community Development Council provided by Rolling Chicago Cafe
The Night Ministry provided by La Cocinita
The Port Ministries provided by Razpachos
Roseland Community Hospital provided by Jus Sandwiches
Salvation Army Freedom Center provided by Barangaroos Aussie Pies
South Shore Hospital provided by Ms. Tittle’s Cupcakes
St. Anthony Hospital provided by Cynthia’s Gumbo Express
St. Bernard Hospital provided by Egg Rolls etc.
West Humboldt Park Family and Community Development Council provided by Lifeway Kiefer
Westside Health Authority provided by Connie’s Pizza

Online Demonstrations

To give the new experience a little more flavor, Taste of Chicago is featuring half a week of online cooking demonstrations from renowned chefs from local restaurants around the city. The schedule follows as such:

Wednesday, July 8 (Finished)

Chef: Carlos Gaytan of Tzuco

Dish: Avocado Flatbread

Time: Noon

Thursday, July 9

Chef: Maya-Camille Broussard of Justice of Pies

Dish: Lemon Lime Cake

Time: Noon

Friday, July 10

Chef: Jessica Romanowski of Care Kitchen Chicago

Dish: Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread Cookies

Time: Noon

Saturday, July 11

Chef: Darnell Reed of Luella’s Southern Kitchen

Dish: Salsa Con Queso

Time: Noon

Sunday, July 12

Chef: Sarah Grueneberg of Monteverde

Dish: Pasta Fredda with Summer Herb Pesto

Time: Noon

To-Go Dining Guide

Taste of Chicago is showcasing __ of Chicago’s tastiest restaurant, food trucks, and eateries as a part of its “Taste To-Go” initiative. Consult this list to see which eateries are in your neck of the woods: