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I never in my life thought I would say this. But there might just be such a thing as too much bacon.
I spent the latter half of my weekend with heart burn and a stomach ache and a general feeling of not ever wanting to move or eat again. It’s not to say that it wasn’t worth it. Because, really, If you’re going to spend the second half of a weekend with heartburn and a stomach ache you might as well have had spent the first half stuffing yourself with bacon.
This weekend was Baconfest Chicago, a culinary festival celebrating the very tastiest part of the pig.
Got Bacon?
I went last year. And it was kind of amazing. So of course I sat at my computer, refreshing the screen so that when tickets went on sale this year I was able to snap one up.
I met up with Emily and Chelsa and Stephanie and we all checked in and waited in line.
Baconfest menu.
Standing in line and watching it wrap around the building I thought that maybe it would have been a good idea to spring for the VIP tickets that would have gotten us in an hour sooner. Less crowd. More bacon.
At least though we were towards the front of the line. At the stroke of noon thirty they let us in and we made a mad dash for the first table. We were able to get through the first line pretty quickly, with no lines between us and bacon goodness. We went table by table, sampling pork dishes from some of the best restaurants and best chefs in the city.
Naha: Slow Roasted Slab Bacon with Rhubarb and Burton’s Sorghum
Vie: Roasted pork belly with meyer lemon marmalade, buttermilk biscuit and pine nut aillade
Gemini Bistro: “The Elvis”: Homemade crunchy peanut butter, fried banana, honey peppered bacon, griddled banana bread
Custom House Tavern: Bacon Manhattan: Templeton Rye Braised Pork Belly, Vermouth & Onion Marmalade with Tart Cherry Mustard
Signature Room: Bacon-stuffed bacon, Maple egg jam, Whipped pancakes.
Many of my favorites ended up being a really nicely cooked portion of pork belly with some sort of sauce. And the bacon milkshake. Because you all know my feelings on milkshakes. And bacon ice creams. Because you all know my feelings on ice cream.
Chalkboard Restaurant: Bacon Manhattan Milkshakes with cherry pearls
iNG Restaurant: Bacon “Drumstick” cone, bacon caramel, bacon ice cream, bacon chocolate and crispy lardons
Black Dog Gelato: Banana and Bacon’s Foster
We ate entirely too fast. Running from booth to booth hardly stopping, piling plates on top of one another. I wanted to try to get to as much as I possibly could and wanted to try to get to everything before they ran out. Because last year a couple of the places ran out. And I was sad.
But as fast as we went a few places still ran out before we got to them. And I was sad. See, whenever I throw a party I always over buy. At the end of the night I end up with extra ice in the freezer, an unopened bag of cups, an extra bottle of wine. But I always think it’s worth it to end up with more then you need instead of running out and disappointing your guests. So when a professional restaurant just doesn’t prepare enough it kind of gets on my nerve. Like when Atwood Cafe gave us a blob of bacon fat that tasted like it might be OK if it was on something. Or when Small Bar put a note out that said they ran out of food. All of this only an hour and a half after general admission doors were opened.
I think there was supposed to be more than just this dab of cream from Atwood Cafe.
Small Bar ran out of food.
I did not get to taste everything, I had to use some sort of discretion so I skipped anything with sausage (because I’m just not a fan of the texture) and skipped almost everything that came on a bun. And entirely too many people served something on a giant piece of bread. And that fills you up on bread. And this wasn’t Breadfest Chicago.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a trip to Baconfest without capping off with a bacon cocktail. I had a delicious bacon bloody mary and Emily…well…
Bacon Bloody Mary
Bacon Drinks
All in all, it was an amazing way to spend the afternoon. There was bacon. And bacon. And a whole lot more bacon. And I think I ate about three-fourths of the dishes. And for the first time maybe ever in my life it took a full 24 hours before I wanted to eat again. And this from a girl who is almost constantly hungry. So, maybe there is such a thing as too much bacon? Then again, I could go for some now…
More Baconfest Chicago 2011 photos here!
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No such thing as too much bacon! This is the year of bacon, of course last year was the year of bacon and the year before….There is nothing so fantastic as the smell of bacon…(in my opinion)
I do agree!
Great pix & descrips, Val — makin’ me hungry! I’ll mos def try to go next year.
Thank you! You should definitely go!