WBEZ 91.5 Chicago

Is Chicago's Jefferson Park the next Wicker Park-Bucktown? It could be, if 45th Ward Alderman John Arena's big plans work out.

Arena cast the only vote against the controversial new food truck ordinance, approved by the City Council Wednesday. "I think restraint of trade is what this ordinance serves up,” he said just before the vote. “A brick-and-mortar restaurant lobby got a hold of it and it was stuffed with protectionism and baked in the oven of paranoia."

I attended and live-tweeted the hearing, which you look back at starting here.

Ald.

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Monday, July 23

Eat all you can with Amigos de Pintxo at Barcito, "[p]art of the proceeds will be donated to Common Threads." Held every other Monday, this week "Pintxo the Perro [a Spanish French Bulldog cousin to Triumph, the Insult Comic Dog] and Ryan Poli invite Merlin Verrier of Graham Elliot to the Guest Chef Series." Co-founded by Art Smith, Common Threads' mission is "to educate children on the importance of nutrition and physical well-being, and to foster an appreciation of cultural diversity through cooking." Admission $25.

Tuesday, July 24

Bring your black thumb to Organic Vegetable Gardening 101 Workshop at The Plant. No yard? No problem.

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“Legislation in Chicago is sometimes harder than making sausage,” said 32nd Ward Alderman Scott Waguespack, the food truck legislative OG, at yesterday’s City Council License and Consumer Protection Committee meeting, which approved the controversial new food truck ordinance. Now, with committee approval, the ordinance goes up for vote in front of the full City Council, probably at the next meeting, this coming Wednesday July 25. 

Where's Schoolhouse Rock! when you need them?

To reduce the risk of turning this into a law blog, I live-tweeted all four meeting hours, with emotional testimony from both sides.

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Wednesday, July 18

Saddle up for the Kane County Fair in St. Charles, Ill., kicking off today and running only until this Sunday, July 22. Get your corn dogs and elephant ears, plus a new item that sounds really good, "Red velvet funnel cake with a real cream cheese topping," at George's Fun Foods, according to the Kane County Chronicle's Meaghan Kilroy. Admission $5 Wednesday/Thursday, $8 Friday/Saturday, FREE for kids/seniors. Get coupons here.

Carry a picnic and a tune to A Great Big Giant Summer Sing-A-Long at the Garfield Park Conservatory.

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Taste of Chicago closed Sunday night and while the check hasn't hit the table yet, the grandaddy of all food fests has received mixed reviews, including mine. The reports don't mention a beloved event that's been held around the same time for a dozen years and known arguably as the real Taste of Chicago: the Green City Market Chefs' BBQ.

The numbers can't compare, with Taste's millions of attendees and the BBQ's 2,200. Plus Taste is intended as a profitable event for both the city and vendors, while the BBQ is a benefit. Neither can be the other, but for sheer culinary artistry, and both outdoors, the relatively little BBQ towers over Taste.

One number merits comparison.

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After all the talk about this year's Taste of Chicago — much of it on the turkey legs that wouldn't be there and the Asian carp sliders that would be free —  I hopped on the bus from Navy Pier to check out opening day for myself.

I did indeed taste the slider. You should know by now that I love the fish and hate that it's called an invasive species.

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Wednesday night, a dozen contest-winning guests will gather for a one-night only pop-up dinner with Michelin three-star chef Laurent Gras. But more importantly, the event marks the debut of Gras' protégé, Thai Dang, and his forthcoming "progressive Asian" restaurant, Embeya, opening in August on the Randolph Street row.

Dang was last chef de cuisine at Michelin two-star RIA (originally the Elysian), at the Hilton Waldorf Astoria Chicago, which just announced the restaurant will close July 27. No word yet on the future of the fine dining space, but casual sister restaurant Balsan will remain open.

RIA's closure echoes that of Avenues at the Peninsula Chicago last September.

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