Coming soon to West Side Park: the Taste of Champaign. In addition to your pets, please leave your guns at home during our town’s fine annual culinary festival. This is a great opportunity to try some C-U dining establishments without a huge investment of time and/or money. The list of vendors is out, and there are many newbies on the roster (18, in fact). Some interest us more than others.
Some initial thoughts:
- Nice to see a soy dog on the menu (Coast to Coast). Vegetarians (even quasi-vegetarians such as myself) appreciate the opportunity to eat good food, too.
- Love the cider slush from Curtis Orchard. It’s kind of a tease, since the orchard doesn’t open until July 20.
- Might have to try Sail’s pizza and his/her “patent-pending recipes.”
- Ditto for the saltenas (a South American pastry similar to an empanada).
If you don’t care to eat, the free musical entertainment and art show are definitley worth a trip. This is a very kid-friendly event, with a petting zoo, a children’s stage, and inflatables.
I hear my stomach growling already.
7 responses so far ↓
Leeanthro // June 17, 2007 at 10:57 pm
I’ve never heard of Coast to Coast. Where is it? I would e a regular customer if I found a local establishment with a veggie dog. Especially if I could get it Chicago style.
Ooh, my mouth is watering now!! Finally a vegetarian delight at the Taste!
khanada // June 18, 2007 at 8:30 am
It’s a coupla guys with a hot dog cart. Rumor has it they’re camped out over near the courthouse in Urbana over the summer. During the UIUC school year, they’re near Prairienet (close to 6th and Daniel).
Marmar // June 18, 2007 at 2:52 pm
That rumor is true! Had one the other day.
Snmnstrz21 // June 18, 2007 at 5:53 pm
Sail’s Pizza?! I used to work with Sail! He’s been making pizza for as long as I’ve known him and then some. Hopefully he does good business.
And, yes, the hot dog cart is currently located on Main St near the corner of Main and Broadway in Urbana. I have not gotten food from it yet, but lots of my coworkers do.
I’m a little sorry I have to miss the Taste this year. Although, sadly, lots of times I’ve noticed that the places whose food I really want to try either don’t show up at all or only show up for a short time on Saturday and I end up missing them altogether.
Jenna // June 21, 2007 at 9:19 pm
I have mixed feelings about the Taste. I love the idea of going but…the heat, crowds, and expense might keep me home this year. But the entertainment schedule looks awesome!
Cynthia // June 22, 2007 at 8:19 am
I love the IDEA of the taste but the reality is another thing. Ernie drove by West Side Park the other day and the boys asked what all the tents were for. He said, “remember when they serve lots of food there and there are lots of people and you guys get really cranky and we all have a bad time?” and they said……”ohhhhh, yeahhhh.”
lbotp // June 22, 2007 at 11:11 am
Jenna — some things are really expensive, you’re right. I think people forget that a ticket is really a dollar. But then again some things aren’t so bad. Cold Stone has ice cream for one ticket, and that’s about a third of the price they charge at the store for the smallest size. It might be small, but it’s a good way to try it.
Cynthia — that’s how I feel about the Taste of Chicago. It’s so overrated. CU taste is a little more manageable, I guess that’s one reason I like it. And tonight it won’t be too hot …
The people with the hot dog cart have also been showing up at the Farmer’s Market. I haven’t tried it though … that’s a little too early for me to have hot dogs!
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