Navy Pier: home to the giant Ferris wheel, oodles of delicious popcorn and ice cream options, the gorgeous stained glass museum and Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, approximately a bazillion tourists... and The Great American Lobster Fest. Yes, you read that correctly: a lobster fest in the middle of one of the most unlikely locations, aka the lobster-less Midwest. Okay, so we're not exactly lobster city (we have that tiny lack of ocean problem), but we are known for our fantastic food festivals... and thanks to the wonders of NESC and overnight shipping from the East coast, we're able to join in on the excitement with our very own festival dedicated to the oh-so-delicious crustacean.
The two-day festival returned to Navy Pier for its second go around the same weekend as the Air and Water Show. As the majority of the fest took place outside, it was the perfect location for those looking to escape the beach crowds, but still have a great view of the show. Admission to the main outside festival area was free of charge and included ample opportunities to stuff yourself silly with numerous seafood options (lobster tacos! lobster mac & cheese!), work off the calories playing carnival games, and chase away the pain of loosing at said games whilst chilling in the beer garden. As much excitement as was happening outside, Diana and I were most interested in what was taking place inside the iconic Navy Pier Grand Ballroom: live music, libations, and lobster dinners!
While admission to the event was free, a paid ticket was what got you the motherload: a full steamed lobster, served with corn-on-the-cob, potatoes, a dinner roll, and warm butter dipping sauce. *drool*
We snagged our lobsters, donned our bibs, and headed outside to the pier to indulge in a little people-watching and crustacean chomping. While we did have to wait in an absurdly long line for our dinners (with the smells of lobster and corn swirling around us - so cruel!), the end result was worth it. The meat was tender and succulent, and the warm butter was the perfect accompaniment to everything on our trays.
As much as we wanted to sample some of the other lobster-stuffed offerings, we were just too stuffed from our dinners to eat another bite (boo!). So instead, we decided to digest by walking the length of the pier like proper tourists (if you can't beat 'em, join 'em!) to take in the beautiful city-skyline-meets-lake views.
A lovely ending to a delicious day!
A lovely ending to a delicious day!
I didn't know there's a lobster fest in chicago! So cool! I need to go next year!
ReplyDeleteThese photos are absolutely stunning and making me want to abandon all rational dinner plans and boil a lobster or two. Miss you!
ReplyDeleteKatharine
www.paytington.com
Bring on the lobster!!! PLEASE!
DeleteWe'll definitely get together soon -- I've been chatting with other girls about brunch plans. Yay!
Every food festival post, I get more and more jealous that you get to live in such a great city! ;-) What an absolutely wonderful festival!
ReplyDeleteYou really need to visit Chicago! We would have so much fun! :-)
DeleteAnd home to Smirnoff Sno-Cones... Don't forget the boozy ice!
ReplyDeleteHa! How could I forget that?!
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