Chicago Gourmet Schedule Released; Tickets Still Available

By Anthony Todd in Food on Sep 14, 2012 3:00PM

The full schedule for Chicago Gourmet was released yesterday, and it's a doozy. In addition to the food, wine, classes and demos that we've come to love, this year they've added a pig roast hosted by the Purple Pig, an international beer tent, gluten free treats and even more food.

Chicago Gourmet is in its fifth year, and while the first couple of years were a bit disappointing the event has come into its own. The balance between food and wine (and now beer!) has dramatically improved, and the variety of presentations mean that there is something for every food lover.

The always-popular chef demos are back, with some of your favorite chefs going behind the stove and in front of the audience. We're really excited, as this year we seem to be getting more talented Chicago chefs and fewer "celebrities." Tony Mantuano, Dirk Flanigan, Rick Bayless, Carlos Gaytan, Michael and Patrick Sheerin, Paul Fehribach, Takashi Yagihashi, Chris Pandel; not all of these chefs have cookbooks and TV shows, but they all have serious talent. We're particularly excited for two demos. Stephanie Izard and Sarah Grueneberg are teaming up for an all-woman, all-Top Chef demo entitled "A Journey Inside The Culinary Brains Of Two Top Chefs" and Homato Cantu and Richie Farina are going to be presenting "Kitchen Chemistry 101." We'll have a hard time tearing ourselves away from the demo stage.

There is also a full bookstore with author signings, lots of seminars including cocktail workshops with mixologist/author Bridget Albert and the final round of the Chicago Gourmet Supreme Shucker oyster shucking competition. More than enough to keep any foodie going for two days.

Tickets are still available for both Saturday, Sept. 29 and Sunday, Sept. 30. Tickets are about $170 for one day and $288 for the whole weekend.