She pulled it together to get the tickets, and we made the plans to drive down to Green City Market (where the demo was), do some shopping, and then watch the demo. We did exactly that! We got down to the market at about 12:30 and wandered around a bit. Since we had about an hour to kill before the demo, we walked around. Most of the produce was asparagus. Seriously there were about 8 stalls with JUST asparagus. There was a honey vendor though, and I got a cute bear full of raw black locust honey
Please excuse the remote in the background!
We got seated, and then the demo started! We got to see Antonia from Top Chef Season 4 and Radhika from Season 5, and they cooked one of Radhika’s recipes. It was a 10-spice crusted halibut with butter braised corn and lentils with bacon and garlic. Let’s just say I wished I got more than this:
Three bites... SO not enough!
The chefs hung out and answered a bunch of questions after they finished cooking. Both of them were very open and honest about their experiences on the show, and they both seem to honestly LOVE Chicago!
Antonia "cheated" when reading off the 10 spices in the rub
giving cooking hints, like "use GOOD olive oil, and add it RIGHT at the end"
prepping ingredients
Don't remember what was going on here...
After the demo was over and we got our tastes of their cooking, we headed over to the “meet and greet” table, where both chefs signed autographs and chit chatted a bit. I asked them if it was ok if I posted their dish on my food blog, and Antonia said “Cool! You have a food blog? I love that!” My friend Kristin and I took a picture with them, and went on our way.
Fun day!!
We ended up at one of my favorite sushi restaurants, Tank, for lunch, and the rolls were just so pretty I had to take a picture!
That's an eel/avocado/cream cheese/peanut roll and a spicy tuna roll
After the sushi, we were EXHAUSTED, so we braved the traffic and headed home. All in all, a fantastically fun foodie day! I have another fun foodie day planned for tomorrow, in addition to Lizz’s daughter’s 4th birthday party at Chuck E Cheese!
It’s going to be a chill evening here… I’m out! Don’t forget to enter the foodie charm contest, or buy a charm here!
{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh my, I LOVE Top Chef!! What a great experience!!
VeggieGirl´s last blog post..VeggieGirl Gone Wild? : Part Five
That was such a cool opportunity. Top Chef is prob the only foodie show I watch.
Tanya´s last blog post..Zucchini and Salmon Dinner
I wish I was part of your Saturday – market shopping, food demos with Top Chef chefs, and sushi? Fun!
Marianne´s last blog post..Look What I Found!
it’s amazing when things go according to plan, isn’t it?
this was a brilliant plan!!! i’m so jealous — the whole event sounds awesome. but your tastes were def NOT big enough. i’m not surprised you had to go out to lunch after!
Sarah (Tales of Expansion)´s last blog post..Check!
What a fun event! Three bites is NOT enough.
Hangry Pants´s last blog post..She Says: Brooklyn Half Marathon – I Did It!!!
How incredibly cool! Top Chef Masters starts in two weeks!
Sarah (LovIN My Tummy)´s last blog post..They Try to Make Me Go to Rehab
ahhhhh ! i love that show!!! how lucky are youuu!! sounds amazing!! as does a sushi meal afterrrrrrrrr! yum yyyyyyyyyyum
glidingcalm´s last blog post..Catching Up
You do the funnest foodie things! Thanks for giving us the recaps so we can live vicariously through you
Hallie´s last blog post..Pre-Marathon Blogger Meet Up
Oh how fun! If Marcel had been there I was about to ring your neck for not tipping me off too!!!
Christina´s last blog post..Steak Stir-fry and Leftover Meat Ideas
have a great day tomorrow! and how FUN that you got to meet some top chefs!
wow that sounds like fun! come by and see my 24, 24, 24 submission!
fun!!,, and great pix
That looks like such a fun afternoon!! Chuck E. Cheese – ahhh, I didn’t know those still existed!
K´s last blog post..Mony Mony
Some of the vendors might have been out of everything but asparagus by the time you got there. I have been getting some awesome lettuce, radishes and even a tomato (ill be it- it was EXPENSIVE–but man it tasted goood).
I’m really spoiled to live right by the market
Whitney´s last blog post..Chicken Enchiladas
What a fun day! I’ve always wanted to go to that market – maybe more towards July and August where they will have more than just asparagus!
Biz´s last blog post..Thai Marinated Chicken Wings
OMG Mara. I AM SO FREAKING JEALOUS!!! seriously, that looks like a fabulous day!!
holly´s last blog post..End of an Era
Wow! It’s so cool that you got to meet them AND taste the food (even though the taste was quite small)!
The sushi looks awesome. Spicy tuna rolls are my favorite!
Andrea@WellnessNotes´s last blog post..Have You Had Your Water Yet Today?
HOW. FUN! I can’t believe you actually got to taste the food…it makes it that much cooler!
Very very cool!!! I love your little honey bear too. It sounds like a great day. Although, any day ending with sushi is a pretty good day in my book!
Nicole (Sweetie Pie)´s last blog post..We Need to Get Caught Up!
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