Celebrate International Bacon Day Saturday with Delightful Pastries

As if we needed a day to celebrate everything bacon, did you know that tomorrow (Saturday, August 31) is International Bacon Day? The official observance, concocted by the residents of the Crag in Bedford, Massachusetts in 2000, is held on the Saturday before Labor Day in the United States. Bacon day celebrations typically include social gatherings during which participants create and consume dishes containing bacon, including bacon-themed breakfasts, lunches, dinners, desserts, and drinks.

Are you excited? It seems that the world is. Ford Motor Company even got into the action this year. If you're looking for a new car but just can't seem to find one that suitably expresses your love for pork products, Ford is feting Bacon Day with "custom bacon graphics that pork purists can have installed on their new 2014 Fiesta."

Closer to home (and more economically feasible), we suggest that you stop by Delightful Pastries on Wells St. or at the Chicago French Market to partake in one of its many bacon offerings. The He Lives!Sandwich (Peanut Butter, Grape Jelly, Lean Crispy Bacon, Banana with a house secret sauce on all-butter croissant, $8.25); The Three Piggly Wiggly Sandwich (Polish ham, lean crispy bacon, pan-fried pork cutlet, pickles served on an "everything bun", $10.00), and the Volcano (potato, onion and pancetta tart wrapped in flaky dough with melted Gruyere cheese on top, $5.50) are customer favorites. Or try the house-made Split Pea Soup with peas, potato, carrot and bacon or Clam Chowder with Bacon ($4.00). The made-to-order Breakfast Sandwich (at the Wells St. store only) includes scrambled egg, bacon, ham, Swiss cheese on house-made butter croissant, $6.95, delicious.

If you're looking for other ideas, visit BaconToday.com for its top 10 things to do on IBD, some of which can perpetuate the holiday spirit long past Aug. 31.