The Fourth of July has come and gone, but this year's Taste of Chicago starts July 11 and runs through July 15. New this year, a booth located just south of Jackson Boulevard on the east side of Columbus Drive will feature a rotating roster of pop-up restaurants that change daily. Highlights include Jin Ju, Inspiration Kitchen, LM and and Karyn's on Green. See the full pop-up schedule at explorechicago.org.
Also new at this year's fest is the Celebrity Chef Du Jour series, which features five local chefs cooking ticketed lunches or dinners for fans. Meals featuring Stephanie Izard, Graham Elliot, Tony Mantuano and Carlos Gaytan are sold out, but a limited number of tickets are still available for a Cajun lunch at noon on Sunday with Heaven on Seven's Jimmy Bannos.
Tickets are $40 and will be sold at the same on-site ticket booth where Petrillo Music Shell Concert tickets will be sold, said Cindy Gatziolis of the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. For a look at what dishes Bannos will serve, check out the menu.