The 32nd Annual Taste of Chicago has many new features this year, but festival attendees who enjoy longtime vendors will be pleased at the lineup of five-day restaurants announced by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE).
Eli’s Cheesecake, a Taste vendor since the first event on July 4, 1980, will join other longtime Taste restaurants, including Bacino’s Pizza, Billy Goat Inn, Harold’s Chicken, Lou Malnati’s Pizzaria and Robinson’s No. 1 Ribs at the free summer festival, July 11-15 in Grant Park.
Pazzo’s, which will be serving a Chicken Vesuvio Sandwich, Chopped Salad and Tiramisu, is the only restaurant making its debut as a five day restaurant this year, in addition to the previously announced 15 Pop-Ups restaurants that are new to Taste; three will be on site each day.
“While we love bringing in many new things to Taste of Chicago, we know it’s a great tradition of summer, as families return to enjoy their favorite foods,” said DCASE Commissioner Michelle T. Boone. “There are enough menu items to offer something delicious for everyone.”
Four of this year’s returning restaurants joined the festival last year and six joined the lineup in 2010.
Menu items will include such varieties as Tortilla Encrusted Tiliapia Taco from Carbon; Jolloff Rice with Sauteed Goat from Vee-Vee’s African Cuisine; Deep Fried Chinese Bread from Lao Sze Chuan; Pork-filled Banana Dumpling from Sabor Latino and Mustard Fried Catfish from B.J.’s Market & Bakery.
The 2012 Taste of Chicago Five-Day Restaurants are:
Abbey Pub
3420 W. Grace
Bacino’s
2204 N. Lincoln Avenue
Billy Goat Inn
1535 W. Madison
BJ’s Market & Bakery
8734 S. Stony Island
Bobak’s
5275 S. Archer Ave.
Carbon Live Fire Mexican Grill
300 W. 26th St.
Churro Factory
2214 S. Wolcott Ave.
Connie’s
2372 S. Archer
Cubby Bear
1059 W. Addison
Dominick’s
Chicagoland
Eli’s
6701 W. Forest Preserve Drive
Franco’s Ristorante
300 W. 31st St.
Gold Coast Dogs
225 S. Canal
Harold’s Chicken
2109 S. Wabash
Iyanze
4623 N. Broadway
Kasia’s
2101 W. Chicago
Lao Sze Chuan
2172 S. Archer
Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria
805 S. State Street
Oak Street Beach Café
5700 S. Cicero
O’Brien’s Restaurant
1528 N. Wells
Original Rainbow Cone
9233 S. Western
Pazzo’s
311 S. Wacker
Polo Café and Catering Bridgeport U.S.A.
3322 S. Morgan
Reggio’s Pizza Express III
1339 S. Halsted
Ricobene’s
252 W. 26th Street
Robinson’s No. 1 Ribs
225 S. Canal St
Sabor Latino
3810 W. North Ave.
Star of Siam
11 E. Illinois
Texas de Brazil
51 E. Ohio
The Fudge Pot
1532 N. Wells
The Noodle Vietnamese Restaurant
2336 S. Wentworth
The Smoke Daddy
1804 W. Division
Timothy O’Toole’s Pub
622 N. Fairbanks
Tuscany
1014 W. Taylor St.
Tutto Italiano
501 S. Wells Street
Vee Vees
6232 N. Broadway
The 32nd Annual Taste of Chicago is July 11-15 in Grant Park, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. each day. For more information on the free admission festival, call 312.744.3316; TTY: 312.744.2964 or visit www.tasteofchicago.us. Join the Taste conversation on Facebook at Taste of Chicago and follow us on twitter, @TasteofChi2012.
Taste of Chicago is produced, programmed and managed by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events and sponsored by Aquafina, BP Team USA Experience, Bud Light, Chicago Transit Authority, Chicago Tribune, CLTV-ChicagoLand’s Television, Communications Direct, Dominick’s, Gallo Family Vineyards, Humana, Hyatt Regency Chicago, LaGrou Distribution System, Pepsi, Shoreline Sightseeing, Univision Radio, US99.5, V-103, WGN-Television, WTTW Check Please and 93XRT.