A Taste of How things Use to Taste
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By Joe Hendrix, Editor, The Real Chi |
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One of the most celebrated and established traditions in the Windy City is The Taste of Chicago; an event that mixes food and culture into a melting pot that has allowed Chicago to be one of the most important tourist selections in the country. Delicious food and summertime Chicago is a match made in heaven, and “The Taste” wants to get you through the pearly gates.
Originating in 1980, the Taste of Chicago was the brainchild of a group of restaurant owners who approached then Chicago mayor Jane Byrne with the idea of a one day food festival on the fourth of July. It was to be held in the three-block radius bordered by the Chicago River, Wrigley Building, and Tribune Tower with a $150,000 budget. The terms were agreed upon, and after an attendance of 250,000 people with a gross of $330,000 the city considered it a major success.
Despite a roaring approval from the city, however, The Taste did not become Chicago’s signature event initially. Chicagofest was an event located at Navy Pier created two years prior in 1978 by Mayor Jane Byrne and lasted a full ten days cementing the now synonymous landmark as a “pleasure pier for public use.” As Chicago was getting serious about its summer festivals Byrne believed she had a one-two punch that could keep her office for the foreseeable future. However, political rival and future mayor, Harold Washington, would cancel Chicagofest just a few years later as The Taste’s meteoric rise continued.
With its main competitor slowly being usurped and a higher public demand for the Taste, it was decided in 1981 by Byrne and city officials that Grant Park would be the central location for the next festival with the Petrillo Music Shell providing stages, dressing rooms, and showers for musical performers as well as seats for attendees. Originally, Grant Park Symphony Orchestra’s would be the main musical attraction, but as the 80’s turned to the 90’s acts like Kool and The Gang and Barry White (performing in 1993 & 1994 respectively) would add more legitimacy to the brand. This would lead to more attendees, more vendors wanting to participate, and most importantly, more revenue. As the decades went on “The Taste” became a more normalized and expected part of the city. Year over year more musicians played, new restaurants joined the fun, and it was a privilege that many may have taken for granted. By 2019, the city projected the economic benefit of The Taste was in the range of $106 million dollars. Its continued success made it a mainstay in a sea of summertime activities that competed for the attention of a busy Chicago summer crowd.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic snuck up on everyone in early 2020 and by the summer the annual food festival was one of hundreds of canceled in-person events. In response to the pandemic, The Taste moved to a virtual platform following the pandemic in 2020 and was reimagined under COVID-19 health and safety protocol in 2021.
This year, The Taste is looking to come back to its original roots this upcoming summer. Starting on Saturday, June 11 the food festival will be city wide for the next three Saturdays till the 25th for neighborhood pop-ups across the city/ Locations have yet to be determined. Friday, July 8th through Sunday July 10th the festival will then emanate from Grant Park to finish off its run. Visit Chicago.gov site for updates.