WINDY CITY SMOKEOUT BRINGS BARBECUE AND MUSIC TO CHICAGO

Artist Niko Moon performs during 2022 Windy City Smokeout. PHOTO PROVIDED BY PAGE ONE PR.
Artist Niko Moon performs during 2022 Windy City Smokeout. PHOTO PROVIDED BY PAGE ONE PR.

 Windy City Smokeout Brings Barbecue and Music to Chicago

BY TIA CAROL JONES

It was the ninth year for the festival which featured food from 25 vendors from across the country . Musical acts included headliners Willie Nelson, Sam Hunt, Miranda Lambert and Tim McGraw, as well as Tiera Kennedy, Lily Rose and Kip Moore.

Each day of the festival there were 15,000 people in attendance this year. New this year was a lounge area called Rodeo Drive and it added a Super VIP experience.

Soul & Smoke made its Windy City Smokeout debut this year. Soul & Smoke has been around 10 years. It began as a catering company , providing food to corporate offices throughout Chicago. Soul & Smoke
has been available to the public for the last three years, as the business had to pivot during COVID-19. The business is available at three locations, the main site in Evanston at 1601 Payne St., the Time Out Market Chicago in West Loop, and Rockwell on the River in
Avondale. There also is a food truck, to find out where it is, people can follow them on Instagram @souland - smoke.

For the Windy City Smokeout, Soul & Smoke brought their rib tips with a Kansas City-style barbe - cue sauce, hot links, served Maxwell Street-style, with grilled onions and a Carolina Gold sauce, and their
Cajun Corn Elote, Pimento cheese dusted with Cajun seasoning, topped with fresh herbs and grated Parmesan cheese.

Owner, D’Andre Carter loved the environment of the event. “The atmosphere has been really good. It’ s been chill, really chill. It’s really fun to be at,” Carter said.

Lillie’s Q, located at 417 N. Ashland, has been around for 15 years. They brought their Walking Taco to the Windy City Smokeout, featuring Lillie’s Q kettle chips, with pulled pork, coleslaw and sauce, in a bag; their pimento cheese stuffed sausage, with chili and cheese on top; and mashed potato salad with crunched potato chips on top. Charlie McKenna, chef and owner of Lillie’s Q, described the festival as mayhem. “It’ s tons of people, eating and drinking, having fun, which is great,” he said.

Green Street Smoked Meats, located at 1 12 N. Green St., has been around for eight years. For the Windy City Smokeout, they brought smoked Pastrami, House made Giadiniera sausage and Elote-style corn. It was their second year participating at the Windy City Smokeout.

“This is probably the best barbecue festival in the world, in my opinion. There’s a great group of different barbecue restaurants from across the country ,” said Dave Bonner, owner of Green Street Smoked Meats. The event began when Bub City opened in 2013 and it was decided that it would be a good idea for annual barbecue and Country Music Festival.

“It embodies Chicago summer - attracting country fans and festival fans alike. It is just a really great time with great music and delicious food with the beautiful Chicago skyline in the background,” said Callei Rev - el, partner with Windy City Smokeout. Next year, the event is set for July 13th-16th. In past years, the event took place in July.

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