POP THE CORK: CHICAGO GOURMET TURNS 10!

September 25, 2017

Wow! Time flies when you are having fun! I cannot believe that it has been ten years since Chicago Gourmet’s inception, I have been in attendance for the past 5 years and have enjoyed each and every bit and BITE of it!

So much can happen in 10 years! Since its 2008 inception, Chicago Gourmet has matured into a nationally recognized food and wine festival with the continued support of acclaimed chef partners who have championed the celebration since day one. The 2017 lineup included many of the distinguished chefs from the inaugural year – including Graham Elliot, Rick Bayless, Stephanie Izard, Paul Kahan, Art Smith, Carrie Nahabedian, Tony Mantuano, Mindy Segal, Takashi Yagihashi – and national celebrity talent including Curtis Stone, Carla Hall, Jeff Mauro and many others.

Mayor Emmanuel and several featured chefs

On to the main event it takes place on Saturday and Sunday, I attended on Saturday and boy it was a HOT day! I cannot say this enough please dress cool and comfortable for Chicago Gourmet you will be walking and eating and will want to try EVERYTHING but pace yourself and make sure to hydrate! Flat shoes are a must! Plan but be prepared to deviate a little when you see all the various stations you may get overwhelmed! Take a deep breath and get to it! As there are so many bites and beverages to try.

There are also various seminars that you can take advantage of, and the last but surely not least all the various tasting pavilions!! Mexican Tasting, Supreme Lobster Tasting, Choral Room, Chicago Classics, Mariano’s Tasting, US Foods Tasting, Who’s Hungry, Thai Tasting and the decadent Grand Cru Tasting tent however you need a separate ticket for this area!

See below for a few pics:

Carla Hall

Proudly showcasing Chicago chefs and some of the city’s most stunning architectural and natural locales, the eXtraordinary chefs – eXtraordinary places collection will expand the reach of Chicago Gourmet into new neighborhoods and into iconic buildings. All held the week of September 18 with support from Chicago Architecture Foundation and the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust, foodies will experience the Windy City’s finest chefs as they present rare experiential opportunities around the city – from cocktail-focused happy hours to strolling tastings to intimate seated dinners. Aside from the main event they hosted several pop up events that took place at a few of the spots listed below:

The Crown at Tribune Tower
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Robie House
The Chicago Riverwalk
The 606
The Park at Wrigley
Willis Tower Skydeck
Jay Pritzker Pavilion Stage
The Harris Theater Rooftop

Chicago Gourmet is one of the nation’s largest and most celebrated culinary events, proudly produced by the Illinois Restaurant Association. With more than 250 restaurants and chefs, as well as hundreds of renowned vintners, spirit makers and premium breweries from presenting sponsor Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits of Illinois, this interactive, epicurean affair showcases many of the finest in the culinary world. It also includes a multitude of live cooking demonstrations, wine and cocktail seminars, gourmet tastings and book signings by internationally renowned chefs, Master Sommeliers, winemakers and more.

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, design, and home. Under editor in chief Adam Rapoport, the brand has been nominated for 18 National Magazine Awards, including wins in 2014 for General Excellence and photography; 12 James Beard Foundation Journalism Awards; and more than 50 Society of Publication Designers (SPD) nominations including design, photography, and Magazine of the Year.

Hope to see you next year! Cheers!

Be sure to save the date for next year September 28-30 2018.