Chicago’s summer ethnic festivals

Photo: Erica Gannett, Food Courtesy of Blue Velvet Catering Inc.

You got Serbed
If you think Americans are guilty of upsizing their burgers to absurd proportions, you haven’t seen the Serbian pljeskavica, a mammoth, plate-size pork, beef and lamb patty. At Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Cathedral’s annual Serb Fest (Jul 31–Aug 2) on the Northwest Side, you can fill up on one of these grilled meat doozies for about $8.
Order like a local “Ej, brate, daj mi jednu maksi pljeskavicu.” (Ey, BRUH-tay, dy me YED-noo MUCKS-ee PLYES-ka-veet-su)

Don’t stop Belizean
At Washington Park’s Belize Day in the Park (Aug 2), all the hand-drawn signs touting a litany of unfamiliar eats can make your head spin. But opt for a big bowl of traditional Belizean boil-up stew and you’ll get to sample it all: The Creole specialty calls for simmering up a pot of root vegetables—yams, plantains, sweet potatoes and cassava among them—with fish, pigtail, boil cake dough and eggs. An order large enough for two comes with a side of plantains for about $13.
Order like a local Sylvana Woods, lecturer at the University of Belize, tells us how to order in Creole: “Ah kuh get sohm moa bail-op?”

Never Ghana get it
Eating at Ghanafest (Jul 25) in Washington Park is like being invited home for dinner by a Ghanian friend. That said, you can never be sure what the mamas manning the boiling pots will cook up—but one reliable annual stalwart is kenkey, a classic African dish made from fermented maize dough. Prices range from $3 to $5, depending on sides, which typically include salted fish, peppers and a vegetable stew.
Order like a local Foodie and native Ghanian Koby Larbi-Siaw gives us the best way to order: “Charley, make you give me the biggest ball of kenkey you get!”

Romania, meat mania
Every summer, the intersection of Addison Street and California Avenue transforms into what looks like a massive outdoor butcher shop for Taste of Romania (Aug 29, 30). Hundreds of pigs and lambs impaled on spits—and even a 1,000-pound ox—are carried to large charcoal pits for roasting. If that scene is a little too reminiscent of Sinclair’s Jungle, stick with a classic Romanian treat, charcoaled mititei, or skinless mincemeat sausages. Pile your plate and pair them with mustard and beer, and your palate will book it straight to Bucharest. A plate of about six sausages costs $10 and comes with salad and hand-cut french fries.
Order like a local “Hei, amice, da-mi o portie mai mare de mititei.” (Hey, ami-CHE, deah-miy o PORT-zie mai mar-ay day miti-AY).

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