Nothing works up a good appetite like trimming fat from the city budget.
For the last two weeks, through the tedium of the annual budget review, Chicago aldermen sustained themselves with lunches featuring a cornucopia of Chicago’s ethnic foods.
One day it was lamb shank and mounds of dill rice from Reza’s, a Persian restaurant. The next day it was Mexican food from Lazo’s Tacos, courtesy of the Latino caucus. Another day brought a big, fat Greek buffet of roast lamb, chicken kebabs, green beans and crusty bread from the Parthenon.
A group of African-American aldermen were to thank for Tuesday’s grand finale: ribs, sausage links, fish, spaghetti, greens, macaroni and cheese, candied yams, cheesecake and potato salad.
And there was just enough room on the table for a birthday cake for Ald. Bernie Stone (50th).
Caterers included Ernie’s, Jimmy G’s, Leo’s Lunchroom, Whale Fish & Chicken and “a couple of ladies from my ward,” said Ald. Ed Smith (28th).
Smith quickly added that aldermen pay for the feasts with their personal political funds, lest taxpayers think their council representatives feed at the public trough.
Not that there isn’t some fallout.
Tuesday’s smorgasbord forced Ald. Ricardo Munoz (22nd) to take a pass on his wife’s cooking that evening.
“I was too full,” Munoz said.
