Taste of Chicago isn’t just the city’s biggest food fest. It’s also our biggest love-hate affair. But whether 10 days weren't nearly enough or you didn't go within a mile of Grant Park last week, it's time to experience life beyond the Taste. These spots, all of which had booths in 2009, are worth a post-Taste visit.
Sabor Latino (pictured)
After 10 years at the Taste and more than 25 in Humboldt Park, this no-frills Puerto Rican spot is nearly as well known for jibaritos as the Chicago originator of the fried green plantain sandwich, Borinquen. The family-owned operation has a second outpost in Logan Square.
At the Taste: Spanish steak, onions and rice with pigeon peas; steak and onion sandwich; steak jibarito; pork-filled banana dumplings
At the restaurant: The fluffy house-made Criollo bread makes any sandwich extra special, but if you want something you can’t find in Grant Park, go for one of the steaming made-to-order caldos (soups) or an order of carne guisado ($6.99), a rich stew filled with impossibly tender chunks of beef, carrots and potatoes.
Canady Le Chocolatier
Though Michael Canady’s South Loop shop is a relative newcomer to the Taste, it’s already a mandatory stop for anyone with a serious sweet tooth. Canady’s Taste offerings are limited to gelati and sorbet, but a trip to his storefront, located just a block west of Grant Park, is a chocolate lover’s dream.
At the Taste: Chocolate, blueberry yogurt, tiramisu and peanut butter gelati; frutti di bosco sorbet
At the shop: The gelati are darn good, but Canady’s handmade chocolates are the real stars here. Watch them being made in the exhibition kitchen, then buy assorted hand-decorated filled chocolates such as cappuccino cups, designed to look like tiny cups with coconut "froth" on top, by the pound ($35 per pound), or choose a few truffles ($1.20 each) from the display case.
Lagniappe—Creole Cajun Joynt
With the addition of Southport Avenue’s Blue Bayou this year, the Taste has a disproportionate number of Cajun and Creole offerings. But this uber-authentic Auburn-Gresham hole-in-the-wall is one worth going out of your way for. Last summer, Lagniappe added a seasonal location with a limited menu on the Chicago Riverwalk.
At the Taste: Catfish po’boys; crawfish, corn and potatoes; beignets; chicken and waffles; praline ice cream
At the restaurant: Sure, Lagniappe puts together a mean po’boy, but the best eats don’t make the Taste lineup. For a deeper taste of Louisiana, go for a bowl of smoky chicken gumbo ($5) and some boudin ($3.95)—the rich Cajun dirty rice-stuffed sausage is easily the best in the city.
Kasia’s Deli
Kazimiera Bober’s Polish deli has been cranking out much-loved pierogi for more than 25 years. Pay a visit to the corner shop in West Town, and you’ll see that Kasia’s talents extend to salads and hearty ready-to-eat dishes too.
At the Taste: Pierogi with sour cream; polish sausage sandwich; chicken kebab with veggie rice; potato pancakes; cheese blintzes with raspberry sauce
At the deli: This place can be summed up in one word: value. Don’t miss the Polish sausage dinner, sliced kielbasa in tomato sauce with sauerkraut, boiled potatoes, onions and peppers ($2.89 per pound). At $3.99 per pound (about 80 cents each), stuffed cabbage rolls are a steal too. Gotta have pierogi? Most savory varieties are $3 for a 14-ounce package ($4 for sweet fillings such as blueberry, strawberry and plum).
Las Tablas
Tight quarters and a BYOB policy were once part of the appeal at this lively Colombian steakhouse in Lakeview, but a move to bigger, fancier digs and the addition of a liquor license two years ago haven’t killed the buzz. There’s a second location in Portage Park and a new empanada-and-coffee spot, Macondo, set to open across the street from the Lakeview location later this summer.
At the Taste: Empanadas; skirt steak with sweet plantain wedges; grilled chicken with plantain wedges; plantain chips and wedges
At the restaurant: The Las Tablas experience means meat, and lots of it. Find a willing partner and take on the made-for-two picada Colombiana ($38), which includes grilled entrana skirt steak, carne asada (ribeye), pork loin, chicken breast, homemade chorizo, pork ribs and sides.
M. Kathleen Pratt is the Metromix dining producer. kpratt@tribune.com
[ Updated July 6, 2009 ]
