33rd Annual Taste Of Chicago Kicks Off

The 33rd annual Taste of Chicago is off and running with 35 restaurants participating alongside four pop-up restaurants and 14 food trucks.

The popular food festival runs from Wednesday until Sunday in Grant Park, a shortened schedule from many previous years.

The festival kicked off on Wednesday with celebrity chefs Rick Bayless and Ted Allen showcasing at Dominich’s Cooking Corner. Along with good food, the Taste of Chicago also has several music choices.

Headliners include Robin Thicke and Jill Scott, Led Zeppelin alum Robert Plant, the Neon Trees, and Grammy award winning band fun. While reserved seating costs, and is mostly sold out, the festival will have lawn seating for free.

Admission to this year’s Taste of Chicago is free, though attendees will be able to purchase a strip of 12 tickets for $8. Food and drink items will cost anywhere from three to 14 tickets. Taste portions are the cheapest, costing no more than five tickets. And all vendors are required to offer at least two Taste-portion items.

The Chicago Tribune reported on Wednesday that some of the best booths to stop by include Chicago classics Bobak’s Sausage Company (Booth 1), Eli’s cheesecake (Booth 16), and Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria (Booth 21). Other suggested good tastes include Carbon (Booth 11), Bonbay Spice (Booth 37), and Inspiration Kitchen (Booth 26).

Along with long-time favorites, the Taste of Chicago this year will include food trucks normally seen along city streets. They will park near the Petrillo Music Shell and will sell their food beginning an hour before each day’s concert. Food will be available until the shows are over and customers can pay with their regular food and beverage tickets.

CBS2 Chicago has a list of which food trucks will be set up during what concert. Up to seven will be available each night and they will trade spaces throughout the duration of the festival.

Are you attending the 33rd annual Taste of Chicago? What food are you looking forward to most?