What’s new on Taste of Chicago’s menu

26 newcomers slated for this year’s food fest

Seventy- three restaurants will be featured at this year’s Taste of Chicago, it was announced Wednesday by Mayor Emanuel and the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. Among those, 26 will be first- timers at the lakefront food extravaganza.

The lineup of culinary crafters will include 38 five- day vendors, 22 pop- ups and 13 food trucks for the fest, which runs July 11- 15 in Grant Park. Newcomers include Arun’s Thai Restaurant, Garifuna Flava: A Taste of Belize and Sun Wah Barbecue Restaurant ( recently honored at the James Beard Awards). Original Rainbow Cone is returning after a 3- year hiatus.

Admission to the Taste is free. Food/ beverage tickets are available in strips of 14 tickets for $ 10 ( smaller “Taste Of” portions are priced at $ 3 or less). For complete information, visit taste of chicago. us.

The new Taste Oasis will offer Taste goers the opportunity to enhance their experience with access to an air- conditioned lounge in Butler Field offering tasty bites, a private cash bar, music, refreshing water and much more. Day passes for this exclusive area are $ 50 and can be purchased at taste of chicago. us. Also included in the cost are “Taste bites” prepared by Washburne Culinary Academy will be served Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, from 3 to 6 p. m. and on Saturday and Sunday from 2 to 5 p. m.

The Lifeway Foods Taste Kitchen at Buckingham Fountain, with daily cooking demos by local/ national chefs, returns with this year’s lineup featuring: Chef Kevin Hickey of Duck Inn ( July 11), Spiaggia executive chef and “Top Chef” season 15 winner, Joe Flamm ( July 13), and Food Network’s “Sandwich King” Jeff Mauro ( July 15). The full lineup will be announced in the coming weeks.