From July 11 to July 15, downtown Chicago was home to the Taste of Chicago, an annual culinary celebration in Grant Park. The Taste, which began as a one-day festival of food in 1980, has expanded to a five-day lakefront event featuring 73 vendors, concerts, and even a live mural painting. For UChicago students, it’s a great way to spend the weekend. Food from all over the city is available in “tasteable” portions, meaning you can try samples from several restaurants without getting too full or breaking the bank.
I visited the Taste of Chicago on with two other UChicago students. We started off entering Grant Park, strolling around the beautiful Buckingham fountain, and buying our tickets (instead of the using cash or cards at the vendors, the Taste requires you to buy tickets). With those in hand, we set out to tasting! First, we grabbed some potstickers and a slice of classic Chicago-style deep dish pizza. After sharing that, we snacked on a Falafel wrap, and decided to splurge on a full-sized Rainbow ice cream cone, which was a much needed cold treat in the summer afternoon heat! We realized we had five tickets left, so we bought a slice of lemon raspberry cheesecake to finish off the day.We headed home, feeling fulfilled with the variety of foods we’d tried (my favorite from the day was the Rainbow ice cream).
The Taste of Chicago is a perfect example of why students choose to stay in the city over the summer. Even while interning or working during the week, students can enjoy the plethora of exciting events, such as the Taste, during the Chicago summer!