No tickets, no special portions as Taste of Chicago moves to storefronts and the cloud

Chicago food truck “Whadda Jerk,” plans to pass out meals such as the “Whadda Jerk Fry,” to Mount Sinai Hospital employees and first responders via the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events’ Community Eats program. It’s all part of the 2020 Taste of Chicago. | Alex Pearl/Provided Photo

The annual Taste of Chicago, like most events that are adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, won’t be the same as many Chicagoans — and tourists — expect.

This year, foodies can experience a “re-imagined” Taste Wednesday through Sunday both online and via 42 food trucks and brick-and-mortar restaurant participants.

With no pre-purchased tickets required and no “Taste portions” in sight, customers can order regular menu items online or visit the eateries and food trucks while adhering to social distancing guidelines.

“This concept is meant to reconnect the restaurant community with Chicago’s hungry crowd in a new, safe, and convenient environment,” said Abigail Barrios, the operations manager for Aztec Dave’s Food Truck Inc. “These items are not meant to be Taste items because the concept of the festival cannot be re-created in its full sense. The items listed [at TasteofChicago.us] are full-priced and were chosen because they are the most popular items on our menu.”

A food truck procession is scheduled to begin Wednesday morning at Grant Park’s Buckingham Fountain.

Also, a slate of free online programming including cooking demonstrations, virtual music and dance events is featured.

Some Taste eateries around the city, accustomed to the up-close and personal format that Grant Park provides in normal summers, say they will gladly take the publicity amid the pandemic.

“It is important for us to be a part of Taste of Chicago to create awareness about our product,” said Chloe Robinson, manager of Barangaroos Aussie Pies, a Lake View eatery that specializes in Australian Pies that can be stuffed with chopped steak, sliced mushrooms and red and green peppers, among other ingredients. “Australian-style meat pies are a very new concept, and a lot of people still don’t know about it.”

An “Aussie Pie” from Barangaroos Aussie Pies, a Lake View eatery.

It will be a very different experience for those who revel in the annual summer lakefront tradition.

“Eateries were not required to provide special incentives or menu items to participate in Taste of Chicago To-Go,” Christine Carrino, communications director for the city’s cultural affairs department, said in a statement. “Taste of Chicago To-Go also offers online cooking demonstrations by local chefs, digital music and dance programming and Community Eats meals benefiting neighborhood organizations and essential workers.”

Aztec Daves Food Truck’s Beer Battered Shrimp Tacos.

Some of the food trucks, such as Whadda Jerk, a food truck that specializes in jerk eats, plan to pass out food at Mount Sinai Hospital to first responders and hospital employees through the city’s Community Eats program.

Some eateries, who were given a chance to back out of the Taste after it was the Grant Park event was canceled, were offered re-enrollment into the platform — with no enrollment fee.

“We have been a part of the Taste since 2018 and have enjoyed it, said Asana Nakornchai, owner of BITES Asian Kitchen + Bar. “Our goal has always been to introduce Chicagoans to new Asian flavors (East meets West 2.0) and Taste of Chicago is a great platform to do so. Even though we could not be serving everyone at Grant Park this year, we are hoping people will still come out and visit us on our cozy patio or enjoy our curbside pickup/delivery.”

You can find more info on this year’s Taste of Chicago in the Taste section of Wednesday’s Chicago Sun-Times and at tasteofchicago.us.

BITES Asian Kitchen + Bar’s General Tso’s Chicken Sandwich is served with a beer.