AVONDALE — It's time to chow down on Elston Avenue.
The Avondale Restaurant Crawl returns Wednesday for its fourth year along the neighborhood thoroughfare. A dozen restaurants will offer tastings of the finest fare Avondale has to offer, from its Michelin-starred Parachute to festival newcomers Kuma's Corner and Food First catering.
Organizers shared titillating details on the crawl offerings on the event's Facebook page.
Meat lovers are in for a treat, as Kuma's Corner serves up its Pig Destroyer sandwich alongside a mango barbecue pork sandwich from Square Bar and a Texas beef brisket taco from Pork Shoppe.
The Pig Destroyer is made with slow-cooked pulled pork shoulder at the burger bar. It's made daily in-house with bourbon barbecue sauce.
Taqueria Traspasada — which had a line out the door in 2015 — will have chicken and barbacoa tacos along with a potato flauta at 3144 N. California Ave.
But those looking for snacks on the lighter side won't leave disappointed. Fruit Paradise will have its signature slushies, while Parachute will serve smoked carrots with jaggery cane sugar and peanuts.
Organizers sold more than 400 tickets last year for the crawl, which partially led to the food shortage. This year, attendance will be capped at 400 people, said Marlena Ascher, one of the organizers and president of the Northwest Arts Connection.
For those who don't buy the $25 tickets in advance, registration starts at 5:30 p.m. at Brands Park, 3259 N. Elston Ave. The tastings last from 6-9 p.m.
Here are the participating restaurants:
• Beer Temple: beer tastings (3185 N. Elston Ave.)
• Brew Brew Coffee Lounge: iced teas and coffees (tastings at Brand Park, store at 3832 W. Diversey Ave.)
• Chief O'Neill's: Irish specialties (3471 N. Elston Ave.)
• eSutras Organics: salt, sugar and chocolate tastings (3333 N. Elston Ave.)
• Food First catering: Thai noodle salad (3207 N. Elston Ave.)
• Fruit Paradise: Exotic iced desserts (3234 N. Elston Ave.)
• Honey Butter Fried Chicken (3361 N. Elston Ave.)
• Kuma's Corner: Pig Destroyer sandwich (2900 W. Belmont Ave.)
• Parachute: Smoked carrots with jaggery and peanuts (3500 N. Elston Ave.)
• Pork Shoppe: Texas beef brisket taco (2755 W. Belmont Ave.)
• Square Bar: Mango barbecue pork sandwich (2849 W. Belmont Ave.)
• Taqueria Traspasada: Chicken taco, barbacoa taco and potato flauta (3144 N. California Ave.)
Avondale's heavy hitters like the Parachute, Honey Butter Fried Chicken and Pork Shoppe will return to the crawl. Since last year's event, Parachute scored its first Michelin star and Honey Butter has expanded to offer tacos on its regular menu.
Other confirmed participants include Beer Temple, Brew Brew Coffee Lounge, Chief O'Neill's, eSutras Organics, Food First, Fruit Paradise, Square Bar & Grill and Taqueria Traspasada.
Tickets are $25 online and $30 at the event.
For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here:
