WOW, I can’t believe Chicago Gourmet has come and gone. To be honest, I am still on a high from this incredible weekend. It’s my favorite event of the season!
This year was extra special, because I kicked it off by attending an amazing Q&A session with Chef Kevin Hickey about the farm-to-table culture in Chicago. This awesome program was courtesy of COUNTRY Financial who have an exclusive partnership with Chicago Gourmet. This partnership is actually a perfect fit because COUNTRY Financial has supported the agriculture industry and local farmers since 1925. They also really understand the ins and outs of the restaurant industry and help them understand what it takes to stay financially secure.
The Q&A was hosted by the super talented foodie, Kat De Orio of Check Please. I have a total girl crush on this chick!
One of the first things I learned during this session was that the farm-to-table movement really started in Chicago. I guess it makes sense given our proximity to all these amazing farms, but I always thought the weather would make it difficult to keep things local. Hickey mentioned that the cold winters make for a challenge, but it also allows him to be creative and come up with unique dishes.
For example, cheese curds are locally made and available all year. To elevate them, Hickey pulled from his roots of eating fried cheese curds, drinking a bloody mary with a beer back. For his version, he created a fried cheese curd with a bloody mary ketchup and a mayo made with hops! How cool?
Another thing Hickey mentioned is how important it is to keep supporting local farmers. The more we support, the more the prices can go down and the less we have to worry about losing access to all their amazing food. The fact is, if they don’t sell, they can’t make the trip down here to do so. If you’re looking for a great place to support local farmers, Hickey suggested Green City Market in Lincoln Park and West Loop. It’s one of the nations largest all-local farmers markets and it runs all year long.
As the event was winding down, I got the opportunity to try a couple of delicious farm-to-table bites including an incredible brussels sprout salad and an awesome beef and goat cheese bite.
Hickey ended the chat by saying that farm-to-table is currently a fad on it’s way to becoming a fact. In my opinion, with companies like COUNTRY Financial, we have the support we need to make it a more permanent fixture. I think it’s so cool that they initially formed to help protect those in the farming and agriculture industry and are still doing so today!
Love always,
Erica
