Seems like just yesterday (or maybe it was last week) it was a blustery, springlike 50 degrees. Now it's 89 and humid, just about right considering the Taste of Chicago is less than three weeks away.

From 11 to 2 p.m. Tuesday in Daley Plaza, the city will offer a Taste preview, with nine restaurants serving street fest-friendly fare. They include new-to-the-Taste vendors Lao Sze Chuan, Beggars Pizza, Chicago Sweet Connection Bakery and Texas de Brazil.

Lao Sze Chuan's dry chili chicken might be one of the best bets to be had. There's also Adobo Grill's guac, pork tacos and chicken tamales; and Manny's three-course offering -- corned beef sandwich, mac 'n' cheese and apple pie - that isn't quite what the USDA had in mind with its new MyPlate icon for healthy eating. Oh well.

The other vendors include: Connie's Pizza, Polo Cafe and Robinson's No. 1 Ribs.

Tomorrow's samples are cash only and will range from $3 to $6.