Cheap Eats in Chicago

Just read this on one of my favorite blogs, Solo Traveler.  I'm including the part about Chicago here, since that's home for me.  I look forward to being back in the city, biking along the lakefront, walking through Grant Park, Millennium Park and Lincoln Park, and just hangin' out at Bubba Gump's on Navy Pier warm summer nights.  Chicago is fantastic!  But I don't want to be there until the minimum daytime temperature is 65!  

And P.S. my cold is gone!  First time in my life I've ever had a 3 day cold.  Could it be that gallon of green tea I drank?

Solo travel, Cheap Eats and the Blues Highway

Posted on February 24, 2010 - by Janice

From the Chicago Downtown Farmstand

As I solo travel I find eating more of a necessity than a social event – so cheap is good. Healthy and cheap is better. Healthy, fun and cheap is the best.

On my trip from Chicago to Memphis, Jackson and finally New Orleans, I scouted out the best healthy, fun and cheap eats I could find. Here are my recommendations: city by city.


Solo Travel in Chicago

There are so many options in Chicago. When I asked around, Greektown came up a number of times but my wanderings didn’t take me there. They did, however, take me to a couple of great, inexpensive culinary options in the downtown area.

On the 7th floor of Macy’s on Washington St. is Frontera Fresco by award-winning chef-restaurateur, cookbook author, and television personality Rick Bayless. It offers Central Mexican cuisine using naturally raised meats, fresh ingredients and guacamole made every few hours. One person can easily eat great food for $10.

In good weather, my preference would be to gather up food for a picnic at Chicago’s Downtown Farmstand and take it, along with a discreet bottle of wine, to Millennium park. For less than $30 I filled my basket with a variety of fresh and locally made food that would easily do me for two meals. Add a free concert at the amazing Ghery designed bandstand in the park, and you have a great evening.