Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Congratulations to the Stanley Cup Champions, the Chicago Blackhawks. While I’m a little disappointed that I’ll be missing the awesome parade that will take place downtown tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. I’m happy that I’ll get the chance to congratulate this fabulous team whose players worked so hard, one of which lost seven teeth! Again, you might be puzzled over the connection to food, but it’s there alright. There was a little wager going on between Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley and Philadelpha Mayor Michael A. Nutter.
Since the Flyers lost, Mayor Nutter will be volunteering in a community garden with the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability. This office is part of the City’s Greenworks plan and it’s goal is to bring fresh, local, and healthy food to within 10 minutes of 75 percent of residents. The key to reaching this goal is to encourage community gardens, bring farmers markets to underserved neighborhoods and increase the amount of fresh foods sold in local stores.
Well, the Flyers clearly lost last night, so Mayor Nutter won’t get to the best part of the bet. He would have had to donate the food grown to Philabundance, the area’s largest hunger relief organization. The organization’s mission is to end hunger and malnutrition in the Delaware Valley by obtaining food and allocating it through organizations that help people in need.
Instead, Mayor Nutter will be donating the food grown to the Greater Chicago Food Depository! Yes for Chicago! I had an amazing time last night with my fellow Chicagoans, and will continue the celebration tonight with a Chicago-style dinner:
Chicago Italian Beef Sandwiches
Chicago Cocktail
Still interested in what Mayor Daley would have been giving up? I was curious too, and it’s pretty extravagant. But hey, that’s Mayor Daley for you.
On the line was a large assortment of local Chicago food, drink and other products. If the Flyers would have won, Philadelphia would donate the goods to charities. Check out some of the products we would have given away, according to the Philadelphia Daily News:
- Abundance Bakery: three dozen red velvet cupcakes.
- Al’s #1 Italian Beef: 100 Italian Beef Sandwiches.
- Allen Brothers: six boxes of 34 oz. USDA Prime Long Bone Ribeye steaks (The Blackhawk Chop) for Philadelphia and 5,000 burgers to Blackhawks Charities.
- Azteca Foods Inc.: 10 cases each tortillas, tortilla chips, salad shells
- Billy Goat Tavern: Three dozen double “cheezborgers.”
- BJ’s Market: Barbecue Turkey Ribs, Mustard-Fried Catfish, Roasted Turkey Wings.
- Bobak’s Sausage Company: 100 Italian Sausages and 100 Gourmet Chicken Burger “Pucks.”
- C. J. Vitner Company: 10 cases of Chicago Style Potato Chips.
- Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs: “Cowboy” by David Todd Trost.
- Chicago Public Library: A collection of books by some of Chicago’s great authors, including Scott Turow, Innocent; Carl Smith, The Plan of Chicago: Daniel Burnham and the Remaking of the American City; Gwendolyn Brooks, A Book of Poems; Saul Bellows, The Adventures of Augie March; Studs Terkel, Touch and Go; Sarah Paretsky, Body Work.
- Connie’s Pizza: 50 Large Deep Dish Sausage Pizzas.
- Eli’s Cheesecake: 500 slices of a “hat trick” of Eli’s Cheescakes – Original, Strawberry, and Chocolate Chip.
- Garrett Popcorn Shops: 25 gallons of Mixed Popcorn.
- Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse: Once Case of the “Chicago Cut” USDA Prime Bone-in Ribeye steaks.
- Glunz Family Winery & Cellars: 12 bottles of Glunz’s de la Costa Sangria.
- Goose Island Beer Company: 10 cases of Goose Island Honker’s Ale.
- Great to Be Here Tees: Chicago/Philadelphia Sports Fan T-shirt package.
- Half Acre Brewery: one case each of Gossamer Golden Ale, Daisy Cutter Pale Ale and The Invasion Helles Bock.
- Harry Caray’s Italian Steakhouse: 49 6-oz. Double-Cut Lamb Chops.
- Illinois Specialty Cut Flowers: A sustainably grown Blackhawks bouquet.
- Kim & Scott Pretzels: Round-trip airfare to Chicago for two, hotel room for one night, free dinner at Kim & Scott’s Cafe Twist at 2218 N. Lincoln Ave. and a case of Kim & Scott’s Gourmet Stuffed Pretzels.
- King Wah: 200 egg rolls.
- La Preferida: Assortment of over 50 Authentic Mexican food products including refried beans, Jalapeño Peppers, Organic Products, Salsas, Tortillas, and Seasonings.
- Lyric Opera of Chicago: two tickets to Verdi’s “A Masked Ball”, two Lyric fleece pullovers and baseball caps.
- Manny’s Cafeteria & Deli: A Deluxe Manny’s Care Package containing sliced corned beef & pastrami, potato pancakes, rye bread and a bottle of Manny’s Horseradish Mustard.
- Margie’s Candies: five cases of Margie’s turtles
- Mullen Foods: Chicago’s Finest Applesauce
- Original Rainbow Cone Inc.: 25 quarts of Original Rainbow Cone ice cream
- Reebok: 100 youth hockey sticks
- Reggio’s Pizza: 10 Chicago Style Deep Dish Pizzas
- Robinson’s Ribs: three cases of Robinson’s Barbecue Sauce –Original, Brown Sugar and Hot.
- Stanley’s Kitchen & Tap – West Loop: 20lbs, 10oz. of toasted macaroni & cheese.
- Stewarts Coffee: six cases of Stewarts Private Blend Coffee and two cases of “Red Eye” Blend.
- Terry’s Toffee: 30 pounds of toffee.
- Vienna Beef: 1961 Maxwell Street Polish Sausages and 2010 Chicago Style Hot Dogs
- Windy City Soda: cases of Windy City Soda to the City of Philadelphia and 15 cases to the Chicago Greater Food Depository.
- World’s Finest Chocolate: 50-lb. chocolate almond bar.
That’s insane! In a way, I wish we could still give some of these items to charities. This food is making me hungry! Need more ideas on how to celebrate the Stanley Cup? Check out this party!