If you could possibly need another excuse to attend Baconfest Chicago 2011 — aka the porkiest day of the year — perhaps you should check out the epic list of participating restaurants. There are over 50 vendors, which almost sounds like a dare to us. It includes many restaurants that are well versed in the ways of the pig (Lillie’s Q, Longman & Eagle, Old Town Social), along with a few really surprising choices. We’re particularly interested in seeing what Black Dog Gelato will be doing with meat. Also, we’re happy to see the Brian Polcyn made the list. He helped co-write the bible on home curing, Charcuterie, with Michael Ruhlman, and certainly knows a thing or two about bacon. Tickets will be going on sale later this month, and you can sign up for the mailing list to get first dibs. Before you do, you should definitely peruse the list below.
Baconfest Chicago’s 2011 Exhibiting Restaurants
Atwood Cafe - Derek Simcik
The Bedford - Mark Steuer
Big Jones - Paul Fehribach
Black Dog Gelato - Jessica Oloroso
The Black Sheep - James Toland
Blokes & Birds - Greg Cannon
Blue 13 - Chris Curren
Boka - Carl Shelton
The Bristol - Chris Pandel
Cafe Spiaggia - Sarah Grueneberg and Aaron Diener
Chalkboard - Gilbert Langlois
Chizakaya - Harold Jurado
Custom House Tavern - Perry Hendrix
The Forest Grill - Brian Polcyn
Gemini Bistro - Jason Paskewitz
Girl & The Goat - Stephanie Izard
Hearty Restaurant - Dan Smith
Heaven on Seven - Jimmy Bannos Sr.
iNG Restaurant - Thomas Elliott Bowman
Inovasi - John des Rosiers
La Madia - Jonathan Fox
Lillie’s Q - Charlie Mckenna
LOKaL - Artur Wnorowski and Ruben Torres
Longman & Eagle - Jared Wentworth
Magnolia Cafe - Kasra Medhat
The Meatyballs Mobile - Phillip Foss
Miramar Bistro - Gabriel Viti
Moto Restaurant - Christopher Jones
Naha - Carrie Nahabedian
Old Town Social - Jared Vancamp
One SixtyBlue - Michael McDonald
Paddy Long’s - Pat Berger and Chris Latchford
Park Grill at Millenium Park - Bernie Laskowski
Perennial - Ryan Poli
Piccolo Sogno - Tony Priolllo
Piece - Bill Jacobs and Jonathon Cutler
David Burke’s Primehouse - Rick Gresh
Province - Randy Zweiban
RB Grille - Christopher McCoy
Red Canary - Neal Harper
redFLAME pizzeria - Marty Gallagher
694 Wine & Spirits - Chris Dunstatter
Sable Kitchen and Bar - Heather Terhune
Signature Room - Patrick Sheerin
Small Bar - Justin White
Socca/Redd Herring - Roger Herring
The Southern - Cary Taylor
Spacca Napoli - Jonathon Goldsmith
Terzo Piano at the Art Institute of Chicago - Margaret (Meg) Colleran Sahs
Uncommon Ground - Daniel Jacobs
Steven Hubbell
Vie - Nathan Sears
WOW BAO Hot Asian Buns - (They’re doing a Bacon Bao!)
