CONTENTS 10 REASONS TO MEET EXPLORE CHOOSE CHICAGO IS HERE TO HELP 10 REASONS TO ATTEND CONVENTION FACILITIES WHAT’S NEW FEATURED PARTNERS FESTIVALS & EVENTS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS RESOURCES ONLY IN CHICAGO SPOTLIGHTS AFTER-HOURS GROUP TOURS DINING IN CHICAGO’S SPECIAL NEIGHBORHOODS EVENT VENUES MEET WELL IN CHICAGO’S NEIGHBORHOODS The constant evolution of Chicago’s neighborhoods and restaurants means there’s always something new to try. Visit some of these exciting spots with fellow attendees or on your own for a unique dining experience. DINING By Kate McDermott dishes like chicken-and-sausage jambalaya at Norman’s Bistro and stick around for the DJs spinning everything from house to R&B in The Bar , along with live jazz music on Sunday nights. house-smoked pulled chicken for lunch. CHINATOWN Colorful Chinatown is full of Asian art, specialty shops, and family-owned restaurants. Find Hong Kong-style Cantonese cuisine at Evergreen Restaurant . Sample dishes such as marinated jelly fish, beef short ribs with black pepper sauce, and roast duck. MCCB (short for Modern Chinese Cook Book) Chicago in Chinatown Square is known for its contemporary, authentic Sichuan and Canton cuisine. Try the Cheng Du spicy dumplings or the whole charcoal-grilled tilapia served in a sizzling hot chili broth. NORTH LAWNDALE In the 1960s, North Lawndale was the epicenter of the Chicago Freedom Movement, and temporary home to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his family. Local chef and community activist Quentin Love’s Soul Food Lounge focuses on soul fusion, using Indian, Asian, and Latin seasonings in dishes such as shrimp and grits made with mofongo (Puerto Rican mashed plantains) instead of cornmeal. Founded as part of the Lawndale Christian Health Center ministry, Green Tomato Café serves up made-from-scratch meals like fluffy buttermilk pancakes for breakfast and a chicken salad sandwich stuffed with HYDE PARK Hyde Park is famous for The University of Chicago campus, historic museums, and notable architecture. At Virtue Restaurant & Bar , dine on creative Southern fare like blackened catfish with Carolina Gold rice from James Beard Award-winning chef-owner Erick Williams and chef de cuisine Damarr Brown (who won Fan Favorite on Top Chef ). Stop by 14 Parish Restaurant & Rhum Bar for Caribbean cuisine such as coconut curry shrimp, tropical cocktails, and late-night snacks that include island crab cakes. BRONZEVILLE Bronzeville is a vibrant neighborhood steeped in African American history. At Bronzeville Winery , the creative American menu ranges from Wagyu burgers to vegan dishes. The food is accompanied by an approachable wine list curated by Anika Ellison, one of the industry’s few Black women sommeliers. Try Creole PILSEN Striking street art adorns the buildings in Pilsen, a buzzing neighborhood steeped in Latino culture. At HaiSous Vietnamese Kitchen , chef Thai Dang presents a family-style tasting menu of dishes Norman’s Bistro Check out Chicago’s Michelin guide winners. LEFT TO RIGHT: RACHEL BIRES; ABEL ARCINIEGA
Chicago Meeting Professionals Guide 2023: Page 40
