Experience Asian Street Food Without a Plane Ticket

3CR-MariasFebruary here can be exceptionally brutal, so why not leave Chicago for a sultry, jungle-inspired sanctuary without splashing out for a plane ticket? Chef Won Kim, winner of Food Network’s Cutthroat Kitchen and proprietor of Bridgeport’s soon-to-be-opened Kimski’s (think Korean/Polish fusion), has teamed up with Tiger Beer to bring a night of Asian street food to Maria's Packaged Goods & Community Bar in Bridgeport on Thursday, February 18. The event begins at 8 p.m. and will feature Kim’s newest food creations, art celebrating the Lunar New Year (the Year of the Monkey), $3 Tiger Beer specials, and two signature cocktails created by Maria’s specifically for the event: “The Spicy Tiger” ($10) and “The Double-Crossed Monkey,” ($8). Maria's Packaged Goods & Community Bar is located at 960 W. 31st St., at the intersection of Morgan Street and 31st Street.
Tracie Bedell

Tracie Bedell started wiping dishes with her family's catering company at the tender age of 8 and has been involved with the food industry in one way or another since. After earning her degree in French and spending way too much time on technical writing and advertising, she's stoked to be back doing what she really enjoys: eating and writing about food. Ask her for her life-transforming enchilada recipe; you'll be glad you did.