Let’s stir things up, Chicago! Chicago Gourmet, one of the nation’s most distinguished food festivals, is pleased to reveal a lineup of acclaimed chef participants for the 2022 weekend culinary celebration. Founding sponsor Illinois Restaurant Association, together with presenting sponsor Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, will showcase an exciting array of spirited events featuring talent from Chicago and around the world from September 22-25, 2022, atop the Harris Theater Rooftop at Millennium Park. Tickets will be available beginning today, July 27, at 10:00 AM at chicagogourmet.org.
Chicago Gourmet has celebrated the city as a world-class epicurean destination since its 2008 inception, and this year’s theme – “Creating a Stir” – is dedicated to the dreamers and doers and movers and shakers in Chicago’s diverse culinary community. The festival benefits the Illinois Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (IRAEF), a 501 (c)(3) dedicated to building and promoting the health and prosperity of the restaurant industry by investing in both youth and the workforce. It has awarded more than $3.2 million in scholarships since its inception.
Chicago Gourmet events creating a stir in 2022 include:
Image Credit: James Vitullo
Tacos & Tequila
Strike up the mariachi! Is there a better way to kick off a festival than with a spectacular showcase of gourmet tacos and agave spirits presented by some of the city’s most impassioned leaders of authentic Mexican cuisine? Hosted by Chef Rick Bayless (Frontera Grill, Topolobampo, XOCO and more) and presented by US FOODS, Tacos and Tequila will take place on Thursday, September 22 from 7 – 10 PM. Guests can enjoy tacos and explore a range of premium tequilas and mezcals to the stylings of DJ, mariachi and mojiganga performances.
The Tacos & Tequila lineup of top toques includes:
Host Chef Rick Bayless, Frontera Grill, Topolobampo, XOCO and more
Chef Marcos Ascencio, Taqueria Chingon
Chef Michelle Bernstein, Café La Trova, La Cañita and Sweet Liberty
Chefs Inocencio and Marcos Carbajal, Carnitas Uruapan
Chef Marco Colin, La Luna
Chef Elizabeth Godines, La Lagartija
Chef Maria G. Landa, Rubi’s on 18th
Chef Rick Ortiz, Antique Taco
Chef Saúl Román, Tabú
Chef Yani Sanchez, Bar Takito
Chef Andrew Sikkelerus, Barrio
Chef
Image Credit: Chicago Gourmet
Somm Sessions
At this lunch event, you get to be the critic! Presented by Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, guests will enjoy a fabulous menu of delicious food, wine, and music all under one roof at LÝRA, 905 W Fulton Market, on Friday, September 23 from 12 – 2 PM. With each course, Master Sommeliers will go head-to-head with a wine & song pairing to complement the featured chef’s dish. This fun event benefits the Illinois Restaurant Association Educational Foundation.
Tickets are $250 per person, exclusive of taxes and fees, 21+.
Image Credit: Chicago Gourmet
Hamburger Hop
The Hamburger Hop is flippin’ greatness! All-star Chef Stephanie Izard (Girl & The Goat, Little Goat, Duck Duck Goat and more) will host this perennial favorite serving up tasty burgers, cold beer, wine & spirits, and beautiful skyline views. Presented by Buckhead Meat and Blue Moon on Friday, September 23 from 6 – 9 PM, the Hamburger Hop will feature top chefs battling for bragging rights as a celebrity panel of judges chooses ‘Top Burger’ while guests crown the People’s Choice!
2022 Hamburger Hop competition chefs include:
Chef Susu Barakat, S2Express Grill
2021 Hamburger Hop Citywide Winner, Chef Nick Barnhart, Epic Burger
Chef D’Andre Carter, Soul & Smoke
Chef Rohini Dey, Vermillion
Chef James Giacometti, Lardon and Union
Chef Becca Grothe, TriBecca’s Sandwich Shop
Chef Corey Grupe, Burger Federation
Chef Brian Jupiter, Frontier
Chef Kwame Onwuachi
Chef Clinton Payne, Mikkey’s Retro Grill
Chef Brian Rodriguez, Adorn
Chef Julia Shell, The Albion Manor and The Parlour at The Albion
A hungry panel of judges, who will taste each burger and score their favorites, includes
Marion Brooks, NBC 5 Chicago
Damarr Brown, Virtue Bar & Restaurant, Blue Moon Ambassador
Emma Krupp, Time Out Chicago
Sylvia Perez, Fox News 32
Chef Tony Priolo, Piccolo Sogno
Audarshia Townsend, Content Director for Informa Markets’ Food & Beverage Insider
Phil Vettel, Acclaimed food critic
Chef David Wang, slightly toasted, little toasted, asadito and wok n’ bao
Tickets are $130 per person, exclusive of taxes and fees, 21+.
Image Credit: Chicago Gourmet
Late Night Gourmet
The official Hamburger Hop after-party, Late Night Gourmet trades burgers for beats along with late night bites, specialty cocktails, music and dancing on Friday, September 23 from 9 PM – 12 AM. Presented by TAO Chicago at 632 N Dearborn, Late Night Gourmet is the perfect way to keep the party going.
Tickets are $60 per person, exclusive of taxes and fees, 21+.
A Friday night ticket package of Hamburger Hop + Late Night Gourmet is $175 per person, exclusive of taxes and fees, 21+.
Image Credit: Chicago Gourmet
Grand Cru
Bigger than ever before, the Grand Cru is simply a must-do. Presented by UnitedHealthcare and Lexus, the Grand Cru will showcase exclusive wines, extraordinary craft spirits, and unforgettable cuisine on Saturday, September 24, 2 – 5 PM and 7 – 10 PM. During two exciting sessions, guests will savor gourmet offerings from world-class chefs, including Chef Daniel Boulud (DANIEL, Bar Baloud, Le Pavillon and more), Chef Beverly Kim (Wherewithall) and so many more, while tasting and learning about the world’s finest spirits and wines curated by leading master sommeliers like Serafin Alvarado and extraordinary master mixologists like Daniel de Oliveira, both of Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits.
The impressive 2022 Grand Cru chef lineup includes:
Session 1 (2 to 5 p.m.)
Chef Daniel Boulud, DANIEL, Bar Baloud, Le Pavillon and more
Chef Diana Browder, Marisol
Chef Federico Comacchio, Gioia Ristorante & Pastificio
Chef Joe Flamm, Rose Mary & BLVD
Chef Justin Gomes, Travelle at The Langham
Chef Daniel Huebschmann, Gibsons Restaurant Group
Chef Stephanie Izard, Girl & The Goat, Little Goat, Duck Duck Goat and more
Chef Beverly Kim, Wherewithall
Chef Devin Kreller, Wood
Chef Veah Larde, Two Sisters Catering
Chef Martial Noguier, BISTRONOMIC
Chef Alex Pitts, Bazaar Meat and bar mar
Chef Pat Sang and Gary Zickel, Oki Sushi
Chef Jacob Saben, Coda di Volpe
Chef Jennifer Selvaggi, Turano Baking Co.
Session 2: 7 to 10 p.m.
Chef Daniel Boulud, DANIEL, Bar Baloud, Le Pavillon and more
Chef Vanessa Brown, Kitchen + Kocktails
Chef Thai Dang, HaiSous
Chef Juan Jimenez, Norman’s Bistro
Chef Dominique Leach, Lexington Betty’s Smokehouse
Chef Lamar Moore, River North Entertainment and Bar
Chef Hisanobu Osaka, Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises
Chef Dylan Patel, avec and bar avec
Chef Devon Quinn, eden
Chef Pat Sang and Gary Zickel, Oki Sushi
Chef Avgeria Stapaki, Nisos Mediterranean
Chef Jenner Tomaska, Esmé
Chef Fabio Viviani, Bar Siena
Chef Jeff Vucko, Pendry Chicago
Tickets are $255 per person, exclusive of taxes and fees, 21+.
Image Credit: @neiljohnburger
Prost! In the Park!
NEW IN 2022, we’re going uberboard! Introducing Prost! In the Park, a Sünday Fünday with a gourmet twist! A new festival highlight for 2022, Chef Sarah Grueneberg (Monteverde Restaurant & Pastificio) will host this gourmet Oktoberfest-style beer and spirits festival that will feature brews, bites, and boozie bevs from popular and soon-to-be-discovered producers. Ticketholders can expect a celebration in the German tradition with a distinctly Chicago flair when Prost! In the Park takes place on Sunday, September 25 from 1 – 4PM. Lederhosen is not required (but encouraged!).
Prost! to the participating chefs, including:
Chef Brian Ahern, BOEUFHAUS
Chef D’Andre Carter, Soul & Smoke
Chef Vinny Dotolo and Jon Shook, animal, Son of a Gun, Jon & Vinny’s, helen’s and more
Chefs Kurt Guzowski and Thomas Rice, Four Star Artisan
Chef Kevin Hickey, The Duck Inn
Baker Ellen King, Hewn
Chef Leigh Omilinsky, Swift & Sons
Chef Tigist Reda, Demera Ethiopian Restaurant
Chef Darnell Reed, Luella’s Southern Kitchen
Chef Juan Silva, Beach Ave BBQ
Chef Mark Steuer, FUNKENHAUSEN
Chef Bailey Sullivan, Monteverde Restaurant & Pastificio
Chef Paul Virant, Vie, Vistro Prime and Gaijin
Chef Steven Zabel, Performance Foodservice
Tickets are $95 per person, exclusive of taxes and fees, 21+.
Image Credit: Chicago Gourmet
Sponsors and Partners
Chicago Gourmet 2022 is made possible by the generosity of the following sponsors: Illinois Restaurant Association (founding sponsor), Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits (presenting sponsor), Choose Chicago, UnitedHealthcare, Lexus, Mariano’s, Gran Coramino Cristalino, Buckhead Meat, American Airlines, Patrón Tequila, Performance Foodservice, Blue Moon, US Foods, On The Rocks, JCDecaux, South Walton Florida, Sam Adams Brewing the American Dream, Bank of America, Evian, Volpi, White Claw, Ecolab, Coker Service Inc, S. Pellegrino Essenza, Turano, Chicago Hospitality Partners, TAO Chicago, Big Green Egg, Jarritos, Leinenkugel’s, Consulate-General of Japan in Chicago, Hyatt Regency Chicago, Pendry Chicago, The Langham Chicago, Millennium Park Garages, and AV Chicago.
2022 media partners include: JCDecaux, NBC 5 Chicago, 93XRT, and TimeOut.
Featured Image: Chicago Gourmet
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