Taste of Randolph/Fulton Market celebrates area cuisine, business
By Felicia Swanson 
By the end of October, summer is long gone. Boats have left the lake, musicians have abandoned the parks, and neighborhood festivals have surrendered the streets—except for one of the best “taste of” festivals, which waits until the very end of October to celebrate the very best of the West Loop and Near West Side.
The Taste of Randolph/Fulton Market, hosted by the Randolph /Fulton Market Association (RFMA), packed the Galleria Marchetti on Oct. 25 with more than 200 business executives, community and business leaders, and hungry folks.
On a warm afternoon, amidst autumn-decorated balloons and chandeliers, mums, and accordion music, attendees sampled from an amazing array of food and other products from the manufacturers and distributors in Chicago’s Randolph/Fulton Market and Kinzie Industrial Corridor areas.
As the event started around 3 p.m., an early crowd in business attire wandered in, still finishing the business of the day on their palm pilots and cell phones. By 4 p.m. when the buffet opened, business was done for the day and people swarmed the tables for a taste of 32 different items for a full course meal from appetizers to dessert.
“This event is a unique combination,” said Roger Romanelli, RFMA executive director. “It’s a fundraiser, a food trade show, and a dynamic business networking opportunity.”
Now in its fourth year, the Taste of Randolph/Fulton Market featured a full course buffet, including some incredible baked clams from Rubino Seafood, pollack and catfish fillets from Consolidated Poultry, mushroom ravioli from Robin’s Food Distribution, Greek sausage from Columbus Meat Market, and Ugly Truffles—some of the best truffles you will ever try—from Chocolate Gourmet, located at 1635 W. Walnut St.
According to Lucia Maffei, RFMA board member and vice president of Grant Park Packing, “Chicago is famous for its trade shows and its food industry, and we’re featuring both. We hope this event inspires people to support our local products.”
Marco Gallindo, head waiter for the bartenders at Galleria Marchetti, has seen the event grow each year. “It’s a lot of work, but we do it with pleasure,” he said. “To see people happy—that makes me happy.”
Bartenders Joe Taylor and Pam Guariniello agree. “The ambiance here is phenomenal,” Guariniello said.
John Leahy, general manager of Robin’s Food Distribution, one of the event contributors, described business in the area as “vibrant. All the independent distributors are able to get their supplies within a small geographic area—it’s convenient and efficient.” He also is pleased with membership in the RFMA. “They do a very good job looking out for us,” Leahy said.
RFMA is a not-for-profit economic development organization serving 200 industrial and commercial businesses in the market and in the Kinzie Industrial Corridor. These companies provide more than 3,000 jobs, most to Chicago residents. RFMA acts as the liaison between the firms and the City, State, and Federal governments.
Among its recent activity, on Oct. 10 the RFMA secured a $2 million commitment from the Metra transit system to improve street grade railroad crossings at Racine, May, Aberdeen, Carpenter, Morgan and Green Streets in 2007.
As the official ceremony got underway, master of ceremonies Sylvia Perez of ABC 7 Chicago, Alderman Walter Burnett, and Congressman Danny Davis also were on hand to enjoy dinner and speak to the crowd. Representative Ken Dunkin attended as well.
Also during the ceremonies, the RFMA awarded the Chris Aralis Service Award to recognize outstanding association members for the year. Lucia Maffei of Grant Park Packing and George Dervenis of Columbus Meat Market received this recognition.
According to Romanelli, “Each year, the event keeps building as businesses bring on new products. This event gives them a chance to showcase their new products. Wholesalers and manufacturers in the area get word of it and we get increased participation.
“We try to create a really dynamic event. We pride ourselves that the event is also a trade show for local Chicago based companies that provide important jobs,” he continued.
Those groups included the Greater West Town Training Partnership, a community-based education, employment, and training provider offering programs such as the Shipping and Receiving Training Program and Precision Woodworking, in addition to youth and adult employment placement programs.
Although the RFMA is a not for profit organization providing essential services for companies in the area, it takes an unconventional approach to raising money: it donated a portion of the fundraiser’s proceeds to another not for profit group in the area, the Jordan Boys and Girls Club, which runs after-school cultural, recreational, and educational programs for young people.
Two young adults who attended the Jordan Boys and Girls Club were interviewed by Sylvia Perez at the event and told of the fulfilling experiences the club offered them, and how they now want to give back to the community.
“Our businesses feel a responsibility to improve the City of Chicago,” said Romanelli, “and we recognize the Jordan Boys and Girls Club and what they give to the community as well.”
The RFMA is located at 924 W. Randolph St. For more information about the association, call (312) 458-0789 or email rfma@juno.com.
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