Taste of Chicago Gets a Taste of Auburn Gresham
Ernest Sanders
Published: July 7, 2007
Festival-goers enter the Taste of Chicago
Ernest Sanders
Bright and sunny days in downtown Chicago’s Grant Park brought many new and returning food festival patrons to Taste of Chicago. According to the Mayor's Office of Special Events, more than 3.5 million people are expected to attend this 27th annual event to sample more than 60 local restaurants top cuisines, delicious and ethnic foods.
Of the 60 plus restaurants, two came from the Auburn Gresham community to provide festival-goers a most pleasant and delicious dining experience. They are: BJ’s Market & Bakery and Lagniappe Creole Cajun Joynt.
In their 9th year, BJ’s continued to surpass sales expectation with their delicious mustard-fried catfish nuggets, honey BBQ chicken tenders, sweet potato chips, and peach cobbler.
According to BJ’s founder and owner, John Meyers, “We sold about 2000 pounds of catfish nuggets daily and our sales have increased by at least 15 percent.”
Meyer attributed BJ’s success to the City of Chicago’s promotion of the Taste of Chicago, fabulous weather, great entertainment, his staff, and the appetites of hungry patrons.
Festival-goers line up to taste BJ's food selections.
Ernest Sanders
As a 2nd year vendor, Lagniappe continued to impress festival-goers as well, with their Creole Cajun style selections. According to Mary Madison, founder and owner of Lagniappe, “We are much busier than last year. The beignets are selling through the roof.”
Madison attributes her success to her staff and booth location, and estimated that she sold several thousands of each food item. Lagniappe food listing included: crawfish boil with potatoes and Illinois corn, jambalaya with locally grown vegetables, Cajun chicken and waffle, and beignets.
BJ’s and Lagniappe not only impressed festival-goers, but apparently food critics as well. Chicago Tribune staff reporter, Monica Eng, selected Lagniappe’s Chicken and Waffles, and BJ’s Sweet Potato Chips, as the top ten dishes that stood out amongst the other food vendors.
Hungry patrons wait patiently for Lagniappe's renowned food items.
Ernest Sanders
With the diversity of festival-goers, the Taste of Chicago has become a “melting pot” for Chicago rich and diverse human capital that makes this city thrives. Simultaneously, the Taste of Chicago has become a preview for many other like minded neighborhood festivals, including GADC’s own 2nd Annual 79th Street Renaissance Festival – scheduled for September 8, 2007.
Meyer and Madison’s establishments continue to represent a microcosm of the wealth in the Auburn Gresham community. If you have not had a chance to visit Chicago’s Best Kept Secret, a.k.a., The Auburn Gresham, please do so today.
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