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Taste of Chicago: Your guide to the food and music in Grant Park
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Next: 2011: Taste of Chicago preview photos
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Taste of Chicago 2011 | What to hit, what to skip, plus photos

More than 40 tasting portions reviewed plus complete menus for every stand

Keenan Boyd, John Dugan, D.L. Hopkins, Julia Kramer, Tomi Obaro, Erin Osmon, David Tamarkin and Ruth Welte
Published: June 24, 2011

Taste of Chicago 2011, Friday: Slide show one
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    Taste of Chicago

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    Banana Leaf Restaurant

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    Taste of Chicago

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    Banana Leaf Restaurant

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    Garrett Popcorn Shop, Popcornsicle

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    C'est Si Bon!, Cajun Meatballs

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    Hashbrowns, Sweet Potato Hasbrowns

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    Robinson's, BBQ Ribs

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    Carbón, Tortilla Encrusted Tilapia Taco

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    Tuscany, Italian Sausage Sandwich

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    Tuscany, Italian Sausage Sandwich

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    Eli's Cheescake Company, "Skinny Chocolate" Cheesecake

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    C'est Ci Bon!

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    Eli's Cheescake Factory

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    The Noodle Vietnamese Cuisine

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    Taste of Chicago

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    O'Briens, Celtic Corn on the Cob

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    O'Briens

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    Franco's Ristorante, Italian Lemon Ice

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    Adobo Grill, Cochinita Pibil Tacos

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    Adobo Grill, Cochinita Pibil Tacos

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    Lao Sze Chuan, Dry Chili Chicken

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    Lao Sze Chuan, Dry Chili Chicken

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    Free crush at Taste of Chicago

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    Pegasus, Loukaneko

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    Lagniappe-Creole Cajun Joynt, Chicken & Waffles

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    Lagniappe-Creole Cajun Joynt, Chicken & Waffles

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    Taste of Chicago

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    Taste of Chicago

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    Parrot Cage Restaurant, Red Velvet Cupcake

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    Parrot Cage Restaurant, Red Velvet Cupcake

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    Taste of Chicago

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    Taste of Chicago

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    Taste of Chicago

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    Taste of Chicago

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    Manny's Cafeteria and Delicatessen, Corned-Beef Brisket Sandwich

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    Manny's Cafeteria and Delicatessen, Corned-Beef Brisket Sandwich

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    Taste of Chicago

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    The Smoke Daddy, Pulled Pork

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    Taste of Chicago

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    Iyanze, Bissop Sorbet

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    Iyanze, Bissop Sorbet

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    Taste of Chicago

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    Taste of Chicago

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    Taste of Chicago

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    Taste of Chicago

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    Taste of Chicago

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    Taste of Chicago

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    Taste of Chicago

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    Harolds Chicken, Fried Chicken Wing with Fried Green Beans

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    O'Briens, Gourmet Beef Hot Dog (Chicago Style)

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    At the Taste

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Taste of Chicago

Photo: Zach Weiss

We came, we saw, we bought tickets and traded them for small paper plates of food. Day one of the Taste was a bit cooler than usual, just what we needed for running around several dozen stands to bring you TOC's hits and skips of the Taste 2011.

11 Abbey Pub, 3420 W. Grace St. 
Roasted Corn on the Cob; Fish and Chips (Fries); Irish Egg Rolls
“Taste Of”: Fries with Curry; Irish Egg Rolls 
We tried: Fries with Poutin gravy, 4 tickets
Notes: This Irish pub (complete with a real Irish guy) is famous across multiple festivals for juicy grilled corn on the cob dripping with butter and sea salt—its bursting yellow kernels get stuck in the teeth of Taste-going tourists and music-festival hipsters alike. And after trying these soggy fries swimming in flavorless gravy (Fries with Poutin gravy, 4 tickets), I was jealous of all the suits gnawing on cobs around me. 
Verdict: SKIP (or get the cob with butter)

48 Adobo Grill, 1610 N. Wells St.
Guacamole and Chips; Pork Tacos; Chicken Tamale; Churros 
“Taste Of”: Cheese Empanada; Churro 
We tried: Cochinita pibil tacos, 10 tickets
Notes: The cochinita pibil tacos (two bulky tacos for ten tickets) looked great with their crown of pink pickled red onions. But in reality, the pork needed something. BYO salsa. 
Verdict: SKIP

16 *Alhambra Palace, 1240 W. Randolph St. 
Falafel Sandwich with Jerusalem Salad; Chicken Kabob Basket; Beef Shwarma Sandwich; Hummus 
“Taste Of”: Falafel with Hummus; Baklava 
We tried: Baklava, 4 tickets
Notes: Poor Alhambra was experiencing an electricity outage when we visited, so the options were limited. However, this mega-hunk of baklava (Baklava, 4 tickets) exceeded our expectations. Its flaky layers were not too sweet, not too syrupy and layered with fresh nutty goodness. The size is so generous two or three people can get a decent-sized bite out of one order.
Verdict: HIT

56 Arya Bhavan, 2508 W. Devon Ave.
Samosa; Chana Masala; Geera (Cumin) Rice; Bhel 
“Taste Of”: Samosa; Bhel 

10 Bacino’s Pizza of Lincoln Park, 2204 N. Lincoln Ave. 
Stuffed Spinach Pizza Slice; Stuffed Sausage Pizza Slice; Thin Crust Cheese Pizza Slice; Thin Crust Sausage Pizza Slice 
“Taste Of”: Stuffed Spinach Pizza Slice; Thin Crust Cheese Pizza Slice 

20 *Banana Leaf Restaurant, 1948 E. 79th St. 
Four Jerk Wings with Rice; Blackened Tilapia with Rice; Jerk Lamb Chop with Rice; Curry Vegetable Stir Fry 
“Taste Of”: Two Jerk Wings; Curry Vegetable Stir Fry 
We tried: Two Jerk Wings, 4 tickets
Notes: Two jerk wings (4 tickets) were hot off the grill and had a bit of char to balance their seasoning. We ate our wings to the bone. 
Verdict: HIT
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Taste of Chicago: Your guide to the food and music in Grant Park
Previous: 2012: Taste of Chicago Thursday Photos
Next: 2011: Taste of Chicago preview photos
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