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Maybe it was the first bite of food I had, but my favorite food of the festival was at the Sapphire Reserve Lounge. It offers a variety of appetizers from Diego, a Mexican craft cocktail bar in Chicago’s West Town neighborhood.

Out of everything I tried, the tuna tostada, corn and tomato tostado, and suenos ceviche were the best bites of the event.

The lounge offered complimentary bites and five cocktails with purchase, including the Sapphire signature cocktail – vodka or gin made with blueberry, goldenberry, lime, ginger, oregano, five-spice powder, bee pollen and pearl dust. Reserve cardholders received two free drink tokens to use throughout the lounge.

Chase cardholders who purchase presale tickets receive 50% off individual ticket purchases plus applicable taxes and fees. Chase Sapphire Reserve and Chase Sapphire Preferred card holders also get entrance to the festival at 11 a.m. CDT – one hour earlier than normal admission.

Reserve cardholders can purchase tickets to cardholder-only events, including cocktail classes hosted by Apotheke, a cocktail apothecary-themed speakeasy in New York City’s Nomad neighborhood.

On both days, there was Sapphire Treat Time for cardholders in the lounge from 4 to 4:30 p.m., which included free espresso martinis from Menotti’s Coffee Shop on Saturday.

Other cardholder events include Sapphire Hour, where select and reserved cardholders can enjoy complimentary dining from select vendors. Saturday’s Sapphire House featured Tribeca’s Sandwich Shop, a local counter-service spot in Avondale that offered free food from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., and my boyfriend took one for the team and enjoyed a Tribeca Reuben sandwich. .

Sunday’s Sapphire House was at Los Angeles-based Tacos Los Cholos. There was also a Chase Ink Market Chicago-themed shop with funky chunky pretzels, candles and Spice House tea available for purchase. Shoppers received royal themed bags.

Given the brutal heat of the day, the lounge felt like an air-conditioned safe haven, with two restrooms, phone chargers and plenty of seats from which to watch the main stage.

Food options

More than 20 restaurants from Chicago and elsewhere were present at the event. Tasting-size portions are served at stands in each arena.

Most of the stands were outside. More specifically, the food options were:

• Popup Bagels (New York City)
• Tacos Los Cholos (Los Angeles)
• Toma (Miami)
• Professor’s Pizza (West Loop, Chicago)
• Soul & Smoke (Avondale, Chicago)
• Tuk Tuk Thai Isaan Street Food (Lakeview, Chicago)
• Dr. Birds (Bucktown, Chicago)
• The Momo’s World (University Village, Chicago)
• Jibaritos y Mas (Wicker Park, Chicago)
• 312 Fish Market (Chinatown, Chicago)
• Genevieve’s Bakery (Lakeview, Chicago)
• 3 Little Pigs (South Loop, Chicago)
• Diego (West Town, Chicago)
• Charlie’s Burgers (Hermosa, Chicago)
• Tribeca’s Sandwich Shop (Avondale, Chicago)
• Lilac Tiger (Wicker Park, Chicago)
• Ciao Ciao Gelato & Cafe (Portage Park, Chicago)

Although vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options were advertised at the event, most of the food was served to equal-opportunity eaters. Guests can enjoy meals inside and outside on picnic-style seating.

Seeing as I’m gluten and dairy-free, my boyfriend indulges in my favorite foods (aka the things I can’t eat). Since I’m a personal Shake Shack fan, I got him to try their special menu collaboration with Ann Arbor, Michigan’s Zingerman’s Delicatessen — a pastrami shakeburger with Angus beef, Swiss cheese, pickles, sliced ​​pastrami and Shake Shack’s special sauce for $12 — which he thoroughly enjoyed.

To the right was Ciao Ciao, so he obviously had to try the salted caramel gelato, which he devoured quickly.

As a dairy- and gluten-free eater, only two of the 20 vendors offered options for me: Tuk Tuk Thai Isaan Street Food and Tacos Los Cholos. Looking at the next line, I opted for the Pad Thai with Shrimp at TukTuk ($10), which hit the spot.

Outside the main food hall, there was a Teremana tequila stand.