Bacon!

     Like all good things, this summer must come to an end, and the same goes for our summertime coverage.  I'll be keeping the party going for the next week and a half, before wrapping our summer up on September 21(you know, around the time of the actual end of summer).  But for now, let's take a look at one of the most important food groups out there-Bacon.

     This past weekend, the Great American Bacon Festival took up residence in the Great Hall of Union Station.  Put on by Red Frog Events(who have produced several different events in the city over the past few years, but they might be best known as the folks behind the Warrior Dash), the event celebrated bacon and the love of bacon in Chicago.  With such fare as Hickory Smoked Bacon, Jalapeño Bacon, Canadian Bacon, and Dry Cured Bacon, the fest conspired to tug at the taste buds(and cholesterol levels) of all Chicagoans.  A spokesman for Red Frog put it best when he said that "We as a company love bacon...who doesn't?...We don't think there's an end to the love of bacon in Chicago."  He's right, there most certainly is not.  And with so many bacon-infused dishes, how could there be?  Oh yes, I did say bacon-infused dishes.  Here are some examples:

• Smoky Bacon & Quinoa Salad
• Cajun Bacon Wrapped Shrimp
• Smoked Bacon Chili
• Bacon Caramel Corn
• Smoked Gouda Bacon Mac n' Cheese
• Bacon Cheddar Mashed Potato Croquet
• Moroccan Spice Rubbed Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnut

     Plus many, many more things containing what is said to be America's favorite food group.  In fact, so much of a favorite that the Great American Bacon Festival was the 4th major Bacon event to take place in the city in 5 months, after Baconfest(a porcine-themed hoedown at the UIC Forum), the Bacon, Sports, and Beer Celebration, and Red Frog's own Bacon Chase 5k/.05k back in June.  But the timing of this specific fest also served a purpose, according to the Red Frog spokesman. "This is also a nice way to extend summer as long as possible in Chicago."  Yes, indeed it is.