There's Food For Every Appetite At The 2015 Pitchfork Music Festival
By Kristine Sherred in Arts & Entertainment on Jul 16, 2015 9:15PM
Chubby Wiener's Chicago Dog
From Goose Island brews to $2 bottled water (or free water, if you're willing to wait in line), Pitchfork does its tight-knit festival right by satiating hunger and thirst the way thrift store buyers do for fashion. Sponsors like Kefir and Kind will probably be handing out their various bars, but fest-goers would be nuts to stay sated on yogurt and oats alone.
Nothing beats the heat and tired feet like an iced pour of Dark Matter's balanced bitter Chocolate City cold brew coffee. Of course Goose Island stocks its beer tents a-plenty and their lines will be much shorter than that of the painful Chicago Park District water fountain. That was one of very few unfavorable aspects of last year's festival, and we hope Pitchfork has secretly secured a water sponsor. (Hot tip: though empty reusable water bottles are permitted at entry, each ticket holder can carry in two sealed water bottles, regardless of size. The way the temperatures will rise, you won't have to haul them around for too long.)
No water? No problem.* Frozen treats abound: Black Dog scoops cones of Sea Salt Caramel, Chocolate Stout and Blood Orange Sorbet. Lose the flask and dig in to one of their famed Whiskey Bacon bars or share a satisfying Root Beer float.
Newcomer Bake, whose storefront opened in Humboldt Park late last year, supplies fruit popsicles in nine enticing, mostly vegan flavors: strawberry watermelon and strawberry cream, black raspberry, mango, peach, pink lemonade and the ones we'll be reaching for—coconut, plum and chocolate espresso.
Don't miss Goose Island's collaboration with Chance the Rapper, photo via the Goose Island Facebook page
On the other side of the spectrum, Robinson's Ribs fills the meat void with a bowl of jambalaya and four packed French roll sandwiches with brisket, pulled pork or chicken, and boneless ribs. Skip the bun with the grilled Polish and onions or choose a meat to cap a sizable plate of BBQ Nachos, both first-time offerings.
The Fourkas Brothers return with Chubby Wieners in tow, from their Famous Chubby Wiener to the Tree Hugger Veggie Dog, served Chicago style of course, a freshly dipped corn dog and their signature cheese fries. They are eager to unveil the Backyard Wiener, an all-in-one hot dog, topped with potato salad, applewood smoked bacon and chipotle aioli.
The Rice Table takes fest foodstuffs up a notch by way of Indonesia. Two baguette sandwiches that "pack a punch," says Chef Chris Reed, include the tofu-chili Bromo and the spicy braised pork shoulder Krakatoa with shredded green papaya and pickled red onions. For noodle lovers, the Bakmie Goreng is a classic regional stir-fry with baby bok choy, snow peas and carrots. New for 2015, Indonesia's style of sweet'n'spicy BBQ chicken wings, Ayam Bakar, whets the palate with a leg and a thigh atop white rice. Can't get enough? They offer a combination platter that features all but the Krakatoa pork.
Union Park neighbor West Loop Salumi, eco-friendly Big Delicious Planet and Pilsen favorite Dia de los Tamales also set up shop.
Here's to only spending $6 per beer, eating homemade popsicles in the hot sun and maybe a soggy dog or two in the pouring rain. I'm hungry. Oh! and the tunes!
*In sincerity, we demand that you drink copious fluids, be safe and have fun!