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Dear Mr. Mayor: a few suggestions from a humble food lover
by Steve Dolinsky | May. 16, 2011
Dear Mr. Mayor,
I realize you're getting a lot of input from concerned citizens these days, regarding what they think your priorities should be upon taking office. I know there's a budget problem (and some issues with the schools, the CTA and the new Police Commissioner) but I also know you're as much a foodie as your predecessor was, so here are a few suggestions from one food-obsessed resident to another:
Food Trucks - I was pleased to see your quote in Time Out last week, in which you said, "I don't want to be the only city without food trucks. So I want the restaurants to work with these guys to come up with a compromise." Not only do New York City and L.A. have us beat on this issue, so does Evanston. For the past year, the Hummingbird Kitchen has been cooking from its massive, state-of-the-art mobile kitchen, tweeting its location (always North of Howard St.) and hasn't encountered any resistance. Please go have a Naanwich Summit up in Edgewater with gaztro-wagon's Matt Maroni, 32nd Ward Alderman Waguespack and Keefer's owner Glen Keefer and hammer out a compromise that will work for everyone, so your humble, hungry subjects can start quality noshing downtown on weekdays. Frankly, we Loop workers are getting a little tired of Potbelly and Hannah's Bretzel every other day.
A Full-Time, Year-Round Indoor/Outdoor Market - Your predecessor and I talked about this one over some guac and chips in the bar at Frontera a couple of years ago. As you're probably aware, Chicago ranks far below Cleveland, Portland, Minneapolis, Toronto, San Francisco, Vancouver, Paris and of course, New York City, when it comes to the all-in-one, year-round market. Have you ever been to the Ferry Building along the Embarcadero in San Francisco? Maybe the Chelsea Market in New York or the Midtown Global Market in Minneapolis? How is it that these cities have managed to bring together farmers, artisans, developers and politicians, and offer their residents and visitors something truly spectacular? Just think of the tax revenue, the tourist attraction and the prestige. When Daley Jr. and I talked about this, he had mentioned something in the works along upper Wacker, near the Swiss Hotel, as well as the Garfield Park area. Please scrap those ideas if they're even still being talked about.
For the love of God (and Child, Pepin, Waters and Bourdain), please convene a task force (on which I'm happy to serve) to work with the Green City Market in Lincoln Park (which already has the street cred and the farmers and artisans on board, not to mention a $1 million gift bequethed by the market's founder Abby Mandel) and then find them a magnificent space in West Town, preferably along or near Randolph, which, as you know, was the birthplace of Chicago's produce market and the scene of the legendary Haymarket Riot. I hear the Peggy Notebaert would love to keep Green City around, since it boosts attendance in the winter, and might even consider expanding for it, but resist! Parking is already a nightmare over there, you've got issues with the Park and the alderman and altering the green space there and it's too far East for most of the city's residents. I've spent plenty of time driving around West Town, looking for a parking spot before heading to The Publican or Girl & the Goat; I know there has to be an abandoned building or two over there we could convert into a market that could house individual businesses, but also serve as a central location for farmers, and still have enough room for a parking lot/ramp. The location would be key, since the CTA is building another Green Line stop along Lake Street at Morgan, and it's just a few blocks off of the Kennedy; it's also easily reachable by cab from the downtown hotels.
I know it's going to take a lot of money and a lot of cooperation, but I hear you're a really good listener, and if necessary, an arm-bender. Look forward to seeing you out at Avec one night, and by the way, any chance you could make the first night of Hanukkah a city holiday, so we could make latkes together on the Friday Night Special on ABC 7?
Respectfully,
Steve
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Comments
Here's two more, that are really the same one: get the various Health Department and other city inspectors and agencies to adopt a more open position toward new things. Charcuterie exists by a thin string in this town; older makers of in-house sausage often feel like they're being pushed out of the business, while new ones have to go to insane expense to be fully compliant-- and even then have to fight off inspectors who didn't get the memo that it's okay for a HAACP-compliant cured meat storage area to be running at 54F. Needless to say, the result is that plenty of charcuterie happens under the radar around town; how is that really a better situation for public health than if the city made compliance easier? Yes, charcuterie has certain special risks attached, but so do lots of other things in cooking.
Same for canning and other forms of preserving. The Kitchen Chicago affair was a good example of how you can support farmer's markets and locavorism all you want in speeches and brochures touting the city, but when somebody with power shows up who doesn't like how a piece of paper was signed, a year's work and someone's livelihood can be destroyed in an instant. And it was simply ridiculous that the city couldn't figure out a way to license multiple businesses within the same address; that's the sclerosis of the later Daley years in a nutshell. (While we're at it, toss in the fact that schoolkids can grow things, but not eat them, and so on.) If you want to encourage local eating and markets, you need to find a way to support their products, too, not treat them like dangerous contraband.
I would love to open a food truck, and think that things need to change in Chicago. Thanks Mr. Steve.
What about Dearborn Station!
I agree -- can't wait to add food trucks and have a year around market -- one of my favorite things about west coast cities- Seattle, SFO and Vancouver -- amazing markets and please please please, let's take it out of Lincoln park.
Great ideas. While we're making our requests, how about a real honest to god beer garden ala Munich? Something that could seat 4000-5000 people and have a play ground. Maybe in one of our beautiful parks, open seasonally and selling food and Chicago beers. You could slap a nice $1.00-2.00 tax on the beer and everyone would be happy. I'd pay extra to be able to sit in one of our beautiful parks, eat food and drink beer. Sorry but let's face it the Beachstro doesn't really cut it.
You continue to be the true voice of Chicago Food.
Does the Chicago French Market satisfy any of your suggestions?
I vote for a year round market. My fondest memory of visiting Vancouver was the Granville Public Market. To have that here would be a dream. It would certainly do wonders for an area that sorely needs more business. Any chance we could start a campaign, facebook vote, any takers on starting a movement?
How about a year-round Chicago market ala' Seattle's Pike Place Market on Goose Island? There's loads of space there and it would be nice to have something on the river. Access to the river could help with transportation from downtown a good part of the year. And it would be a nice improvement in a dead area between downtown, Bucktown, Old Town and River North. Nice highway access too for the suppliers. Much easier than downtown.
I've mostly agreed w/ your Hungry Hound reviews and hoped you were the real deal. This totally proves it. You've won my heart! I always search out the BIg City Farmer's Markets wherever I go. Seattle 3 days, Pikes Place Market 5 times & 1 to Mario Batali's dad's Salumeria. Trip to Mendocino for a wedding, rent car to Ferry Term Bldg to bow down to Slanted Door To Go 1st. NYC on biz w/ hubby, subway to Chelsea Market instead of a museum. Toronto, same biz w/ hubby, Kensington Market to see chickens & ducks wander the street. Philly, same biz, 3 days, 3 trips to Reading Term Market, 2 trips to Italian Market in S. Philly.
The mayor will get tons of help from vendors @ Green City including my good friends Christine & Josh from Sunday Dinner/Eat Green Foods(best burgers & egg sand @ market). I bet Rob Gardner(localvore writes for Chowhound) will help as well.
BTW-Abby Mandel was a friend of my family for 40 years. She was a force to behold.
Good luck w/ the mayor and the market(kind of like the girl and the goat)
Peace,
Lynda Jo Shlaes, Oak Park
LOVE this idea. I was living in DC for a few years, and when I discovered the Eastern Market I thought to myself that Chicago should have something similar. Year-round markets would be excellent idea, especially around the Loop. I dream of a place where I can pick up few items (either as prepared meals or produce) for dinner as I head home. I've heard great things about the French Market, but I would like to see another place more centralized to the Loop. I was excited when I heard Fox & Obel had plan to take the old Carson's building, but that plan fell through. Something needs to replace that plan in my opinion. Less shops, more grocers!
I would be happy enough to see street vendors selling hot dogs and pretzels from pushcarts. That's what really makes New York a better place.
Good god, certainly humble is one thing The Droopy Dog is not.