It's a day for food truck news on Chicagoist. Starting this Saturday, August 13th, a new weekly gathering of food trucks is starting up. While these are becoming almost commonplace (now we have Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday food truck pow-wows) we still love them, since it lets all of the people who can't get to the trucks during the workday sample their wares. Plus, this one is happening at 694 Wine and Spirits, a great spot to knock back a few. From 4-7, in collaboration with the Red Canary, the event is scheduled to attract a ton of trucks and pour out some drink specials. more ›

Growing Home, a Chicago-based non-profit that provides job training through urban agriculture, is throwing a fabulous gala on Thursday - and you might be invited. The event, at the Chicago Cultural Center, will feature food by Paul Virant (of Vie and soon-to-be Perennial Virant) and desserts by Sweet Miss Givings. Bill Kurtis will be giving the keynote address, and a silent auction will be offering up a "Chef for a Day Package at Charlie Trotters," among other great prizes. Tickets are normally $125 each, but we have two to give away to a loyal reader. Enter to win after the jump. more ›

We hear about a lot of "summit meetings" in the news - they usually involve world leaders, lots of bowing and attempts to avoid armageddon. Luckily, next week, Chicago will host a much more productive and entertaining summit - a Food Truck Summit. To celebrate her new book, "Food Trucks: Dispatches and Recipes from the Best Kitchens on Wheels," Heather Shouse (Senior Food and Drink Correspondant for Time Out Chicago) is hosting a meeting of the food trucks of Chicago. Do you live in a far-flung neighborhood? Or do you just find it exhausting to track food trucks on twitter? Now is your chance to try all of them in one place. more ›

Planning on showering your love with an abundance of sweets? Give a gift that gives twice, with the delicious desserts from the Sweet Miss Giving’s bakery, a social enterprise operation where more than 50% of profits go directly to the Chicago House. Not ready to venture too far, given the remains of the recent snowpocalypse? Sweet Miss Giving’s launched a food truck last month, bringing those sweet treats to you! more ›

The MetraMarket, which broke ground last year, is finally taking shape in the 100,000 sq. ft. space on the street level of the Ogilvie Transportation Center (bordered by Lake, Canal, Washington and Clinton streets). The developer recently announced at least half of the tenants who will occupy the Chicago French Market, a part of the MetraMarket retail development that promises to be reminiscent of European open-air markets. Among the tenants signed on for the French Market's late October opening are local favorites Pastoral, Flip Crepes, and Vanille Pastisserie, as well as Chicago Organics who will offer an array of locally grown and certified organic produce, meats, and dairy. Other purveyors on the list are Albano's Deli, Canady Le Choclatier, Completely Nuts, Espression by Lavazza, Fraternite Notre Dame, Sweet Miss Giving's, and Wisconsin Cheese Mart. more ›