Chicago Gourmet, a multiday food festival showcasing the city’s culinary scene, will return Sept. 23 to 27 with a lineup of dance-inspired events and more than 100 chefs slated to participate.
The festival, now in its 19th year, will include tastings, live cooking demonstrations and partnerships with local restaurants. As a nod to this year’s theme, “Let Your Tastebuds Dance,” each event will feature live performances from local dance troupes, Illinois Restaurant Association president Sam Toia said.
This year will also feature new pregame events, including the Asian Night Market on Sept. 23 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Bridgeport’s Zhou B Art Center. Tickets are $99 and the event will include chefs such as Joe Fontelera of Boonie’s Filipino Restaurant, Andrew Lim of Perilla Korean Fare and Perilla Korean Steakhouse, and Zubair Mohajir and Rishi Kumar of Mirra, Lilac Tiger and Coach House.
Also new this year is the Dine Around Series, which Toia said “takes Chicago Gourmet beyond just the festival and into the city’s diverse neighborhoods.” From Sept. 1 to 18, people can visit nearly 80 local restaurants to sample festival-inspired dishes, tasting menus, cocktails and wine pairings. Participating restaurants include Ambar Chicago, Gene & Georgetti, Piccolo Sogno, Sifr and Tacotlan.
Signature events, like Tacos & Tequila hosted by chef Rick Bayless, will also return. Attendees can sample a selection of tacos and sip agave spirits, while listening to a live mariachi band and watching traditional Mexican folk dancers. Participating chefs include Marcos Ascencio and Oliver Poilevey of Taquería Chingón, Jaysen Euler of Old Pueblo Cantina, and Reynel Mendoza and Leo Ramos of Kie-Gol-Lanee.
“It’s a great place to have a very joyful learning experience and a delicious one at that,” Bayless said. “It’s just really dynamic and fun.”
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Tacos & Tequila will take place on Sept. 24 from 6 to 9 p.m. on the Harris Theater Rooftop. Tickets are $130.
Another signature event, the Hamburger Hop hosted by Joe Flamm and Jeff Mauro, is also returning with a dance-inspired twist. While chefs including Dan Grynevich of Kuma’s Corner, Rahim Muhammad of Mahari and Alex Williams of Leavitt Street Inn & Tavern vie for the title of “Best Burger,” breakdancers will also compete in their own dance battle.
The Hamburger Hop will take place on Sept. 25 from 6 to 9 p.m. on the Harris Theater Rooftop. Tickets are $130.
This year also marks the return of Chicago Gourmet’s chef demonstrations on the Pritzker Pavilion stage, where chefs cook specialty dishes and share culinary tips in front of a live audience. Presenters include Stephanie Izard, Lee Anne Wong, Diana Dávila and Bayless. Demo tickets can be purchased for $20 per person along with a Grand Cru ticket.
“It’s a fun way to interact with the audience, interact with my co-presenter and keep it lively and fun,” Bayless said.
Grand Cru on Sept. 26 on the Harris Theater Rooftop will feature dishes by more than 30 chefs, including D’Andre Carter of Soul & Smoke, Norman Fenton of Cariño and Bailey Sullivan of Monteverde Restaurant & Pastificio, paired with wines and spirits. Tickets are $255 per person.
The festival will close out with a Southern cookout-inspired brunch at the Rise & Shine Gourmet on Sept. 27 from noon to 3:00 p.m. on the Harris Theater Rooftop. Participating chefs include Dominique Leach of Lexington Betty’s Smokehouse, Tigist Reda of Demera and Darnell Reed of Luella’s Southern Kitchen. Tickets are $115 per person.
Toia said the goal of the festival is to highlight Chicago as a culinary capital.
“I don’t care what they do in South Beach or anywhere else. We have the best food and wine show here in Chicago,” he said.
Chicago Gourmet’s programming will benefit the Illinois Restaurant Association Educational Foundation and the Restaurant Employee Relief Fund.
“It’s an opportunity every year for Chicagoans to come and taste the delicious craftsmanship that chefs in the city are serving every day in their restaurants,” Bayless said.
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Sept. 23-27, with many events at the Harris Theater Rooftop, 205 E. Randolph St.; tickets are available at chicagogourmet.org.