10 Things We Learned This Year At Baconfest

Bacon is the star of this show, and it should remain that way. The best dishes were those that highlighted the best in bacon. Pinstripes from Northbrook kept it simple in both a savory dish and a dessert. Their simple crostini came with sharp cheddar and red pepper, cream cheese, frisee and the thickest, juiciest bacon in the room. Their dessert was just as impressive: candied bacon and macadamia nut cookies with bacon bourbon caramel sauce and bacon fat powdered sugar.

Beware the carbs! Baconfest is about endurance. It’s too short and plentiful to fill-up on bacon buns and apple bacon fritters. You also can’t waste your stomach room on a tough bacon waffle. Resist what you can and focus on the best of the bacon - and stick a Glazed and Infused apple bacon fritter with pineapple glaze in your purse for later.

The VIP hour is worth it. Those with VIP tickets are provided with an hour of Baconfest privileges before the swarm of the general public is admitted. During this hour, there is always a table so that you can put your beer down and eat. You also get another hour of digestion, opening your stomach up to more bacon possibilities. (Above: BLT on a cheddar biscuit from Dan Compton of Vie).

How many bad cocktails can be in one room at once? Answer: a whole lot. From the Bloody Mary to the margarita, there was one thing missing in all of these cocktails: bacon. Even though most boasted bacon-infused spirits, I got nothing but a boring, watered-down drink. Luckily Deschutes Brewery saved the day, with their Red Chair IPA, Black Butte Porter, and Smoked Imperial Porter.

Sriracha caviar exists and it is awesome. The spicy flavor pearls lent a special heat to this bacon and oxtail ramen, with oxtail consommé, Asian BBQ pork belly, and house made bacon udon. From David Blonsky of Public House and Bull & Bear.

The sriracha cupcake also exists. Leave it to Whole Foods Market to make me eat sriracha on a bacon-topped vanilla cupcake. It’s not bad, but I wouldn’t recommend it.

Table Fifty-Two turned their bacon into a weird, awkward slab that called itself a bratwurst but really looked like a poorly executed pâté. I was going to try it, but then I saw a girl slam it into the garbage and scream “No! That is not OK!” Later I was personally offended by another pork pure: a smoked pork belly “mortadella,” pictured above. From Bread & Wine, This is in no way mortadella and that ridiculous bun isn’t helping. Not even bacon can perform miracles.

A rare gem, good bacon sausage is a game changer. Luxbar’s bacon sausage served with piccalilli wowed us with it’s refined execution.

The beauty is in the presentation. This enchanting, coral reef-like display complimented the exotic dish at 676 Restaurant and Bar. They paired Japanese 7-spice lamb bacon with pickled vegetables, and sweet & sour ground cherry wrapped in rice paper. By Joshua Hasho.

Baconfest raised $75,000 for the Greater Chicago Food Depository. Since the annual showcase began, it has donated over $205,00 to the city’s food bank, translating into a half-million meals for Chicagoans. It’s like the Toms of bacon festivals. (Above:. BSLT, with bacon-crusted salmon sashimi, bacon tempura crunch, bacon mayo, bacon ponzu, micro lettuce, baby tomatoes and caramelized bacon red onions. By Andre Christopher of Bistro Dre.)

Our favorite dish of the night: “Breakfast in Bed” – coffee cured and smoked bacon, egg yolk jam, “toast” and streusel. Egg yolk jam is one of the world’s greatest pleasures. This was my absolute favorite bite. From Pat Sheerin of Trenchermen.

Our second favorite: bacon laab with kaffir lime, galangal, toasted rice and endive. We applaud the delicacy in flavor and texture. From Matt Riordan of Saigon Sisters.

Our favorite dessert: chocolate tart shell filled with chocolate ganache and a tart cherry caramel served a la mode with smoky bacon gelato. From Jessica Oloroso of Black Dog Gelato. Flawless.

Overall, Baconfest is any meat-lovers paradise. At the end of the night, we found ourselves thoroughly satisfied and well over-served in more ways that one. There’s only one way to do Baconfest, and that’s all the way.