October is the month of pumpkin and apple paradise, of harvests and festivals throughout the city. There is no better time to take advantage of cooler temperatures and Halloween looming to get outside and celebrate autumnal wonder!

The Pride is back! Chicago Pride Fest returns Friday, October 1- Sunday, October 3, on Halsted between Addison and Grace Streets. The festival features live music by headline artists Debbie Gibson, Mya and Crystal Waters and local music favorites, including American Idol’s Katy Kadan, 16 Candles, and the Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus on three stages, along with food and drink, 100+ arts/crafts vendors, DJ’s and dancing, drag shows, pet parade, games, giveaways and more. A $15 suggested donation helps pay LP performers and festival workers, and funds community programs.

Specially curated wineries join with live entertainment over an all-day, all-night vino experience during the Official Chicago Wine Fest: Fall Edition, at Lincoln Park Zoo, from noon-10pm at the North Gate,  Regenstein African Journey, 2400 W. Cannon Drive. At this 21+ event, you’ll sip premium wine to your heart’s content while live entertainment keeps the party going! Tickets are $35 – $60.

A-Haunting we will go! Navy Pier transforms into an experiential fall spectacle during their colorful, haunting Pier Pumpkin Lights. Starting Friday, October 1, nearly 1,000 festive pumpkins and lights will decorate historic Navy Pier, 600 W. Grand Ave., for the entire month of October. Lots more haunting festivities to come throughout the month, as guests explore a variety of pumpkin pop-ups and enjoy Pier-wide deals and other Halloween festivities throughout the month. Free admission.

Celebrate fall’s bountiful harvest at the Lincoln Square Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce’s 34^th Annual Apple Fest! The festivities start Saturday, October 2 and Sunday, October 3 from 9am – 6pm Lincoln Avenue between Lawrence and Wilson. Apple Fest is a long-standing tradition in Lincoln Square, bringing community together to celebrate the beginning of autumn. Shop autumnal goods at the festival’s marketplace, munch on apple-stuffed grilled cheese and apple doughnuts from local restaurants, sip cider and apple-flavored beer, catch live music performances and bring the kids for seasonal activities! Apple Fest’s 10th Annual Pooch Costume Contest gets underway on Saturday, October 2, at 10am. Prizes will be awarded for the Scariest, Most Adorable, Most Creative, Best Dog/Parent Combo, and Best Costume Grand Prize. Free admission. 

After taking a year off due to the pandemic, the citywide annual DESTINOS: Chicago International Latino Theater Festival is back! As told by Latino artists and companies from Chicago, the U.S. and Latin America, audiences will experience a rich, diverse array of Latino centric performances at marquee venues downtown, neighborhood theaters and cultural institutions. Now through October 24, the Goodman’s Albert Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn St., is presenting ‘American Mariachi.’ Set in the 1970’s, the story centers around a young woman determined to create an all-female mariachi band. Check the website for ticket information.

Alison Moran and Dean’s Team Chicago

Last week we talked about reducing food waste – now let’s dig into how to get the best out of what’s already in your pantry! What most of us don’t realize is that many items we regularly stock in our homes are still edible even if it is beyond the manufacturer’s “use by” date. Believe it or not, the dates on food are often arbitrary. Some are government mandated, while other dates tell us the time they will guarantee best quality.

At the end of the day, it’s always wise to have your pantry full of staples that can be put together for a quick meal in a pinch. Pro Tip: regularly check and rotate your stock so the oldest food is up front!

Here is a short list of foods that are shelf stable and will keep for a year in your pantry:

• Applesauce and other high acid items like canned fruit, juices, pickles, tomato soup and sauerkraut can last up to 18 months.
• Bouillon, cubed or loose
• Dried beans – but be advised: these tend to take long longer to cook!
• Cake mixes
• Instant coffee
• Condiments
• Flour – if wrapped properly, you can actually freeze unopened flour for an even longer shelf life.
• Dried fruit
• Evaporated milk
• Dried fruit and vegetables
• Jarred nuts
• Unopened spices 
• Jellies and jams
• Jarred spaghetti sauce
• Oats
• Unopened olive oil (Opened oil should be used in 6 months for best quality)

These items can last up to two years or more if kept relatively cool and out of the light:

• Canned food items that are low in acid are safe to eat even well past the “best by” date as long as the cans are free of dents, rust or swelling! That includes vegetables like corn, peas, potatoes, and carrots,  along with meat, fish, gravy and stew. 
• Dry pasta
• Non dairy sauce mixes 
• White or wild rice, brown rice lasts only a year.
• Soy protein (textured)
• Shelf stable vegetable juice 
• Unopened vegetable oil, (Opened oil should be used within the year for best quality) 
• Nonstick cooking sprays
• Unopened peanut butter
• Sugar and sugar substitutes
• Tea bags
• Vinegar

But of course, there are certain products you should never use beyond their date, such as baby food and formula. Other pantry items simply lose their effectiveness or nutritional value beyond a certain date. Items like yeast, baking soda and baking powder perform chemical reactions in baked goods so it’s best to use these items within 6 months if you can!

These lists are not comprehensive, and doing your own research on food sustainability could save you a lot of time, money and energy in the future. You can find more helpful information at foodsafety.gov. Happy eating!

Not only has the autumn season arrived but it also brought the fall temps with it! For some it’s a welcome relief yet for others it’s not.  But this first fall weekend in Chicago is all set to bring plenty of warm sunshine and the beginning of fall festival season to please everyone!

The Andersonville Midsommarfest may have been canceled earlier this year, but Andersonville Homecoming is taking its place this Saturday and Sunday (11 a.m.-10 p.m.) on Clark Street between Catalpa and Summerdale Avenues.  This new festival will feature local artisans and merchants, food and drink vendors, free kids’ activities, live music on two stages and more! Music highlights include Sixteen Candles, Justice Hill & Nighttime Love, Renee Goust, Dancing Queen: An ABBA Salute Tribute Band and more!

Celebrate Humboldt Park’s vibrant Puerto Rican culture and history at their annual Puerto Rican Festival of Chicago returning to a new location of Humboldt Park this Saturday and Sunday (12 p.m.-10 p.m.). This year’s festival will feature live music, an artisan market, a health fair, an education area, community workshops and resources, sports clinics, films and more with this year’s theme being “Home.”  Grab a blanket or two and head out for some daily fun with the whole family!

Start your Saturday with a full belly at the last day of Breakfast with the Animals at Lincoln Park Zoo (Cannon Dr. at Fullerton Pkwy.) from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.  Besides eating a delicious breakfast alongside some spectacular animals, guests will also be able to have private chats with Zookeepers at various exhibits to learn exciting facts, hear anecdotes and find out what their animal friends might eat to start their own day!  Plus, the star of the menu will be pancakes with Nutella along with fruit, coffee, juices, and more!

You know it’s autumn when asked to pull out your lederhosen! Below are two events requiring just that:

One of Chicago’s most popular fall celebrations and all things Bavarian, Oktoberfest Chicago, returns for its 19^th year to St. Alphonsus Church (1429 W. Wellington Ave.) in the Lakeview neighborhood this Saturday (11 a.m.-10 p.m.) and Sunday (11 a.m.-7 p.m.). This fest features food (homemade bratwurst and pretzels), a variety of Sam Adams beers on tap (including fall favorite Oktoberfest), two stages of live music (bunch of cover bands and Sgt. Saukraut’s Polka Band and the Polkaholics), the family friendly KinderFest, and more! Plus, Sunday keeps the party going with the airing of the Chicago Bears game in the church parking lot at Noon against the Browns in Cleveland!

Oktoberfest at Brookfield Zoo (8400 W. 31^st St.) takes place this Saturday and Sunday (11 a.m.-5:30 p.m.) on the East Mall of the zoo.  Enjoy live polka music at the Beer Garden plus a seasonal menu of bratwurst, sausages, pretzels with beer cheese, and more. Also available for purchase will be Leinenkugel’s Oktoberfest beer! And, if you happen to spot the Leinie’s mobile pedi-cab, and you’re over 21, you just may receive some complimentary memorabilia!

Sue Moss and Dean’s Team Chicago

“Our intention with Bloom is to focus on bringing flavorful, healthy, and affordable vegetarian food to the everyday family, while also being desirable and appealing to even the non-vegetarian. This way we can all do our part by being better to the planet and be healthier.”

The Owners of Bloom Plant Based Kitchen

Bloom Plant Based Kitchen began its life last year as a ghost vegetarian pop-up kitchen inside Amaru, a popular Latin restaurant in Wicker Park. The concept proved so popular, chef/owner Rodolfo Cuadros looked for its own space, finding it in the former Links Taproom. Since its opening in July, Bloom has earned perfect five-star ratings on Google nearly 30 times. That’s rare, especially for a new restaurant.

This kitchen specializes in unique vegetarian/vegan combinations, mixing Latin, Indian, and other international flavors that please the eye and the palate, and is staffed by knowledgeable servers. The airy, bright decor draws attention to a shelf where they grow their own microgreens. 

Most importantly, Bloom accomplishes what it sets out to do- serving vegetarian food that can appeal to a non-vegetarian audience. “We are not vegetarian or vegan,” wrote one Google reviewer. “But plenty of delicious dishes here to satisfy anyone and walk away full!” Another reviewer noted, “Most other vegan spots in Chicago are comfort food with meat substitutes. Bloom has very creative dishes like coffee carrots!”

Bloom’s coffee carrots are far from the only creative dish on their menu. All menu items are 100% vegan and gluten-free. Plates are served tapas-style and meant for sharing. Many reviewers raved about Bloom’s Cultured Cheese Board, festooned with almond goat cheese, aged truffle cheese, spirulina blue cheese, seasonal marmalade, flax seed crackers, and house pickles. ‘Quick Bites’ include Baja Tacos, made with banana blossom tempura, hemp seed tortilla, fermented cabbage, smoked chili oil, and cilantro. Beet Dumplings pairs a beet-coconut wrap with sunflower spinach filling, tahini, coconut ginger foam, and garlic chips. Or the flavorful Lottery Peppers, a combination of shishito peppers, lentil piquillo hummus, ginger tamari glaze, and mixed seeds.

Other enticing selections include a Thai Papaya Salad, a fruity, nutty mix of green papaya, cucumber, carrot, mint, serrano chili, sesame ginger coconut aminos, toasted sesame, and cashew. ‘Big Boys’ entrees include a Tamal Coloradito (trans., ‘infused with color,’) with ancho adobo banana blossom, macha beans, salsa verde, and mole coloradito. Bloom’s Lasagna has a pumpkin seed bolognese, sundried tomato marinara, celery root, heirloom tomatoes, and basil cashew béchamel. Other ‘don’t miss’ items under the ‘Del Horno’ (trans., ‘from the oven’) selections include Heirloom Tomato Flat Bread, with basil, crispy shallots, thyme, tamarind saba, white bean, and sprouts, or the Shroom & Chorizo Flat Bread. Chorizo? Isn’t that a sausage? Not when it’s made from sunflowers, served with San Marzano marinara, coconut mozzarella, and arugula!

Desserts are equally creative, featuring Avocado Key Lime- not a pie, but made with avocado key lime ice cream, almond ginger crumbles, cashew caramel, coconut texture. Coffee Break combines chocolate coffee mousse, aerated chocolate, toasted hazelnut, and a cashew caramel.

Bloom Plant Based Kitchen is located at 1559 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, IL 60622. Hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 5pm–9pm; Friday and Saturday, 5pm–9pm; and Sunday, 5pm-8pm. The restaurant is closed Tuesdays. For more information, click here. 

Alison Moran and Dean’s Team Chicago

Summer may be officially winding down, however there are still many BBQs ahead, so you need your grill in tip top shape. Here are some of the most common gas grill problems and how to fix them!

Excess Smoke: If your grill is releasing an unusual amount of smoke when you turn it on, there may be an accumulation of grease at the bottom that needs to be cleaned. Use a strong grill brush to give it a proper cleaning and make sure to preheat it for fifteen minutes before using it again.

Ignition Problems: If your igniters aren’t producing any flames, there could be a variety of problems. If your ignition is independent of the body of the grill, then you may have a malfunctioning button or faulty wiring and the parts will have to be replaced. Otherwise, check to see if the igniter is clogged or has any blockages. The wiring and switches may have to be replaced if all else fails.

Uneven Heat: Grills with uneven heating can cause poorly cooked meals and annoyance. Make sure the holes along your burners are free from any residue. A good scrub with a grill brush should do the trick.

Orange-Yellow Flames: If you are seeing orange-yellow flames coming from your grill, there may be a problem with the control valves or venturi tubes. To fix this, locate the adjustment screw and turn your grill to low. Then, loosen the screw until the flame has a bluish tint. Afterwards, make sure to turn off the gas and tighten the venturi tube screw.

Low Flame, Low Temperature: When your grill isn’t reaching high enough temperatures, there could be a problem with the fuel line regulator. Fixing the regulator involves disconnecting the gas line and turning all control valves to high for one minute.