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Chicago Gourmet is back! After hosting a retooled slate of festivities in 2021, the four-day food festival is set to return this September with a host of events dedicated to Chicago’s culinary scene—including showcases of tacos, hamburgers, beer and the fest’s all-star tasting event.
Tickets for the festival, which range from $60–$255, are on sale now via the Chicago Gourmet website. Curious about what to expect for this year’s iteration? Take a look through the lineup for some of the fest’s main events and start planning your feasting well in advance.
Tacos & Tequila
The festival kicks off with this taco-centric event hosted by celebrity chef (and Mexican cuisine devotee) Rick Bayless, which offers guests a range of gourmet tacos paired with tequila and mezcal alongside live mariachi and mojiganga performances.
Lineup:
- 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
- Chefs Jaime and Alfonso Sotelo, Cinco Rabanitos and Chile Toreados
$99. September 22 from 7–10pm at Harris Theater Rooftop, 205 E Randolph St.
Somm Sessions
This lunchtime event hosted at West Loop Greek restaurant LÝRA features a showdown between two Chicago sommeliers, who will offer dueling pairings alongside dishes by chef-partners Athinagoras Kostakos and Joseph Rizzo. Proceeds from the event benefit the Illinois Restaurant Association Educational Foundation.
$250. September 23 from noon–2pm at LÝRA, 905 W Fulton Market.
Hamburger Hop
Girl & the Goat chef Stephanie Izard hosts this year’s version of the classic Chicago Gourmet event, in which chefs compete for the title of ‘Top Burger’ (awarded by a panel of judges—including your local Time Out editor!) and ‘People’s Choice’ (awarded by attendees). Participating chefs include local luminaries like Brian Jupiter (Frontier, Ina Mae Tavern), D’Andre Carter (Soul & Smoke) and Rohini Dey (Vermilion), along with out-of-town entrants like LA-based chef and Notes from a Young Black Chef author Kwame Onwuachi.
Lineup:
- 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
$130. September 23 from 6–9pm at Harris Theater Rooftop, 205 E Randolph St.
Late Night Gourmet
The Hamburger Hop party continues with this late-night afterparty—complete with snacks, specialty cocktails, music and dancing—at River North nightclub TAO Chicago. Tickets are $60, but you can also opt for a bundled Friday night package (including Hamburger Hop at Late Night Gourmet) for $175.
$60. September 23 from 9pm–midnight at TAO Chicago, 632 N Dearborn St.
Grand Cru
The fest’s marquee event is a multi-session tasting extravaganza with a stacked lineup of chefs from Chicago and the across the world, from Michelin-starred chef and restaurateur Daniel Boulud (DANIEL, Le Pavillon, Café Boulud) to local chefs like Beverly Kim (Parachute, Wherewithal), Joe Flamm (Rose Mary), Thai Dang (HaiSous) and more. Tickets come with offerings from the chefs as well as wine and spirit tastings by sommeliers and mixologists.
Lineup:
Session 1, 2–5pm
- 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, 7–10pm
- Chef Daniel Boulud, DANIEL, Bar Baloud, Le Pavillon and more
- Chef Vanessa Brown, Kitchen + Kocktails
- Chef Thai Dang, HaiSous
- Chef Juan Jimenez, Norman's Bistr
- 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
$255. September 24 from 2–5pm and 7–10pm at Harris Theater Rooftop, 205 E Randolph St.
Prost! In the Park
This new event— hosted by Monteverde chef Sarah Grueneberg—presents a Chicago-style take on Oktoberfest festivities, complete with beer, chef-prepared bites and drinks from a host of producers.
Lineup:
- 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
$95. September 24 from 1–5pm at Harris Theater Rooftop, 205 E Randolph St.