Living in the city

Chicago is a foodie town – meaning there are lots of great restaurants, avante garde food, ethnic and regional cuisine, and of course hot dogs and pizza. Being a vegan makes it a challenge to sample food at some of the mainstream restaurants, especially those that are animal product centric – meat eater focussed! Over the years I’ve learned how to request vegan food and often find that chefs are willing to be creative to meet my request. At the end of the day, the name of the game is a happy and well fed customer.

There are a number of excellent restaurants here in the Hyde Park/South Shore/Bronzeville/Woodlawn/Kendall area. There are great street food vendors, pizza places, ethnic options, and award winning chefs. I don’t have to go downtown to get good food. I’ll get downtown, but today, I’m starting in Hyde Park at the farmer’s market and working my way up through some burger and street food places.

The weekly Hyde Park farmer’s market is right outside my door. They had some great veggie vendors including some varieties I won’t see in the markets I have nearby. I didn’t see anything organic, but maybe some vendors that came later in the morning carry them. I came to see what I might find from local vendors in the realm of interesting eats. I was not disappointed.

I got a vegan turtle/pecan cupcake (delicious) from DaVegiNista.com, lions mane mushrooms (they are meaty and fibrous and supposed to be a good “brain” food), and a local favorite – pickled carrots, cauliflower, and jalapeno. This is a homemade giardiniera – a Chicago staple. Though this market may be small, it had some solid contenders. I got there before 10 thinking I might be too late. Vendors were still setting up. Sunday morning is a slow start for many folks or they start later to catch the after church crowd. Next week I may come a little later to see what else is available.

I have sampled a few restaurants that serve vegan fare in the immediate vicinity. Can’t Believe It’s Not Meat serves a number of faux-meat items and a darn good veggie burger. At least they did a couple of years ago when I first found them. I’ll try them again soon. Small Cheval serves a burger that tasted like the impossible burger and I’m not a fan of those types of artificial meats. They make an excellent milk shake that is plant-based! Huaraches is a wonderful Mexican street food place with tables and wait staff. I love the agua de pina (frothy pineapple water) and the veggie tacos (that come with avocado slices). They are tasty, fresh, and economical.

I look forward to expanding my experiences and trying new places. I am on a budget and prices in the city can be a bit daunting. But when in Chicago, it’s best to eat and enjoy!