“All lives will matter once Black lives matter” is the chant that has been heard around the world for the past week and one heard by protestors in Peoria, Il. Since George Floyd was killed by Minneapolis Police the largest civil rights movement in world history has begun. America is known to be the land of the free, even though the history of this country speaks otherwise. Built from genocide and slave labor America has been land of the free for some rather than all. African Americans have a deep-rooted history in this country of slavery and oppression dating back to 1619 when the first slave ships landed in Jamestown. From there came 400 years of slavery, Jim Crowe, and now what is said to be the new form of slavery mass incarceration and police brutality.
In Peoria, Il a group of African American young adults who call themselves “Young Revolution” have been organizing protests around Central Illinois to bring more awareness to the Black Lives Matter movement as well as the problems that are faced in the black community on a daily basis. Protests have been scheduled for every Saturday starting at the Peoria Courthouse and River Front. The Young Revolution has been doing what they can to promote black business by making sure that people know where they are. Young Revolution strides to promote unity across the city of Peoria, to cultivate, to advocate for all oppressed groups, and to be a change agent for our community.
While police brutality is not a new concept to people there has been a rise in the recordings of these incidents. Most with unarmed black men and women who have done nothing to be a threat other than being Black that ultimately end in them never being able to see their families again. “Imagine leaving your home to do a routine task such as going to the grocery store and instead of coming back with groceries your family has to start planning your funeral instead. That is the reality that African Americans have to think about daily when it comes to encounters with police. To make matters worse more times than not the person who killed you gets to walk free,” said Autumn Angelize one of the founders of Young Revolution.
Racism in this country has never gone away; it just adapted to the changing times. African Americans are constantly seen as a threat in this country and daily have to conform to social norms to do simple things like getting a job. Years of peaceful protesting have fallen on deaf ears which allowed for the rage that African Americans feel to build. Another leader of Young Revolution, Rochelle Johnson, stated “It was as if America was poking a sleeping bear and now Black voices will be heard until a change is made. Across the world, people have given voice to the pain and damage that police brutality and racism have caused. It is now time for America to listen.”
The city of Chicago has been mainly been known for the violence that erupts throughout the city which causes people that to be scared to even visit. With the city being under constant scrutiny it’s hard to see or hear the good that there actually is in the great Windy City. Ranked as one of the top ten food places in America by the Washington post the cities great culinary qualities are often overshadowed by the culinary genius that is Chicago. The city has a lot to offer in many different aspects that need to shine just a little brighter for the rest of the world to see. There a lot of hidden gems in Chicago you just have to be willing to find them.
One of the best-kept secrets of the city of Chicago is definitely the locally infamous Chicago mild sauce. Now when it comes to the aloof condiment most Chicago natives don’t know how the sauce came to be they just know that life wouldn’t be the same without it. This sauce has been a hidden Windy City gem for about 54 years now. The creator, however, can be debated with some people arguing that the restaurant Uncle Remus created the sauce while others say that it was started at Harold’s Fish and Chicken shack. No matter where it started the sauce has been a staple ever since. With currently living in Georgia mild sauce isn’t the same as Chicago mild sauce making me miss it a lot and I had to put it on my food list for when I came back to visit. Honestly, I missed the sauce so much I bought a gallon of it just so that I could always have a piece of it while at home.
This sauce can be found at just about any restaurant in the city especially when it comes to the restaurants that sell fried fish and chicken. What is in this sauce? No one really knows due to it not being sold in stores but also no one cares too much. I believe that it is due to the mystery of just not knowing what is in this sauce and being able to guess the ingredients has definitely contributed to its longevity of the sauce other than its great taste. One of the key ingredients of the sauce that everyone knows that one of the main ingredients is barbecue sauce. KaNesha McGee, a Chicago native, says “Mild sauce is a taste that you can’t explain because there isn’t another taste quite like it which is why we love it so much. You should definitely put trying mild sauce on your Windy City bucket list, trust me your taste buds will thank you and be forever grateful that you did.
Now the city isn’t just about the mild sauce there are restaurants that everyone can enjoy, and you are guaranteed not to find anywhere else. With over half of the city being different ethnicities there are a lot of fusions of cultures in every part of the city. The city has a restaurant for every taste bud and palate so there is absolutely no reason for anyone to go hungry. These restaurants range from weird to ethnic and will definitely leave you wanting for more when you leave.
Vermiliona Latin- Indian restaurant that fuses the two countries known for their spicy cuisines and comes up with a delectable combination that doesn’t disappoint. Two entrees that are a must try are the Chicken Tikka Masala and Tandoori Skirt Steak. For those who have different dietary needs, there are vegan options available and the desserts are absolutely to die for. This restaurant located at 10 W Hubbard has been named one of the best restaurants in the city by different journalists and critics.
Parachute Chicagolocated at 3500 N Elston Ave is a Korean- New American fusion location located near the Avondale neighborhood. This restaurant is like down south cooking meets traditional Korean cuisine that has been driving its customers wild. The most popular dish is the Baked Potato Bing Bread. The potato bread is baked with bacon, scallions, and cheddar cheese and brushed with sesame oil before its skillet fried and oven baked.
The only restaurant in Chicago with “Macanese” food is Fat Rice. Their menu consists of a fusion of cuisine from Macau (the Portuguese province of China) along with Chinese and Portuguese if you are looking to try something new then look no further than the Arroz Gordo or “Fat Rice in English. The dish is similar to paella and is usually reserved for special celebrations in Macau. The bottom layer is made up of jasmine rice is mixed so Frito, chorizo, and salted duck and is topped with curried thighs, char Siu pork, linquica sausage, jumbo prawns, manila clams, tea eggs, croutons, Portuguese olives, pickled chilies. Sauces (mushroom soy and diablo hot sauce) are served on the side. This located at 2957 W Diversy.
Grace is one of the top African restaurants in the city where no matter who you are you are treated like family. Located in Uptown/Edgewater neighborhood this restaurant specializes in bringing traditional Ghanaian home cooking to the city of Chicago. Their fried plantains are to die for and the fufu and soup never disappoints. Although Grace has temporarily closed due to the untimely passing of the owner there has been talks to open this delectable restaurant back up so when it does make sure that you are one of the first people in line.
In most Chicagoans opinion it is a lot better to go to restaurants like these instead of the big chain restaurants. Chessica Doss, a Chicago native, describes the feeling that she gets from these restaurants as having a sense of family. Most natives will say that this is something that you just cannot get from big chain restaurants because there are always more rules and regulations around how to treat the customers that they lose sight of the personal effect that needs to come along with it. Each restaurant has something that makes them stand out from the rest. Some succeed in this effort while others fall by the wayside never to be remembered. With there already being so many different things that make the city of Chicago stand out from the rest like the bean or the music the restaurants have to stand out as well. Between having dinner in a train car to eating without any utensils at all these restaurants take the cake on having some of the most out their themes that you just have to experience at least once in your life. These are just a few of the amazingly different and delicious restaurant that you can only get in the Windy City.
To find out more about these restaurants as well as other different restaurants in the Windy City or other restaurants around the world follow me on all my pages listed below.
Every city has their own foods that you can only find by going there and the city of Chicago is definitely no exception to this. There are a lot of foods that are staples when you think about the Windy City like the famous Chicago deep dish pizza and Garret’s popcorn that helped put the city on the map when it comes to being a culinary hub. Now that these have been widely spread throughout the country there are more foods that are unique only to the city of Chicago. Here are some more great foods for you to try on your next visit to the city.
The Rainbow Cone at The Original Rainbow Cone located at 9233 S Western Ave. is one of the best spots to get ice cream in the city. The Rainbow cone is their signature menu item that is a variation of flavors that don’t seem as if they work together until you try it. The Rainbow cone is chocolate, strawberry, Palmer house, pistachio, and orange sherbet ice cream stacked on top of each other that will keep your taste buds on their toes.
The Mac at Cheesie’s is a late-night snack that has all of the college kids going crazy. The Mac is American cheese, Merkt’s cheddar and homemade macaroni and cheese on Texas toast with a Tomato soup dipping sauce. There are four locations throughout the city including a food truck that is available for catering orders.
Next, up would be the behemoth Marshmallow Sunday from Margie’s Candies at either location at the 1960 Western Ave. or the Montrose address. Margie’s is a true Chicago institution dating back to 1921. Sit in the same chair where gangster Al Capone enjoyed homemade ice cream and toppings. Marshmallow is the best addition to any one of Margie’s 13 ice cream flavors.
One of my personal favorites would definitely be the Italian beef from Portillo’ There are several locations throughout the city and no matter what time you go there will always be a long line of cars waiting to order at the restaurant. The Italian beef is thinly sliced and served on freshly baked Turano French bread. There are many ways to order an Italian beef sandwich. The standard sandwich is served by splashing a bit of our flavorful, secretly-spiced gravy on it. Some like their sandwich “dipped,” which means we dip the whole sandwich in our gravy. You can also order it “dry,” with very little gravy.
The city of Chicago is a big melting pot that a lot of people don’t see when they visit. With over half of the city being different ethnicities there are a lot of fusions of cultures in every part of the city. The city has a restaurant for every taste bud and palate so there is absolutely no reason for anyone to go hungry. These restaurants range from weird to ethnic and will definitely leave you wanting for more when you leave.
Vermilion– This is a Latin- Indian restaurant that fuses the two countries known for their spicy cuisines and comes up with a delectable combination that doesn’t disappoint. Two entrees that are a must try are the Chicken Tikka Masala and Tandoori Skirt Steak. For those who have different dietary needs, there are vegan options available and the desserts are absolutely to die for. This restaurant is located at 10 W Hubbard.
Parachute Chicago- This restaurant located at 3500 N Elston Ave is a Korean- New American fusion location located near the Avondale neighborhood. This restaurant is like down south cooking meets traditional Korean cuisine that has been driving its customers wild. The most popular dish is the Baked Potato Bing Bread. The potato bread is baked with bacon, scallions, and cheddar cheese and brushed with sesame oil before its skillet fried and oven baked.
The only restaurant in Chicago with “Macanese” food is Fat Rice. Their menu consists of a fusion of cuisine from Macau (the Portuguese province of China) along with Chinese and Portuguese if you are looking to try something new then look no further than the Arroz Gordo or “Fat Rice in English. The dish is similar to paella and is usually reserved for special celebrations in Macau. The bottom layer is made up of jasmine rice is mixed sofrito, chorizo, and salted duck and is topped with curried thighs, char siu pork, linquica sausage, jumbo prawns, manila clams, tea eggs, croutons, Portuguese olives, pickled chilies. Sauces (mushroom soy and diabo hot sauce) are served on the side. This located at 2957 W Diversy.
Grace- Grace is one of the top African restaurants in the city. Located in Uptown/Edgewater neighborhood this restaurant specializes in bringing traditional Ghanaian home cooking to the city of Chicago. Their fried plantains are to die for and the fufu and soup never disappoints.
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