Taste of Chicago To-Go" starts Wednesday with food vendors and food trucks; Chicago City Market vendors; Chicago SummerDance instructors; House City DJs; author Marisel Vera; Taste of Chicago favorites Eli's Cheesecake, Robinson's No. 1 Ribs and Goose Island; food business incubator The Hatchery; and Let's Talk Womxn — just to name a few; presented by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE).
Taste of Chicago To-Go (July 7—11, TasteofChicago.us), a new and reimagined program presented in place of this year's Taste of Chicago festival in Grant Park, returns this summer with free music, dance and food events across the city — featuring nearly 40 participating eateries and promoting Chicago's amazing restaurant industry; plus "Community Eats" community meals serving local nonprofit organizations and pop-up music performances at participating eateries citywide, featuring artists from the Chicago Band Roster (created for the 2021 Year of Chicago Music). Explore our online Dining Guide and plan your Taste today.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 7
10 a.m.—2 p.m., Pop-Up Taste: food, Chicago SummerDance and more at Pullman City Market (11100 S. Cottage Grove Ave.)
Taste of Chicago To-Go food vendors and food trucks — plus Chicago City Market vendors (Dotson's Farm selling fresh produce starting at 7a.m.)
Chicago's Doghouse
Cynthia's Gumbo Express
Doom Street Eats
Healthy Substance
Ms. Tittles Cupcakes
Robinson's No. 1 Ribs
Southside Grinds Coffee Co.
Tatas Tacos
Whadda Jerk
Yum Dum
Chicago SummerDance in the Parks with music by DJ Mwelwa (30-minute dance lessons followed by DJ sets); co-hosted by Meagan McNeal and Lawrence "Binkey" Tolefree
10 a.m.: Line Dancing with Fre2Dance
11 a.m.: Dancehall with Urbanity Dance Chicago
12 p.m.: Steppin' with Majestic Gents
1 p.m.: Salsa with Desueño Dance
11:50 a.m.: Eli's Cheesecake cake cutting (while supplies last)
Get Growing Foundation's Plant Truck Chicago, a mobile plant boutique bringing greenery to the lives of Chicagoans, especially in under-served communities
THURSDAY, JULY 8
12—7 p.m., Pop-Up Taste: food, House music and more at Austin Town Hall City Market (5610 W. Lake St.)
Taste of Chicago To-Go food vendors and food trucks — plus Chicago City Market vendors (Forty Acres selling fresh produce and others)
Carolyn's Krisps
Doom Street Eats
Mary Jane Café
Ms. Tittles Cupcakes
Robinson's No. 1 Ribs
Tatas Tacos
Yum Dum
House City — part of a new, 10-part series of free events popping up in the neighborhoods that helped create the House music genre over 35 years ago
3—4 p.m.: DJ Slick Rick da Master
4—5 p.m.: DJ Traxman x HouseofWurkz
5—6 p.m.: DJ Deeon
6—7 p.m.: Dance Down featuring Silent Threat, Bringing Out Talent, Aggression, Final Alert, Geek Skquad, Dance Force and DJ Corey
Free DIY terrarium workshop from Get Growing Foundation's Plant Truck Chicago, a mobile plant boutique bringing greenery to the lives of Chicagoans, especially in under-served communities
FRIDAY, JULY 9 (2 EVENTS)
4—8 p.m., Taste of Chicago To-Go Presents Puerto Rican Food, Coffee and Storytelling: featuring a conversation with Marisel Vera, author of "The Taste of Sugar," at WEPA! Mercado del Pueblo (2559 W. Division St.). Acclaimed local author Marisel Vera is a proud Boricua — and her novel "The Taste of Sugar" was recognized as one of 12 best Latinx books of 2020 by NBC News and the "Best New Novel by a Chicagoan" by the Chicago Reader.
4 p.m.: Puerto Rican cooking demonstration by Urban Pilón's Chef Roberto Pérez
5pm: Intermission and walkthrough of WEPA! Mercado del Pueblo (market) and business incubator
5:30 p.m.: "The Taste of Sugar" book reading by Marisel Vera
Interview by Senator Cristina Pacione-Zayas, Q&A and book signing
7—8 p.m.: Music and dance performance by Ivelisse "Bombera de Corazón" Díaz and "Bomba con Buya" — plus Bomba Workshop
5—8 p.m., Taste on Tap: a special event at Goose Island Brewery's Tap Room (1800 W. Fulton St.) featuring a wide array of Goose Island's brews and a one-night-only "TASTE of CHICAGO" pint. A commemorative koozie will be in limited supply and Goose Island Brewery will donate a portion of the proceeds from the evening to benefit My Block, My Hood, My City.
Taste of Chicago To-Go food trucks: Cynthia's Gumbo Express, Razpachos and Robinson's No. 1 Ribs
DJs: Chess Hubbard and Armando Perez
SATURDAY, JULY 10 (3 EVENTS)
10 a.m.—2 p.m., Pop-Up Taste: a "Taste of the West Side" at food business incubator The Hatchery (135 N. Kedzie Ave.) — presented with the Garfield Park Neighborhood Market and offering live entertainment, cooking demos and innovative local food businesses and entrepreneurs
10:30 a.m.: "I Am Community" art installation
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10 a.m.—4 p.m., Pop-Up Taste: Eli's Cheesecake and Robinson's No. 1 Ribs — Taste of Chicago's tastiest team and long-time Taste of Chicago "booth neighbors" — have once again partnered to create a one-day food and music event at Eli's Cheesecake Company (6701 W. Forest Preserve Dr. at the intersection of Forest Preserve / Montrose / Normandy). Eli's Cheesecake will be offering its Taste favorites, like Eli's Cheesecake Dippers and Turtle Cheesecake. Robinson's Barbecue Truck will be cooking up its famous boneless rib sandwich, rib tips and more.
Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences mobile farm stand with Chicago-grown produce, honey and crafts. A portion of the event proceeds will be donated to the Chicago High School for Agriculture High School Scholarship Fund.
1—8 p.m., Pop-Up Taste: Join us in the West Englewood community (6300 S. Wood St.) to purchase delicious food from local eateries and relax in a dining tent while enjoying a stellar line-up of local DJs, musicians and dancers — plus kids activities.
Taste of Chicago To-Go food vendors and food trucks
Chicago's Doghouse
Exquisite 501
The Flavored Jamaican
Healthy Substance
Ms. Tittles Cupcakes
Razpachos
Robinson's No. 1 Ribs
Tatas Tacos
Whadda Jerk
1—7:45 p.m.: Beer garden
Live performances by local musicians — celebrating the 2021 Year of Chicago Music hosted by DJ Mike P with special guest DJ Jamal Smallz
AYA ITO
Bianca Shaw
Chanelle Tru
Freddie J. McGee
The Future Kingz
Latin Street Music & Dancing
Matt B.
Mercedes Inez
Kids activities: 17' Wacky Dual Lane Slide, Pop-A-Shot Baskets, Ring Toss, Social Photo Booth, Tic-Tac Toe, Giant Connect Four and Giant JENGA
SUNDAY, JULY 11
12—3 p.m., Let's Talk Women Picnic in White, an epic picnic at Millennium Park (201 E. Randolph St.), will serve as the closing event for Taste of Chicago To-Go — presented by DCASE and Let's Talk Womxn. This celebration of Chicago features women-power music, women performers and interviews of Chicago's leading women restaurateurs with pre-ordered picnic fare and beverages.
The $45 picnic box lunch features five surprise items from Chicago's top women-owned restaurants and will be picked up onsite upon arrival (vegetarian or non-vegetarian). Signature cocktails and beverages may also be pre-ordered. Limited food and beverages will be offered for purchase onsite. Guests are encouraged to dress in white in solidarity with women across Chicago and across the world and to bring friends and family to this celebration. for details, visit LetsTalkWomxn.com .
[MEDIA CONTACT: Julia Shell, (312) 203-3130, juliashell@juliashellpr.com]
Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events
The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) is dedicated to enriching Chicago's artistic vitality and cultural vibrancy. This includes fostering the development of Chicago's non-profit arts sector, independent working artists and for-profit arts businesses; providing a framework to guide the City's future cultural and economic growth, via the Chicago Cultural Plan; marketing the City's cultural assets to a worldwide audience; and presenting high-quality, free and affordable cultural programs for residents and visitors. For more information, visit chicago.gov/dcase.
