35th Annual Taste of Chicago 2015 (Part 2)

July 12, 2015

I have leftover tickets, so here I am at #TasteofChi on its final day.

It was steamingly hot that day, and Chicago downtown is filled with people who loves free sun tan as usual on a sunny day.

This time, I have tried "Taste of" as well as other stuffs that are on menu (original portion). Let's start with our first choice of the day.

1. Miller's Pub

14 tickets    3 stars (on menu)

Roasted Turkey Leg 

Miller's pub, the first pub I went to with my ex-roommates for dinner back in 2013 when I just first settled down in Chicago. I still remembered we ordered deep dish pizza. It's a must-try food in Chicago and my first impression of it was "err....it looks like normal pizza, just an inch thicker". Roommate told me that it wasn't authentic.

Ok back to the topic, they serve the famous turkey leg!

Lots of queues, but I was glad the waiting wasn't long.

TADAAAAA!!! IT WAS HUMONGOUS! Attention seeking turkey leg. BLING BLING

I like the tender skin and meat, not the overcooked part (not much).

Couldn't really bite it like normal chicken drumstick

Took about 20 minutes to finish the turkey leg all by myself, technically yes- my friends only had 2 tiny bites from it.

Mouth, nose and sunglasses stained with BBQ sauce. Note to self: bring more wet tissue.

Comments: Original or with the optional BBQ sauce. Guess everyone would go for BBQ sauce that the server did not bother to ask. Though it gets messy, it's something new to me and definitely worth the try!

2. Caffe Gelato

5 tickets    2.5 stars (Taste of)

Blood Orange Sorbet & Peach Cobbler Gelato

Wanted to try the "Taste of Lemon Sorbet" but they ran out of it- so the only choice left is blood orange sorbet (right).

Comments: Blood orange sorbet taste good. The more I have, the more it reminds me of this orange flavored cod liver oil I had when I was young. The peach cobbler gelato is not my "scoop of ice-cream". 

3. Gold Coast Dogs

5 tickets   3 stars (Taste of)

Half Chicago Style Hot Dog

Comments: Yes, half of it; the sausage is so little- because it tastes good that's why I'm complaining.

4. Dinky Donuts

5 tickets   3 stars (Taste of)

Dutch Cocoa & Ancho Mamma's Chile 

Comments: He told us the flavor for each but we forgot. Was a little disappointed when we found out that it was just mini donuts covered with powdered sugar. They are quite soft, breaks easily,but but but.....served hot, sweetness just right- thumbs up!

5. Riva Crabhouse

5 tickets   2.5 stars (Taste of)

Seafood Gumbo & New England Clam Chowder

Comments: Seafood Gumbo is not rich enough- feels like hot water with salt, shrimp, tomato, etc. Clam Chowder is richer, but the texture is like congee- not sure if those are potatoes? 

6. Lawrence's Fish & Shrimp

5 tickets   2 stars

Popcorn Shrimp 

Comments: Without the cocktail sauce, these popcorn shrimps are dry and tasteless. Nothing special.

7. Vee-Vee's (African food)

5 tickets    3 stars

Sauteed Goat & Plantain

Wanted to try this the first time when we were there but they ran out of it and we forgot to go back.

Comments: very appetizing & juicy. This would go well with a plate of rice (since it's salty) & salad (all meat no veg makes Nicole a carnivore).

Re-visited

1. Iyanze- Bolat West African Flair

4 tickets   3 stars (Taste of)

Jerk Chicken & Caramelized Spicy Wings

I have made a review on caramelized spicy chicken at the Taste of Chicago (Part 1) post. This time I got to taste Jerk Chicken- just fine. Bet it would taste better if it wasn't dry and if it's dark meat.

2. La Mexicana

4 tickets   3.5 stars (on menu)

Watermelon, Strawberry, Lemon-Lime & Mango Paleta

They ran out of "Taste of", instead of selling the normal size of paleta at 6 tickets, they sold it for 4 tickets. 

I can't help it but to have watermelon paleta again. Then I tasted a little of lemon-lime and strawberry. Just after 10 minutes, I went to buy Mango flavor paleta  I blame it on the weather 

This is the proof: Steamingly HOT Weather
 

 My mango paletaaaaaaa, final food dessert for the day. 

Goodbye Taste of Chicago. I hope to see you next year. Hopefully I am one of the vendors. 

DREAM BIG!

35th Annual Taste of Chicago 2015

July 8, 2015

The biggest food festival in the whole wide world is happening now at Grant Park, Chicago!
This 5-day event will last from 8th-12th July 2015.
Wednesday, Thursday & Friday from 11am-9pm & Saturday and Sunday 10am-9pm.

Let me bring you through the event, through my eyes of what I have saw and through my taste buds, of what I have tasted.

Note: All the food I've tried are the samples- Usually under the "Taste of" on the menu- they come in much smaller portion.

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One of the entrances- securities, polices, bag checking.

First thing you do, buy tickets! They are 12 tickets for $8.50
Suggestion? Buy 3 to 4 dozens. They take cash, debit or credit cards.

1. Beat Kitchen

5 tickets     1.5 stars

First stall that I tried- happy me took a picture with my chicken empanada (it's like what they call curry puff back in Malaysia).

Very clean kitchen, worker photobombed picture. lol. 

Comment: Nothing special, not much taste to it. Comes in chicken, beef, chorizo and veggie. Friend ordered chorizo (pork sausage) and it tastes like mashed beans to me. I'm not sure if that is what pork sausage tastes like or they served the wrong one?  

2. Pure Leaf

Free tea :) 4 flavors: lemon, unsweetened, sweetened, extra sweetened. 

3. BJ's Market

5 tickets    2 stars

Mustard-fried catfish covered with honey mustard and buffalo sauce.

Comment: seems like they have fried the catfish and left it there for an hour or two. It was cold. Without the sauce, I guess it just taste ordinary fried stuff in my mouth. 

4. Eli's Cheesecake 

4 tickets    3 stars

Choose from original cheesecake or key lime cheesecake. Gotten key lime. 

Comment: tiny little cheesecake. Crust is good, cheesecake is rich. Couldn't really taste the key lime though. or my taste buds are covered with buffalo sauce

5. Lobster Corn Dog

11 tickets    3.5 stars

They say if you get to meet Graham Elliot, you are lucky enough. Here he is! :)

Comments: My friend had it around noon time, the corn dog was bigger than right now. Combination of the sauce, batter and inner stuffing (lobster) = PERFECTO! 

6. Carbon

3 stars

Steak taco 3 tickets

Chicken taco 2 tickets

I really like it. There are 3 sauces to choose from- mild, medium, hot. Both sauce on both of the tacos below are HOT SAUCE- and it's really hot. (for a person who can take spicy).

Comments: Tiny teeny taco which filled up 1% of my stomach space. But they are good, worth a try!

7. La Bomba

5 tickets   2.5 stars

1/2 size Jibarito 

Alcapurria (picture on the right)

Well, I have to ask the server what is alcapurria and jibarito. 

Alcapurria: pork stuffing covered with plantain - fried

Jibarito: Steak, cheese, lettuce, onions....etc in between plantains

 

Comments: The pork in the alcapurria is really spiced. Worth a try. The jibarito is just....so so.

8. Chicago Dog's House 

5 tickets 

I did not try this. I just can't. Present to you smoked alligator sausage. 80% alligator 20% pork. 

My friend said it tastes good and wanted me to try. (I've tried wild bat and rabbit meat when I was very young, and I can't do this kind of wild meat any more). 

Comment: Comes in Rattlesnake & Rabbit sausage as well. Try it and let me know what kind of meat it taste like. (Isn't it illegal to have alligator or rattlesnake? I don't know. Like aren't they endangered or something?) Anyway, the music they are playing at this stall got me *dancing* ;) good music choice.

9. La Mexicana

2 tickets    3.5 stars

Watermelon Mini Paleta

Comments: Ok, I could be biased for rating this 3.5 stars just because it's ice-cream/popsicle. But this ice pop really taste like watermelon to me, except frozen. With only 2 tickets and the size, I think it's worth it. I would definitely go back just to have another one. 

10. The Crave Bar

5 tickets   3.5 stars
Handcrafted Pretzel Ice-cream Bar- dark chocolate.

Saw this during Chicago Food Truck Fest almost 2 weeks ago but didn't get to try it. But here it is.



Comments: Comes in Decadence/Milk and Chocolate Madness as well. Though the presentation is really pathetic (it really look like the one on the right when we opened it), but the moment you bite and chew it, YUMMMmmmmmmm.....You can say I am biased again but I am definitely going back!

11. Iyanze- Bolat West African Flair 

4 tickets   2.75 stars

Caramelized Spicy Wings

Comments: Very sad two wings. It's funny and sad at the same time. Taste good, like wings. Perhaps can add little bit more spicy in it. 

12. Bobak's 

5 tickets   2.75 stars

Mini Bacon on a stick

Mini Maxwell Street Polish Sausage + grilled onions 

My friend reminded about the meaning of Bobak in Hokkien (one of Chinese dialect)- and it got me laughing. Bo-bak in Hokkien means = meatless. 

Comments: Bacon is chewy, definitely goes well with beer (I know my dad would love it). Polish sausage tastes like sausage! lol.  

Pepsi Lounge

Place to rest. air-conditioned/fan. 

In The Kitchen with Mariano's

Find the itinerary here. 

Street Performance

Mountain Dew

If they play the songs same as what they are playing

Hard at work. Flavors: Fruit punch, original, cherry, orange (If I'm not mistaken, hehe). 

Bud Light Stage

The Brazillionaires: good voice.

Dancer that caught my attention from far. lol.

Food Trucks

Reminds of me Food Truck Fest.

101 WKQX

Feel free to bring your own marker pen and scribble on this van.

Weezer!

Tickets SOLD OUT but get to watch it from the lawn. They finally appeared at 7pm. First song: My Name is Jonas! Woohoo.....they played Beverly Hills, Island in the Sun, Say It Ain't So...these are the one I remember.

Who's head is that blocking the band

Pictures for Pleasure Purpose (PPP)

Incorporated some edited photographs taken at the event. Enjoy. 

Sir, the turkey leg looks good. A bite por favor?

CHICAGO

Details, accessories, accessorized. A little do no harm, but too much of it will make you look too much! 

"If you love a flower, don't pick it up. Because if you pick it up it dies and it ceases to be what you love. So if you love a flower, let it be. Love is not about possession. Love is about appreciation." -Osho.

The last two lines, very deep, very deep.

Blame it on social media- we gotta share share share, instead of enjoying the moment. 

City lights, passers by.

Roads, less taken?

Nobody can see the end of the road, nobody knows what is going to happen; but we definitely know that death is something everyone would eventually get in their lives, we just don't know when. 

And I'm not gonna let that haunt me, for fear of death is when you are not enjoying life to the max.