If you have been a follower of mine you know one of my absolute favorite events to signal the end of Summer Time Chi is the amazing annual Chicago Gourmet event! Usually they offer events that take place leading up to this event this year they have decided to switch it up and put it on the back end!
Today I was fortunate enough to be in attendance at the press conference to get all the scoop and OF COURSE I am going to share it with you! The press conference was held at Monteverde located in the West Loop and in attendance were some pretty amazing chefs and people in the food industry in general! We noshed on bites prepared by Monteverde’s very own Chef Sarah Gruenberg oh so yummy! Ok enough of my chatting!
Encore Event Tickets on Sale Now!!
Bon Appétit presents Chicago Gourmet gives guests a true backstage pass to some of the most exclusive, entertainment-packed events taking place throughout Chicago Sept. 24 – 29. The 12th year of Chicago Gourmet is better than ever with nine encore events celebrating the Lights, Camera, Napkin! theme. Founded by the Illinois Restaurant Association and produced in partnership with title sponsor Bon Appétit and presenting sponsor Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, guests will have the opportunity to rub elbows with chefs, sommeliers and mixologists while enjoying some of Chicago’s most sought-after entertainment experiences.
The week-long event kicks off with a true VIP evening at the theatre to see the one-and-only “Hamilton” with Chef Rick Bayless, complete with an exclusive Q&A with a cast member after the show. Inspired by everyone’s favorite mob movie, Italian Feaston the Odyssey Chicago River will have guests saying “arrivederci” as they set sail; Jeff Mauro hosts a star-studded Jef Comedy Jam at Theater on the Lake; and Chef Sarah Grueneberg will spice things up with The Big Chill(i): Gourmet Chili Cook-Off on the Harris Theater Rooftop. Returning by popular demand are favorites Battle of the Masters and Rise & Shine Gourmet along with other not-to-be missed revelries.
Rick Bayless 
Sarah Gruenberg 
Take advantage of all the festivities throughout the city with events on sale now including:
1. Tuesday, Sept. 24, 6-10:30 p.m.: Raise your Glass to Freedom: A Hamilton Exclusive hosted by Rick Bayless at CIBC Theatre ($450/person) – 2019 has been dubbed the Year of Chicago Theatre by the City of Chicago and the League of Chicago Theatre, and there’s no better way to celebrate this first-of-its-kind recognition than with an exclusive VIP evening at “Hamilton” with Chef Rick Bayless. Theater-goers will enjoy early access, a cocktail reception with small bites, premier seating, and an exclusive question-and-answer session with a cast member after the show. This year’s event will benefit The Bayless Family Foundation “Stepping Stone” Grants, which supports established Chicago theatre organizations with a vision for institutional and artistic growth.
2. Wednesday, Sept. 25, 7-10 p.m.: “Take the Gun, Leave the Cannoli”: Italian Feast presented by Performance Foodservice on the Odyssey Chicago River ($250/person) – An offer diners can’t refuse, join chefs Fabio Viviani (Siena Tavern), Tony Priolo (Piccolo Sogno, Maillard Tavern), Carolina Diaz (Terzo Piano) and Federico Comacchio (Coco Pazzo) with wines curated by Alpana Singh, MS (Check Please!, Terra & Vine) for a mobster-inspired Italian feast aboard the Odyssey Chicago River. Guests will revel in traditional Italian fare and full-bodied wines, all set against the stunning backdrop of the Chicago River in support of the Illinois Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, which creates hospitality career pathways to post-secondary education and the workforce.
3. Thursday, Sept. 26, 6-9 p.m.: Jef Comedy Jam Hosted by Jeff Mauro at Theater on the Lake ($90/person) – Who doesn’t love an evening with good company and a side of laughs? Join Chicago native and self-proclaimed funniest chef in the world, Jeff Mauro (Pork & Mindy’s), for a knee-slapping good time. Guests will indulge in delicious fare and refreshing cocktails while enjoying a show by some of Chicago’s most well-known comedians, including “The Restaurant” comedy group. The perfect recipe for an unforgettable evening, a portion of proceeds will be donated to the Illinois Restaurant Association Educational Foundation.
4. Friday, Sept. 27, noon – 2 p.m.: Battle of the Masters at Swift & Sons ($200/person) – Join Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits Master Sommelier Serafin Alvarado for an afternoon of delectable food, perfectly paired wine and show-stopping musical numbers. Seven master sommeliers and three certified wine educators – some of whom include Fred Dame, MS (Daou Vineyards and Winery), Kathy Morgan, MS (Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits) and Alpana Singh, MS (Check Please!, Terra & Vine) – compete head-to-head as they pair both wine and song with delicious dishes to benefit the Illinois Restaurant Association Educational Foundation.
5. Saturday, Sept. 28, 8-11 p.m.: The Big Chill(i): Gourmet Chili Cook-Off presented by Illinois Beef Association & Iowa Beef Industry Council on the Harris Theater Rooftop ($95/person) – Hosted by Sarah Grueneberg (Monteverde) Chicago Gourmet will heat up for a star-studded chili competition. Join Jimmy Bannos (Heaven on Seven), Jimmy Bannos, Jr. (The Purple Pig, Piggie Smalls Gyro Shop), Abe Conlon (Fat Rice), Diana Dávila (Mi Tocaya Antojería), Cedric Harden (River Roast), Kim Leali (One Off Hospitality), Chris Pandel (Swift & Sons) and Jose Sosa (Gibsons Italia) as they pull out all the stops to see whose creation will reign supreme. Benefiting the 100 Club, which provides for the families of first responders who have lost their lives in the line of duty, this event will honor our firefighters and policemen who risk their lives each day.
6. Sunday, Sept. 29, 8:30-10:45 a.m. or 10 a.m.-12:15 p.m.: Rise & Shine Gourmet at the Chicago Athletic Association Hotel ($40/person) – The calming sounds of instrumental intentions — from sun salutation through the stillness of Savasana — greet guests at Rise & Shine Gourmet, benefitting Pilot Light, which helps children make healthier food choices. The annual comforting combo of yoga and brunch includes a restorative yoga session, provided by CorePower Yoga, and bliss-inducing brunch bites from Jason Hammel (Lula Café) at the Chicago Athletic Association Hotel, one of Chicago’s landmark properties and a highly lauded 21st century boutique hotel.
Grand Cru, presented byUnitedHealthcare, tickets, gourmet travel packages with accommodations by Hyatt Regency Chicago, Langham Chicago and Fairmont Chicago, and select encore event tickets are all available to purchase now. Tickets for Hamburger Hop, presented by Buckhead Meat of Chicago and Blue Moon Brewing Co. and Late Night Gourmet presented by Chicago magazine, will go on sale in August.
For more details and to buy tickets, visit chicagogourmet.org. Questions regarding ticket sales may be directed to chicagogourmet@illinoisrestaurants.org or (312) 380-4137.
ABOUT BON APPÉTIT PRESENTS CHICAGO GOURMET
Chicago Gourmet, the nation’s premier culinary experience, returns Sept. 24-29, 2019. Celebrating its 12th year, Chicago Gourmet returns with a spirited theme – Lights, Camera, Napkin! – celebrating all things food and entertainment. Chicago Gourmet was created by the Illinois Restaurant Association to honor Chicago’s culinary achievements and the creative vision of the chefs, Master Sommeliers, and wine-, spirit-, and beer-makers who participate. It also spotlights Chicago as an international culinary destination via its unparalleled epicurean talent. The event supports a range of charitable organizations every year, including the Illinois Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, Pilot Light and others. Chicago Gourmet is possible with the support of title sponsor Bon Appétit and presenting sponsor Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits. For more information, please visit chicagogourmet.org and follow on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
ABOUT BON APPÉTIT
Bon Appétit is where food and culture meet. The award-winning No. 1 food lifestyle brand covers food through the lens of cooking, fashion, travel, technology, design, and home. As the leading arbiter of taste, its home-grown talent and tireless dedication to recipe testing separates it from the competition by miles. Bon Appétit has been named to Advertising Age’s A-List for eight consecutive years, including Magazine of the Year 2013 and 2017, Brand of the Year 2015, and Digital and Video recognition in 2019, and has been named to Adweek’s Hot List every year since 2012, including Hottest Food Magazine in 2013, 2017 and 2018. Bon Appétit has also been nominated for 32 National Magazine Awards in the past six years, including wins in 2014 for General Excellence and Photography, in 2017 for General Excellence, and in 2019 for Social Media. For more, visit www.bonappetit.com.
ABOUT SOUTHERN GLAZER’S WINE & SPIRITS
Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits is the world’s pre-eminent distributor of beverage alcohol, and proud to be a multi-generational, family-owned company. The Company has operations in 44 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, Canada, and the Caribbean, and employs more than 20,000 team members. Southern Glazer’s urges all retail customers and adult consumers to market, sell, serve, and enjoy its products responsibly. For more information visit www.southernglazers.com. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @sgwinespirits and on Facebook at Facebook.com/SouthernGlazers.
ABOUT THE ILLINOIS RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION
Founded in 1914, the Illinois Restaurant Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting, protecting, educating and improving the restaurant industry in Illinois. The IRA owns and produces Chicago Gourmet – the annual food and wine festival uniting hundreds of restaurants, chefs and beverage experts for a weekend filled with food and drink tastings, entertainment, cooking demonstrations, book signings, interactive seminars and more. The Association is also a proud co-host of the James Beard Foundation Awards, which will be held in Chicago through 2027. For more information about the Illinois Restaurant Association, visit illinoisrestaurants.org and follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
