Food and rock n' roll have become a pop culture PB & J-- two completely different items obviously made for each other. Celebrity chefs are apparently the new rock stars (Batali, Puck, Colicchio); rock stars are delving into the food scene (did you see the Foo Fighters/the Bravery on Top Chef?). Well, guess what? Your favorite music and food got married at Lollapalooza 2010. 

I bought my $90 one-day Friday pass long ago. The line-up included some of my favorite bands of the moment: Big Pink, Devo, the New Pornographers, Dirty Projectors, Black Keys, Hot Chip and Lady Gaga. Yes, I opted for Gaga over the Strokes. Tough choice; I was pleased with my decision to go with the spectacle (see Gaga's Poker Face performance here... tame compared to everything else she did). 

But had I not liked the bands, I'd have been satisfied by the food alone. Lolla's Chow Town offered a culinary mixed tape I'd gladly blast in my car. Round of applause for Chef Graham Elliot Bowles, the festival's first Culinary Director, who brought in the city's best chefs and restaurants, both newbies and quintessential standards.

I am but a wee woman and can only eat so much in one sitting. So considering that, here were my faves:

Everything from Graham Elliot was delicious. The watermelon gazpacho was spicy and refreshing, I'm fairly certain the truffle/parm popcorn was laced with crack, and even with over a year's worth of hype, the lobster corndog was not oversold!

Of course, it was terribly awkward to carry it all: 

My friends Rebecca and Lauren went with grub from Paul Kahn's latest venture. Big Star is on my list of "must try Chicago restaurants," but I didn't have enough time to get there this trip (and even if I had, the place was packed both times I drove by). Big ups to their tostada de panza (aka pork belly tostadas). They weren't too fatty, heavy or rich-- these puppies really hit the spot after standing in the sun for a few hours. 

I surprised even myself by ordering the healthy coctel de fruta from Big Star-- fresh melon, jicama, and grapes topped with yogurt, honey and cayenne pepper. I'm always the go-greasy-or-go-home girl, but they had me at jicama. I'd definitely eat this again. It was a great antidote to music festival dehydration. 

Sunda, Frank 'N' Dawgs, Kuma's Corner, Buona Beef, The Smoke Daddy and many more Chitown spots were representing at Lolla. This is the real taste of Chicago, people! Sure, the tickets are spendy and yes, the food wasn't cheap either, but it's one of the best food festivals I've ever been to.

The music was pretty good, too.