The Taste of Melrose Park

-Feastin' at locals favorite festivals

In a land where food and festivals are a plenty and thus food festivals are a weekly happening when its not winter there are too many too choose from. The list goes on and on but whenever I'm asked my favorite, some people are shocked to learn it is not the Taste of Chicago which has outgrown me but rather the Taste of Melrose Park. That's right the Western suburb long with a history of Italian Americans and now also the home to many Mexican Americans puts out Chicagolands best food fest. Its not hard to see why when you got those two ethnic culinary backgrounds prevalent in your area. Let me take you around the park during last years fest and suggest you make a real life appearance at it this years Taste of Melrose fiesta from September 3rd-5th, 2010.


The choices seem endless on food


Plenty of pasta for the people

The Taste of Melrose dates back to the 70's and features over 70 different food vendors except these arent restaurants or the same food stands you see at every festival. These are for the most part, families dishing out their recipes that have been around for generations. It makes for a unique festival with a few thousand people and plenty of hearty and wholesome divine food items to eat. Another great part to this festival are the prices. Everything runs from $2-$3 per item. Pictured below are some of my favorite items from the past and a few new ones I tried out last year. I always have to get the artichoke casserole and a fried bologna sandwich or two.


My favorite non meat dish out there, they've been here since the start


best part is the items go fast and thus they are always hot out the oven


Always a favorite of mine to eat


another new favorite non meat dish


zucchini stuffed with cream cheese


Maybe this might be my new non meat dish undisputed champ...


The most beautiful servers...


...and great pasta


Cant get enough


What beholds inside?


The best three bucks you'll spend this year


Baked stuffed clam


calamari


fried peperoni bread...great kids serving it up at this booth


The Silciliano's old fashioned fried bologna sandwich is a must get item


Scatchell's stuffed pepper sandwich


neckbones in gravy


Teriyaki steak on a stick

There is no doubt Mexican cuisine plays a major role in Melrose Park these days and there's a nice selection of it at the fest. Tacos, tamales and sugar treats are just a few of the items you'll find. Looking forward to trying more this year.


these tamales reminded me of the ones that made me love them


Whats a food fest without funnel cake?

But the star of the show each and every year are the Little Sister's of St. Charles and their amazing sfingi or Italian fried donuts. You will know where their booth is by where the biggest line is at. Don't you dare miss these treats or your belly and God himself will curse you to hell.


The best of the best and worth the trip alone. God Blessed y'all...


...and me with your fresh fried donuts


When hot out the fryer these are heavenly...

As always I saw quite a few characters and the whole squad on the grounds last year on opening night, but its the same as it ever was...best food fest in Chicagoland. You cant beat the free admission, the highest priced food item is $3, while everything else is $2 and the most expensive thing is the $4 Peroni's and 'Sconsin beer. I'm glad I made it back after a four year absence.

2010 Taste of Melrose Park

Sept. 3rd: 5p to 10p
Sept. 4th: Noon to 11p
Sept. 5th: noon to 11p

Buon appetito!

55th Annual Ginza Fest Chicago

-Feastin' at locals favorite festivals

The next festival in our most recent series here at S'C'&C is one of my favorites and also one I've been to many a times. This year marks the 55th time the Ginza Holiday will be celebrated in Chicago's Old Town neighborhood. Back in 1956 when this all started the former temple was located a few blocks east of the current one and they chose the name Ginza for the festival because its a district in Tokyo known for its entertainment. The purpose of the fest was to raise money for expenses to upkeep the temple and also as a way to share Japanese culture and traditions with the people of the neighborhood and city. It's a great time and I always had fun as a kid with all the great activities like the karate demonstrations, live music and just running around the 'hood having a great summers day. Anyone from around the area has been to the Ginza fest in their lifetime and if you haven't you should check it, for those that have or those that want too, its around the corner and will be held August 13th, 14th and 15th, 2010 and like always it is the 2nd weekend of August. So hows the food?


Midwest Buddhist Temple (Chicago, IL)

Well the current temple seen above was built in 1972 and it is often referred to as "The Temple That Teriyaki Built." That's because the chicken has long been a part of the celebration and is what people eat when they go to Ginza fest. I've been eating this charcoal grilled chicken for a while now and last year it was as good as ever and same as will be this year. Its simple and succulent and always sold out by weekends end.


Chicken Teriyaki Dinner Ingredient List

Part of the fun at the festival comes from watching the grill veterans take care of all the party goers and their Chicken Teriyaki dinner needs. The chickens start out getting cooked thru in a large baking device and they are marinated in a sauce mixture and once ready thrown into a large pot located next to the charcoal grills where they are eventually charred and slathered with teriyaki. You can you can see them in this stage in the picture below.


Teriyaki Chicken over charcoal


Video of the Ginza Grillmasters at work


The crowd heard in the video above always has a good time...and great eats

If the open pit charcoal chicken and some outdoor time in the summer wasn't enough the other shows put on at the festival stage are stellar. You can also go inside the temple and see exhibits of bonsai, flower arrangements and other Japanese arts and crafts many of which are for sale. All of this with some great people and a beer or five makes the Ginza Fest a great time. If you want to learn anything else you can check the website listed below under the address info. Just make sure you don't miss out on that open pit chicken. Maybe I'll see you there.


The neighborhood favorite Teriyaki Chicken from Ginza Fest

The Midwest Buddhist Temple
435 W. Menomonee St
Chicago, IL 60614
(312) 943-7801
Website

Milwaukee Germanfest

-Feastin' at locals favorite festivals

Our next stop is a straight shot up the lake from Chicago into the great city of Milwaukee. It's also time to introduce the newest series here at S'C'&C which is to feature different food related festivals I visited last summer, which I will now share with you thru this summer. I'll be sure to always make the post in advance of their 2010 date's. This year the Milwaukee Germanfest which is held on the lakefront kicks off on Thursday July 22nd and goes 'til Sunday July 25th 2010. It also happens to be the 30th anniversary of what they call "Milwaukee's Original Haus Party". Last year me and a couple friends embarked on a daylong journey to Milwaukee and ended our trip with a stop at Germanfest and made sure we went out with a bang. I've let it be known that Milwaukee is one of my favorite cities in the US to visit and summertime is best. This is a place that knows how to throw parties and its been that way since the 1840's when the population of the city was heavily increased by German immigrants. The German heritage and culture is still widespread throughout Milwaukee today and if there's one Germanfest in the US you want to visit, Milwaukee's is it. Beer, Brats and Blondes...oh my!


I'm going going, back back to Milly Milly

According to Wikipedia today's greater Milwaukee area phonebook has over 40 pages of listings with Schmitt or Schmidt which is far outweighing the number of Smiths. Milwaukee has some great German restaurants along with classic beerhalls and some great architecture and they've all been a part of the community for generations. We went on the opening day which was a Thursday last year and admission was free and we took in the scene, chowed down on the food and put down plenty of beer during our visit. I snapped as much as I could remember too and hope to get back this year. So here's a little sneak peak into what you can expect at Germanfest in Milwaukee on beautiful Lake Michigan.


Germanfest is one of Milwaukee's many summertime parties


You can expect plenty of food and beer


Fresh roasting chickens on a spit were there as we entered


But it was the pig roasts that got our immediate attention


Spanferkel (roasted suckling pig) dinner


Pig's feet were cheap and full of flavor


I always gotta try whatever the local Elk's are frying up wherever I'm at


Potato Wedges with sour cream were good beer food


Milwaukee Elk's Lodge Fried Chicken was da bomb


Make sure you go on a very empty stomach


Mader's is a famous local German restaurant


Tubed meats are a must at any Germanfest


The line for these was so long it's one of the few items I didn't get to try


Tenderloin Sandwich


We didn't try any German pizza but it was interesting


Pizzas pre-toppings


What makes up a German pizza you ask?


Plenty of good beer and beer halls to consume it in at Germanfest


Dessert Time


Cherries are big in Wisconsin


So I had to get a cherry strudel while I was there


Sil's Drive thru is popular in Milly for its mini donuts


They had a mini donut making machine at the fair


It was pretty cool watching them be made


Excellent donuts they were...
________________________________________

So if your thinking of heading up to Milwaukee for Germanfest or for any other reason we have plenty of other good eat rec's that can be found right HERE. Its an amazing eating city and a great place to spend a summer weekend or even just the day eating and drinking away. See ya next time on Smokin' Chokin' and Chowing with the King.