Family Farmed Expo is Back and Better than Ever!

By Anthony Todd in Food on Feb 28, 2011 6:20PM

Tickets for the 2011 Family Farmed Expo (March 17-19) are on sale now, and the event promises to be a doozy. Featuring workshops on gardening and eating, chef demos by your favorite local celebrity chefs and over 140 vendors, Family Farmed Expo will be paradise for anyone who loves good food. It's one of the best deals in town - just $10 gets you in the door.

Thursday and Friday are mostly for people in the industry, though if you're interested in the politics of local food or aspire to be a small farmer, check out the schedule. The event kicks off for the public on Friday night with the "Localicious Party." This promises to be one of the hottest food events of the year, and more than 15 different Chicago restaurants will be serving. Sample food from Naha, Mana Food Bar, Big Jones, Old Town Social, City Provisions and others while enjoying live music, provided by Grammy-nominated Liquid Soul. Tickets to the party are an additional $75.

If you're like us and don't have tons of disposable income for fancy parties, but still care about great food and local products, buy a regular $10 ticket. Vendors will be selling hand-made products and farms will be distributing CSA information. If you are missing your farmers market fix, Green City Market will be bringing in 16 vendors to satisfy your urges. On Saturday, visit the exhibit halls, talk to vendors, and watch thechef demos. This year, two chefs will be paired with a farmer, and they will use local ingredients to create unique dishes together. Some of Chicago's best chefs will be cooking, including Chris Pandel (The Bristol), Paul Virant (Vie) Sarah Grueneberg (Spiaggia), Bill Kim (Urban Belly) and of course, the ubiquitous but still-lovable Stephanie Izard (Girl and the Goat).

Are you a serious gardener? Locavore? Pay a little extra and get into the workshops. We are, admittedly, total nerds, but the workshop schedule is amazing this year. Want to talk to Rob Levitt (Butcher and Larder) and Paul Kahan (Publican) about being a "Conscious Carnivore?" We'd pay the extra $15 just for that workshop alone, but check out the whole schedule .

We could go on and on about this event - it gets better every year, and we're very excited to attend. Buy your tickets in advance, as the event is likely to sell out.

The Family Farmed Expo is open March 17-19 at the UIC Forum. General Admission Tickets are $10, Workshop admission is $25.