CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- A "Taste" of a different "flavor" starts Wednesday.
Mayor Lightfoot and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events will launch Wednesday an ambitious reimagining of the beloved summertime tradition, the Taste of Chicago.
From July 8-12, “Taste of Chicago To-Go” will offer Chicagoans and food lovers across the globe five days of free online cooking demonstrations and virtual music and dance events, plus an expanded series of “Community Eats” meals provided by neighborhood restaurants and food trucks for nonprofits serving frontline workers and Chicagoans in need.
VIEW SCHEDULE: Reimagined Taste of Chicago To Offer Virtual Cooking Demos, Music Events
Online cooking demonstrations will stream daily at noon on YouTube, featuring popular local chefs Carlos Gaytan of Tzuco, Maya-Camille Broussard of Justice of the Pies, Jessica Romanowski of Care Kitchen Chicago, Darnell Reed of Luella’s Southern Kitchen and Sarah Grueneberg of Monteverde.
“SummerDance in Place,” the new, at-home version of Chicago SummerDance, also continues Wednesday at 5:30 p.m., on YouTube featuring Bollywood & Bhangra with a 30-minute dance lesson by Bollywood Groove, followed by 60 minutes of music by DJ iLLEST.
The expanded Community Eats program encourages Taste of Chicago eateries to host a free, community meal for neighborhood first responders and nonprofit organizations.
“Local restaurants make up the backbone of our neighborhoods – and we're finding creative ways to support both them and the communities they serve while prioritizing health and safety,” said Mark Kelly, DCASE Commissioner. “While this year is different for all of us, the spirit of Taste of Chicago lives on with community meals and virtual events showcasing Chicago’s diverse and legendary culinary, music and arts scene.”
A local dining guide showcasing this year’s 42 participating eateries is available online, along with the schedule of new and reimagined events, at TasteofChicago.us.
Check out the Taste of Chicago To-Go Schedule below Wednesday, July 8
Noon - Cooking Demonstration: Chef Carlos Gaytan of Tzuco prepares Avocado Flatbread 5:30-7 p.m. - SummerDance in Place: Bollywood & Bhangra with Bollywood Groove and DJ iLLEST; A new online edition of Chicago’s favorite social dancing tradition. This program also broadcasts and streams on WTTW Prime (11.2). Thursday, July 9
Noon - Cooking Demonstration: Chef Maya-Camille Broussard of Justice of the Pie prepares Lemon Lime Cake 6-7:30 p.m. - Millennium Park at Home: Music Series with The Braided Janes and Jon Langford Friday, July 10
Noon - Cooking Demonstration: Chef Jessica Romanowski of Care Kitchen Chicago prepares Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread Cookies Saturday, July 11
Noon - Cooking Demonstration: Chef Darnell Reed of Luella’s Southern Kitchen prepares Salsa Con Queso Sunday, July 12
Noon - Chef Sarah Grueneberg of Monteverde prepares Pasta Fredda with Summer Herb Pesto Taste of Chicago To-Go Participants Arun’s Thai Restaurant4156 N. Kedzie Ave.arunsthai.com Aztec Daves Food Truck2537 S. Wabash Ave.aztecdaves.com Barangaroos Aussie Pies3208 N. Sheffield Ave.barangaroospies.com Billy Goat Tavern430 N. Michigan Ave.www.billygoattavern.com BITES asian kitchen and bar3313 N. Clark St.www.biteskitchen.com BJ’s Market & Bakery1737 E. 95th St.bjsmarket.com Bombay Wraps330 E. Ohio St.www.bombaywraps.com Bonchon Division1732 W. Division St.www.bonchon.comChicago’s Doghouse816 W. Fullerton Ave.www.originalchicagosdoghouse.com Coastline Cafe∫3517 N. Spaulding Ave.cateredbycoastline.com Connie’s Pizza2373 S. Archer Ave.www.conniespizza.comCynthia’s Gumbo Express Inc.9725 S. Princeton Ave.www.cynthiasgumboexpress.comDon Pepe3616 W. 26th St.www.donpepelittlevillage.com Doom Street Eats324 N. Leavitt St.www.facebook.com/doomstreeteatsEgg Rolls Etc.503 E. 61st St.www.eggrolletc.com Eli’s Cheesecake6701 W. Forest Preserve Dr.order.ehungry.com/elis-cheesecake Franco’s Ristorante300 W. 31st St.francoschicago.com Gayle V’s Best Ever Grilled Cheese108 N. State St.www.gaylesbestever.com Healthy Substance6852 W. Archer Ave.healthysubstance.com Izakaya Mita1960 N. Damen Ave.izakayamita.net Jus Sandwiches12320 S. Wallace St.www.jussandwishes.com Kasia’s Deli, Inc.2101 W. Chicago Ave.kasiasdeli.com Kilwins Chocolates Fudge & Ice Cream310 S. Michigan Ave.kilwins.com La Cocinita Food Truckwww.lacocinitarestaurant.com Lao Sze Chuan Downtown520 N. Michigan Ave.www.laoszechuanusa.com Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria805 S. State St.www.loumalnatis.com Luella’s Southern Kitchen4609 N. Lincoln Ave.luellassouthernkitchen.com Monteverde1020 W. Madison St.www.monteverdeschicago.com
Moti70 W. Huron St.order.motichicago.com/moti/menu Ms. Tittle’s Cupcakes324 N. Leavitt St.mstittlescupcakes.com Razpachos5611 S. Pulaski St.www.razpachosmenu.com Robinson No. 1 Rib225 S. Canal St.rib1.com Rolling Chicago Café3904 W. 47th St.therollingchicagocafe.com Smokey Zo’s11436 S. Emerald Ave. Spicy Mexican Grill3925 N. Lincoln Ave.www.spicymex.com Surf’s Up Bronzeville4317 S. Cottage Grove Ave.www.surfsupbronzeville.com The Lifeway Kefir Shop1745 W. Division St.lifewaykefirshop.com The Original Rainbow Cone9233 S. Western Ave.rainbowcone.com Tzuco720 N. State St.www.tzuco.com Whadda Jerk2300 S. Throop St.whaddajerk.com Xurro3927 N. Lincoln Ave.www.churrofactory.com Yum Dum Food Truckwww.yumdumtruck.com