In 1980, Eli Schulman introduced Eli’s Cheesecake at the very first Taste of Chicago. And in 1987, free discs were given out to festival-goers.
Of course, dessert lovers devoured them. And so, to celebrate the taste of Chicago, Eli’s £1,000 cheesecake was born.
“It’s been a really great weekend in Chicago, so we’re really excited to be back,” said Marc Schulman, President of Eli’s Cheesecake.
According to Eli’s officials, the cows will be working “overtime” to prepare the six-foot-tall cheesecake, which is topped with baseball-sized cherries.
And if you’re wondering what the grocery list for a £1,000 cheesecake looks like, you might want to take an extra shopping trolley to the supermarket:
- 450 pounds of cream cheese
- 125 pounds of cookie dough
- 100 pounds buttercream frosting
- 70 pounds of sugar
- 65 pounds of eggs
- 63 pounds Eli’s Shortbread Cookie Base
- 50 pounds sour cream
- 25 pounds dark chocolate chips
- 25 pounds cherry glaze
- 25 pounds of graham crackers
- two pounds of vanilla
The giant cake will be cut at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at this year’s Taste of Chicago. Portions will be distributed to the public free of charge while stocks last.
The legendary food festival usually takes place over the weekend of July 4th, starts on September 8th and lasts until September 10th this year. The organizers announced that the new date had been set due to the NASCAR race at the beginning of the summer.
The festival will continue in its usual venue, near Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park, with more than 35 vendors and 15 food trucks, as well as three stages for musical performances, dance classes and more. There will also be a beer hall, vineyard, cocktail lounge and a new adult frozen beverage station.
For families there are bouncy castles and a range of games.
“Since 1980, the Taste of Chicago has been a popular tradition showcasing our city’s incredible culinary and cultural offerings,” Mayor Brandon Johnson said in a statement. “I’m excited to invite Chicagoans and visitors alike to return to enjoying regular Taste of Chicago favorites, as well as new providers and entertainment for all.”
In addition to the giant cheesecake, here’s the full list of restaurants scheduled at Taste of Chicago this year:
Grocery Vendor
- Cumin Club Indian Cuisine
- Trattoria Flavors
- Arun’s Thai Restaurant
- The original rainbow cone
- Healthy Substance Kitchen
- LC Pho Restaurant
- Yum Dum, Churro Factory (Xurro)
- African Food Palace
- pork chop
- The Eli’s Cheesecake Company
- Esperanza
- Robinson No. 1 Ribs
- Classic shoemaker
- bakery company
- Tacotlan
- JJ Thai Street Food
- Doom Street eats
- badou
- Senegalese cuisine
- Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria
- Billy Goat Tavern
- Chicago eats
- Gabys
- funnel cake
- Frannie’s cafe
- Top notch tacos
- The catering with the only ingredient
- BJ’s Market & Bakery
- Connie’s pizza
- Seoul Taco Chicago
- Chicago’s kennel
- Tandoor Char House
- Cake of London
- banat
- Mr E Chef Catering
- Josephine’s cooking
There will also be a “large selection of food trucks”.
Taste of Chicago main stage program
Friday, September 8th
DJ of the evening: Selah Say
5 p.m. Slique Jay Adams and Mamii, both hosted by Chicago Made
6 p.m. Meagan McNeal
7 p.m. Masters of the Mic: Hip Hop 50
with Doug E. Fresh, EPMD, KRS-One and Slick Rick
Saturday September 9th
DJ of the evening: DJ Janesita
5:00 p.m. ESSO hosted by Chicago Made
6pm Lupita Infante with Mariachi Sirenas
7 p.m. Project One
Sunday September 10th
DJ of the night: DJ Mike P
5 p.m. Nola Adé and Cloud Farmers, both presented by Chicago Made
6 p.m. White Secret
7:15 p.m. Whitney
Chicago Summer Dance
Friday, September 8, 11:00 a.m. – 4:45 p.m
11 a.m. DJ and open dance
12 p.m. Line Dance / Fre2Dance
1pm Peruvian Folk Dance / Peruvian Art Center
2 p.m. Balboa (Swing) / Desiree Roffers
3:00pm Reggaeton / Latin Street
4 p.m. DJ and open dance
Saturday, September 9th, 1pm – 4:45pm
1 p.m. Salsa / Latin American rhythms
2 p.m. Country Two-Step / Second City Country Dance Association
3 p.m. Zouk / Urbanity Dance Chicago
4pm Dabke / Phaedra Darwish
Sunday, September 10, 11:00 a.m. – 4:45 p.m
11 a.m. DJ and open dance
12 p.m. Steppin’ / Majestic Gents
1:00 pm Eastern European Folk/Ethnic Dance Chicago
2:00 p.m. Bollywood / More Dance Company
3 pm Bachata / dream dance
4 p.m. DJ and open dance
