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Event Tue Apr 13 2010

Baconfest Chicago 2010

By Cliff Etters

Smokey, savory, salted debauchery with a couple hundred of my best friends...

That's right, I was fortunate enough to get tickets to BFC2010. That's Baconfest Chicago 2010 for the uninitiated. Taking over the Stan Mansion (2409 N. Kedzie) in Logan Square, even on the approach from the corner of Kedzie and Fullerton, one could smell a hint of smoky pork goodness on the breeze that only became stronger as one grew closer to the Stan Mansion.

Upon entering, you could descend to the vendor's area or ascend to the guest chef Featured Menu offerings. I chose to ascend and begin my approach to porcine nirvana, pausing briefly in the bar to sample a Maker's Mark and Bacon Old Fashioned. Mmmmm. Delicious!

And then it was mouthwatering bliss as I noshed my way through the following samples:

Southwater Kitchen's Bacon Rillette's, Coddled Egg Dressing, Pickled Ramps, and Bacon Fat Griddled Brioche Crouton.

Lula Café's Texas Millionaire Hominy consisting of house-made Bacon, Gunthrop Farms Pork Belly, 3 Sisters Garden, Hominy, Jalapeno Peppers, and Prairie Breeze Cheddar Cheese.

After the hominy, I went with something lighter and cooler...

Chalkboard's Vanilla Bacon Ice Cream with Aji Amarillo Caramel Sauce and a Curry Bacon Crumble.

Then back to the spicy with...

Bacon Tacos with fresh grilled Bacon Tortillas, Truffled Cabbage, and Ramp Salsa from David Burke's Primehouse.

The Signature Room's Bacon in the Style of Pastrami with Kimchee Coleslaw and Crispy Rye.

Vie's Braised Berkshire Pork Belly, Panisse, English Peas, Braised Onions, and Smoked Paprika

Paddy Long's "One Bite Irish Breakfast" of Bacon Fat Braised Pork Belly with a Milk Stout Glaze, Rye Blood Sausage Pudding, Pickled Cabbage Leaf, and topped with a Bacon Fat Quail Egg.

The Purple Pig's Spring Pea Bacon and Pecorino Salad

...which was a great crisp, clean, and green way to finish up the Feature Menu tasting!

After working our way through the featured menu, we retired to the bar area to expend our remaining drink tickets on other bacon offerings like Bakon Vodka, The Fifty/50's Bacon Bloody Mary,and that Logan Square staple: PBR.

We dallied in the bar long enough for The Fifty/50 bartenders to begin giving away their leftover bacon. Consequently, we named this fine fellow "The Bacon God".

Access to that much free bacon resulted in smoked meat shenanigans like this...

...a truly Bacon-filled Bloody Mary!

Unfortunately, since we arrived a touch late, we missed out on some of the other delicious offerings from Atwood Café, Balsan, Eve, and Piccolo Sogno, but next year the plan is to get tickets for both of the bacon tasting shifts meaning preparation for even more bacon-tasting goodness...

...and the potential need for an emergency inhaler of Lipitor.