Good Food Festival & Conference Offers Food For Thought

By Danette Chavez in Food on Mar 11, 2015 2:45PM

It's now safe to say we've survived the winter, thanks in no small part to potent potables and our slow cookers. Now it's time to put away the down coats and comfort foods and shift our bodies out of hibernation gear. Get started on spring cleaning (for your mind and body) with the 11th Annual Good Food Festival & Conference on March 19-21.

The Good Food Festival is presented by FamilyFarmed, a Chicago non-profit that is dedicated to the Good Food movement, which is changing the way we eat and think about food. There will be plenty to eat and think about at this three-day event, which is the largest and oldest trade show dedicated to local and sustainable food. Everyone is welcome to attend, whether you're a buyer for a health food store or just a well-informed foodie.

The festival and conference will be held at the UIC Forum and there's so much to choose from: a Finance and Innovation Conference, a trade show and of course, a food festival serving up artisanal noshes and locally sourced dishes. So, you could run your restaurant concept by Rick Bayless or attend a vendor-investor reception held by Farmhouse Tavern. Or how about taking in a DIY workshop or demo at Sunday's food festival? You could go all out and buy a ticket to Localicious, one of the most talked-about parties of the year. But whether you're networking or just eating, you'll likely be rubbing elbows with award-winning chefs and other socially conscious connoisseurs.

The Good Food Festival will be held at the UIC Forum (725 W. Roosevelt Road) from March 19-21 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. You can purchase single day or weekend passes online.