[JujuFox]

This will be my 3rd time staying at the Hyatt for ACen, and since I am in the Artist's Alley I am trying to make this a profitable con experience. I eat pretty healthy, but I have a sweet tooth and a hankering for fast food ever now and again. Anyways I'll share with you my food plans! This is for me and my husband, and we both eat pretty normal portions.

Thursday night is probably the only time we will order Chinese delivery for dinner. Just to treat ourselves.

Food Supplies:
- 2 Refillable Water bottles to be used constantly throughout the con
- Plastic sammich bags
- Big cooler packed with several reusable ice packs(the kinds you use in reusable lunch bags)
- ICE! Every morning and night dump out melted ice in the tub and refill the cooler with fresh ice from the hotel ice machines
- A few cans of soda, or a couple 2 liters and maybe a few beers
- 2 reusable lunch bags for lunch time in the Alley(since we can't really leave the table)
- Granola bars for breakfast or snacks
- Yogurts for breakfast
- Instant Bowl of Noodles for dinner (just brew hot water in the coffee machine and pour into the bowl)
- Peanut butter, jelly, and bread for sammiches for lunch
- A bag of salty snacks for lunch time (should last us three days of lunches or more)
- Grapes for snacking or lunch time
- 2 Forks, 2 spoons, and dish soap to clean them after usage

All of this stuff we already own, would have bought at the grocery store anyways, and will get used/eaten after the con. So for us this is the cheapest option!

[cactusmomma]

Here's a new little secret for food! It opens the week before ACen!

[Scott]

cactusmomma, on 16 February 2012 - 12:34 PM, said:

Here's a new little secret for food! It opens the week before ACen!

That looks interesting. I can imagine it loaded up with convention goers already.

[Yandere Emi]

cactusmomma, on 16 February 2012 - 12:34 PM, said:

Here's a new little secret for food! It opens the week before ACen!

!!! I'll be watching this...if I can get reservations at the Mexican place, that'll be amazing. :3 I can't have gluten, so I love Mexican. ))

[obakasan]

Here is the "official" Rosemont promo video. Doesn't really say much but gives a couple of shots of what it's supposed to look like, what businesses are going to be there, etc.

http://youtu.be/w74wEHY4LJ8

[sakurathekeyblademaster]

TheStrongJaeger, on 16 February 2012 - 11:49 AM, said:

There is a Subway about 2 miles south near Lawrence Avenue. Too far for my taste but sounds like you'd be ok with that.

Thanks! Thats perfect^3^

[Naoya Toudou]

In terms of fast fod McDonalds has never let me down. but that can get old quick lol theres a dennys and subways a bit south but that is quite a trek ( first year me and my friends walking were unsure if there was even a dennys there...if only we walked a little more!!! XD )
I know pizza places deliver there and as Cactusmomma showed us "the park" is being built just on the other side of the parking garage and will hopefully be open in time for acen. specially that mexican joint lol
they also have things at the hyatt...but thats ( in my opinion) if youre desperate and have that cash ( in '08 i was stuck in that horrid line jam for badges friday with a friend and had a bud buy me a sandwich)

[Dark Spellmaster]

Most don't know about this place, but there is a nice little resturant past Gio's that's a breakfast and lunch restruant. It's pretty good and the prices are decent. There's also a restraut next to it that looks like a pink palace.

I would suggest going maybe a week before the con, or two weeks and scope out where the smaller restruants are. This way it won't be too expensive.

[ATICE]

Bring snacks for during the day, order something like pizza when you get back to the hotel.

This post has been edited by ATICE: 08 March 2012 - 12:27 AM

[excel excel]

Like cactusmomma said, The Park should be open a few weeks before ACen starts. At least now you will have TONS of options where to eat AND fun afterwards (bowling time \m/). Plus its within walking distance from the convention. However, it doesn't hurt to bring something healthy to eat along the way ;D

[Oyuki]

Chainedbyroses, you are brilliant!
Seriously, thank you so much for your post!

I would not suggest getting pizza at the Expoteria.
That crap smelled like Play Doh

[rrtycoon2]

cactusmomma, on 16 February 2012 - 12:34 PM, said:

Here's a new little secret for food! It opens the week before ACen!

Rosemont FINALLY did something with that hole in the ground next to the parking garage? When Des Plaines got the casino license, I figured that land was condemned to being an unintentional retention pond. Good to know, and hopefully it'll have some good stuff (always good to have more options).

[rondo]

excel excel, on 11 March 2012 - 03:28 PM, said:

Like cactusmomma said, The Park should be open a few weeks before ACen starts. At least now you will have TONS of options where to eat AND fun afterwards (bowling time \m/). Plus its within walking distance from the convention. However, it doesn't hurt to bring something healthy to eat along the way ;D

You should put together a late night bowling trip.

Depending on what is open, I'll likely hit each spot at The Park at various times during the week of ACEN. Also gonna add it to that ACEN survival map sometime today.

This post has been edited by rondo: 26 March 2012 - 07:32 AM

[excel excel]

rondo, on 26 March 2012 - 07:30 AM, said:

You should put together a late night bowling trip.

Not a bad idea actually..Maybe saturday night? This would actually be awesome

[Dark Spellmaster]

Are there any less expensive resturants in driving distance? Like family run deals?

[rondo]

Dark Spellmaster, on 27 March 2012 - 08:27 AM, said:

Are there any less expensive resturants in driving distance? Like family run deals?

What's your price point and workable distance? I imagine I can find a host of places. There is an outback steakhouse on Higgs. The are a ton of establishments between the con and say 3 miles.

[Dark Spellmaster]

At most lets say a total of 75 or less for say three?

[KnitChick]

Within driving distance there's a lot. If you head to my neighborhood (I live 3 miles from the convention center) you can get LOTS of cheap food.

There's Harlem-Irving Plaza, with a small food court (McDonald's, Sbarro, Subway, a gyros place, Dippin' Dots, Great Steak & Potato, & Cinnabon). Across the street from it there's a Super China Buffet, IHOP, Pizza Hut Wing Street, Potbelly. Down the street, you've got reasonably priced Chinese, there's a nice family diner at Harlem & Lawrence, Vince's Italian food, Denny's, Domino's Pizza, a good gyros place....I could keep going but you get the idea

If you get out of Rosemont prices improve just for the fact of the massive drop in sales tax. Rosemont is 13%, Norridge & Harwood Heights are 9.75%. (oh and if you're looking for bottled water, go to the Aldi on Harlem Ave, it's Harwood Heights so no Chicago bottled water tax)


Hope that helps

[rondo]

KnitChick, on 27 March 2012 - 11:36 PM, said:

Within driving distance there's a lot. If you head to my neighborhood (I live 3 miles from the convention center) you can get LOTS of cheap food.

There's Harlem-Irving Plaza, with a small food court (McDonald's, Sbarro, Subway, a gyros place, Dippin' Dots, Great Steak & Potato, & Cinnabon). Across the street from it there's a Super China Buffet, IHOP, Pizza Hut Wing Street, Potbelly. Down the street, you've got reasonably priced Chinese, there's a nice family diner at Harlem & Lawrence, Vince's Italian food, Denny's, Domino's Pizza, a good gyros place....I could keep going but you get the idea

If you get out of Rosemont prices improve just for the fact of the massive drop in sales tax. Rosemont is 13%, Norridge & Harwood Heights are 9.75%. (oh and if you're looking for bottled water, go to the Aldi on Harlem Ave, it's Harwood Heights so no Chicago bottled water tax)


Hope that helps

^^^ Indeed. Google map the general area of about up to 4 miles, search restaurant, and go to town to see much of what is available to you.

This post has been edited by rondo: 28 March 2012 - 07:24 AM

[Pika]

Last year my group ate with a whole bunch of cosplayers at this sort of buffet place. I think it's part of the con, considering it's "behind" the con (unless my memory is hella faulty).
The wall is made out of like windows and people are always taking pictures right outside of it. You can't miss it.

[Oyuki]

That might be the Expoteria; blegh.

What's the gyro place called?

[chainedbyroses]

Pika, on 29 March 2012 - 12:59 AM, said:

Last year my group ate with a whole bunch of cosplayers at this sort of buffet place. I think it's part of the con, considering it's "behind" the con (unless my memory is hella faulty).
The wall is made out of like windows and people are always taking pictures right outside of it. You can't miss it.

......"Behind" the con? o.Oa

The only things, in a way, "behind" the con (further down Bryn Mawr/"the Hyatt's long driveway") are Gibson's Steakhouse (fancy; steak & expensive things; $$), and the Expoteria (casual/American; vaguely overpriced burgers/fries/et al; $) , which is connected to the convention center and just along the driveway/"road" leading into the Hyatt's turn-around. If it smelled of burger and looked like a diner, with a small patch of trees/"Garden" just outside the doors, yeah, that was the Expoteria. As far as I know, there has never been a convention buffet, though... @_@;

[JediNight]

The stickied thread that says Acen Survival Map at the top of this forum details out most of the food options available within several miles of the convention center.

There is also a lot of food that you can bring with you that doesn't require a lot of prep or cooling, but also isn't terrible for you. Although stuff on ice should be good for at least 24hrs, and theoretically you can get more ice at the hotel. Many hotels provide a mini-fridge in the room as well. Some people are even known to bring their own small microwave with them. You may even be able to get away with bringing a rice cooker, since it's rather benign like a coffee maker (just steam). Although I would run it in the bathroom where the room is designed to be steamy.

Stuff I bring to other cons: Fruit, PB&J, canned foods that I microwave, granola bars, apple sauce cups, etc. If you know you have a mini-fridge available or don't mind babysitting upkeep on a cooler, stuff like yoghurt is nice to bring, or sandwich meats/cheese. With the rice cooker you can do stuff like cook the rice and toss in leftover meats (chicken, turkey, whatever) with the rice when it boils. That works great. Some rice cookers even come with a steamer insert to heat veggies while cooking the rice. (Keep the bagged veggies in the fridge of course)

For drinks: Either bring your own soda, refillable water bottle, or if you want something with flavor -- stuff like Crystal Light is very cheap -- 12qts for like $2.50.

That can save you a ton of money for the weekend. And it certainly beats eating EZ Mac all weekend

[chainedbyroses]

JediNight, on 09 April 2012 - 03:13 AM, said:

The stickied thread that says Acen Survival Map at the top of this forum details out most of the food options available within several miles of the convention center.

There is also a lot of food that you can bring with you that doesn't require a lot of prep or cooling, but also isn't terrible for you. Although stuff on ice should be good for at least 24hrs, and theoretically you can get more ice at the hotel. Many hotels provide a mini-fridge in the room as well. Some people are even known to bring their own small microwave with them. You may even be able to get away with bringing a rice cooker, since it's rather benign like a coffee maker (just steam). Although I would run it in the bathroom where the room is designed to be steamy.

Stuff I bring to other cons: Fruit, PB&J, canned foods that I microwave, granola bars, apple sauce cups, etc. If you know you have a mini-fridge available or don't mind babysitting upkeep on a cooler, stuff like yoghurt is nice to bring, or sandwich meats/cheese. With the rice cooker you can do stuff like cook the rice and toss in leftover meats (chicken, turkey, whatever) with the rice when it boils. That works great. Some rice cookers even come with a steamer insert to heat veggies while cooking the rice. (Keep the bagged veggies in the fridge of course)

For drinks: Either bring your own soda, refillable water bottle, or if you want something with flavor -- stuff like Crystal Light is very cheap -- 12qts for like $2.50.

That can save you a ton of money for the weekend. And it certainly beats eating EZ Mac all weekend :)

Bringing a microwave or other small appliances would be a bad idea.

Some hotels will NOT let you check in/may void reservations if you come in with an appliance in tow, or if they see you/one of your roomies lugging one with their stuff once you've got your keys. If you sneak it in and the hotels find out, they can easily (& within their rights) kick you out for being/having a fire hazard, or at the very least charge you an arm, leg, and kidney for it. Also: if you have a small appliance and say you burn whatever you're cooking, hello smoke detector panic and potential hotel evacuation (2010 hotel panic repeat? No thanks!). Unfortunately, not everyone is a good cook, nor is everyone mature enough to know not to walk away when cooking (sounds like Sims 2 here lol), nor to know how to operate some/all those appliances (or if not they themselves, their roommates or roomies' friends/guests). Rice cookers are generally much the same as a slow cooker, being left on all day to slowly heat your meal -- over the course of those hours, people will leave their rooms (kinda the point of a convention), ultimately leaving the appliance unattended; should housekeeping come in for clean up rounds and discover it, or should it overheat, experience power surges, burn the food, or myriad potential other things, that could, to understate dramatically, end badly for the one who brings it.

Not even to mention that many hotels/hotel chains have outright bans on external appliances (small or large) in their rooms/their hotels -- yes, it makes them money charging you for that microscopic mini-fridge, or for that teeny tiny microwave for 2am popcorn, but it is also to cover their rears too, in regards to fire safety compliance and staying in the good graces of the fire marshal (without which, goodbye, hotel!).

TL;DR - It's better to err on the side of caution, hotel policy, & fire safety, and NOT bring appliances.

Note also that many of the in-room fridges are on weight sensors & charge you if you so much as lean on them, the Hyatt being infamous for this (*the DoubleTree's is harder to accidentally set off, being hidden in-console, but also contains only the minibar -- touch/open it and pay /BIG time/, esp, if you or your group is under 21*). Free-access fridges in these hotels will often cost you $20+ per night, or require a room upgrade to access. (Note also that in past years, the DoubleTree's ice machines on the upper floor(s) were broke/empty more often than not - anticipate potentially going to the lower/main floors for ice.) The Embassy and some of the further-off options, however, have appliances on free access in their rooms, the Embassy providing a fridge (I want to say the top shelf was a tiny freezer?) and a microwave in the living room, in the "cabinet" under the sink. Many hotels that do not have in-room microwave access will have a microwave in the main lobby or the hotel cafe/gift shop (like in the Hyatt), and some are kind enough to store items needing refrigeration in their main fridge (the Embassy at checkout time gets mad props here).

TL;DR - Check out what your hotel provides (with your room, or in the lobby), what costs a fee to get for your room, and decide what you can & can't live with for a weekend. Arm yourself with knowledge. Each hotel is different; knowing yours can be the difference between an awesome weekend and a miserable one.

Quick edit: Give me a few minutes and I can also compose, or amend to my previous Giant List Of Eating In Rosemont a list of free/home-brought goods that survive ACen well, as tested over years of roomlessness, fridgelessness, and pennilessness. I'll try to have it up before Tuesday/Wednesday night so people can plan & shop in time.