DOWNTOWN — Cook onboard food trucks are now legal in Chicago, but they can be hard to track down during busy Loop lunch hours. So on Friday, the city is circling them up for a tasting downtown.
On Monday, the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) named the eight food trucks participating in the rally at Daley Plaza from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m.
The food trucks in the group are:
- Beavers Coffee & Donuts
- Bridgeport Pasty
- Chicago Cupcake
- Chicago Lunchbox
- The Fat Shallot
- Jerk 312
- PorkChop
- The Salsa Truck
The rally will include a designated area for guests to drink beer and for live entertainment, including Mike & Lisa from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and DJ Lisa René from 5 to 7:30 p.m.
"We are excited to launch this new event that promotes the thriving food-truck industry," said Mayor Rahm Emanuel. "We remain committed to creating the conditions and opportunities that will allow this industry to thrive, create jobs and support a vibrant food culture across Chicago."
The city has licensed 20 trucks to cook onboard this year since the first was approved in January. They join the approximately 100 food trucks licensed to dispense pre-cooked food.
The Food Truck Rally is the marquee event in a month the city is dedicating to food trucks. They'll also be welcomed to Millennium Park as part of Fashion Focus: Chicago's Fashion Week, Oct. 19 and 20; back at Daley Plaza as part of its Halloween events, Oct. 25-27; and to two Chicago Artists Month events: Oct. 19 in Pilsen and Oct. 31 at the Cultural Center Downtown.
