Green City Market BBQ Wrap Up

It was a scorching, hot afternoon but I would not have traded places with anyone.  I am so proud of our Big Bowl chefs and farmers and the food we created.  We served more than five hundred tastes of BBQ pork belly and shoulder from Jude Becker’s farm in Iowa topped with homemade pickles from Beth Eccles's farm in Indiana.  Many guests commented it was the best bite of the night. 

We also had an opportunity to re-connect with Lloyd Nichols, founder of Nichols farm, and his wife Doreen.  Lloyd spends most of his time managing the farm but still makes it to one market during the week.  The Nichols family grows a wide variety of produce on 200 acres in Marengo, Illinois.  Beginning this week, Nick, the middle son, starts weekly deliveries to the four Chicago Big Bowls.  We are very excited to include the Nichols family as part of the growing list of Big Bowl Farmers.

Jude Becker stopped by for a sample of his organic pork and to discuss the future of his farm and Big Bowl’s support for his work.  Jude, a third generation hog farmer, spent time in Denmark perfecting a system for raising hogs on open pasture.  While not on his farm, Jude travels the country connecting with chefs equally passionate about good food and how it is produced.  We look forward to introducing his pork to the Big Bowl menu.

If you made it through the heat and humidty we would love to hear from you.  Did you try Jude Becker’s pork?  What was your favorite bite?