The Chicago Traveler

Tomorrow, the United States will celebrate Independence Day, commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. There are several fireworks displays all across the city of Chicago and surrounding suburbs:
• At Navy Pier, the Fourth of July Fireworks are a ten-minute display accompanied with inspirational music. (9:30 p.m. – 9:40 p.m.)
• Partygoers will meet at Lumen before buses will take them to the DayRa Fourth of July Boat Cruise, a three-hour cruise with dancing, cocktails, food, and a great view of the Navy Pier fireworks. After the display, an after-party will be held at Lumen. ($75-$95, …read more

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It’s that time of year again. The Taste of Chicago is an annual food festival, where dozens of restaurants from across the city gather along Columbus Drive. Millions of locals and tourists sample hundreds of dishes from every cuisine imaginable, from hot dogs to ravioli to veggie gyros to pad thai to empanadas to omelets… Everything and anything edible can be found at the Taste, along with cooking demonstrations, live music, a wine garden, and kids’ activities. New additions this year include a sports pavilion and an international entertainment pavilion.
Admission is free, but the food and drinks aren’t. Tickets come …read more

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• Meet other cyclists at the Daley Plaza for the Bike to Work Rally, which includes live music, free t-shirts, and raffle prizes. (June 13)
• Celebrate Puerto Rican culture at the Fiesta Puertorriquenas in Humboldt Park, featuring crafts, food, live music, and dancing. The festival’s high point is the Puerto Rican Day Parade on Saturday along Columbus Drive, from Balbo Drive to Monroe Street. (June 12-15)
• Festa Pasta Vino is an annual celebration of Italian food, family, and culture, featuring authentic cuisine from local restaurants, cooking demonstrations, parades, and live music. (June 12-15)
• Meet paranormal radio show host Edward Shanahan, …read more

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For a few weeks now, I’ve been posting about the reality tv series, Top Chef: Chicago. Another culinary show I enjoy is Fox’s Hell’s Kitchen. The U.S. version of this cooking competition stars Gordon Ramsay, the incredibly successful and foul-mouthed British chef.
Ramsay will be signing copies of his new cookbook, Gordon Ramsay’s Fast Food, in Macy’s lower-level culinary kitchen. Be sure to stop in and say hello! Just don’t tick him off. You’ll be in for an earful.
Photo credit: (c/o Flickr) Dave Pullig
Macy’s: 111 N State St; 312-781-1000Apr 29: 1:00 p.m.Parking pay lots availablePublic trans: Bus # 2, 3, 4, …read more

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See that picture? That’s actually my kitchen drawer, full of take-out menus. I actually don’t mind cooking, but I’m not big on grocery shopping, preparation takes forever, and then there’s the clean-up. It’s easier just to call someone else to do most of the work. But most take-out isn’t very good for you.
My Gourmet Kitchen can help. You choose four or more meals from a monthly selection of recipes, cook it up in their kitchen, and then bring it home. That’s it! They’ve already picked out the ingredients and prepped all the food. All that cutting, washing, cleaning, chopping… …read more

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I’m not much of a cook. It took me years to master macaroni and cheese. But even I know that when in the kitchen, a great olive oil can make all the difference. There are a remarkable number of olive-oil stores popping up all over the city.
At Oil & Vinegar on State Street, the name says it all. This boutique opened not too long ago, but the concept has been a hit in Europe for a long time. As soon as you walk into this shop, the first thing you notice are the vessels on the back wall, filled with …read more

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One of the largest tourist attractions in Illinois begins this weekend: the Taste of Chicago. For ten days, over 70 restaurants from all over Chicago set up tents on a half-mile strip near Grant Park, allowing millions of people to sample an incredible amount of food from several cultures. Whether you like fast food or elegant entrees, you can find it at the Taste, along with cooking demonstrations, live music, and kids’ entertainment.
It is definitely the place to be when it comes to summer in Chicago, and I try to go every year. Located right behind the Art Institute, admission …read more

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Kids deserve great parties. So if you’re looking for something beyond the cheesy magician for hire, Chicago has plenty to offer.

Liz Isaacs and Juliet Greene created Kiddy Cuisine to help promote children’s healthy cooking and eating. Cooking can be an excellent way for kids to find confidence and self-esteem. The two chefs take advantage of their Whole Foods partnership to use natural and organic ingredients. Every miniature chef gets to decorate his/her individual chef hat and also wears a special apron that bears his/her name. Once everyone’s hands are washed, the culinary masterpieces begin. Some birthday packages include Giant Cookies …read more

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