Press gathered at the The Crown at Tribune Tower on Tuesday, June 13 on behalf of the Illinois Restaurant Association for a special Mayoral press conference and toast to announce Chicago Gourmet’s 10th anniversary lineup. Presented by Bon Appétit, Chicago Gourmet is an annual food celebration held every September in Millennium Park that brings together food aficionados from Chicago and around the country. This year, the event will be held Sept. 19-24 with ten ancillary events throughout the celebration.
Photography by Jeff Schear
Photography by Jeff Schear
With Chicago recently being named the best restaurant city in America by Condé Nast Traveler, it comes as no surprise that this year’s celebration will be more notable than ever before. For the 10th anniversary, the epicurean celebration will host ten major events in addition to the Main Event and Grand Cru, which will take place, respectively, September 23-24. Seven new events and three returning favorites will be back in town. This year, the Illinois Restaurant Association decided to something a little different. Each event will incorporate the gorgeous architectural aspects of the city, having joined forces with partners at the Chicago Architecture Foundation, Chicago Architecture Biennial and the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust to bring guests on a tour across the city to enjoy delicious food and incredible design. Foodies will be head over heels with the experiences available at this year’s Chicago Gourmet event.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel speaking at The Crown at Tribune Tower.
Photography by Jeff Schear
“Chicago Gourmet is an incredible showcase of the talented chefs and industry leaders who make our city the world-class culinary destination we are today,” says Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “Its expansion to highlight Chicago’s rich architectural history is a testament to the vitality of this seminal event and its close connection to Chicago’s dynamic cultural landscape.”
ChicagoMOD is proud to be the exclusive media sponsor for two private dinners.
Daring Design Dinner at the Robie House ($225/person)
This intimate dinner will allow guests access to Frank Lloyd Wright’s Robie House, the epitome of prairie-style architecture. Chefs Carrie Nahabedian and Matthias Merges will prepare a luxurious five-course meal paired with wines selected by a Master Sommelier.
Date: Wednesday, September 20, 2020
Time: 7 to 10 p.m.
Location: Frank Lloyd Wright’s Frederick C. Robie House, 5757 S. Woodlawn Ave.
Japanese Dinner Under the Stars on the Pritzker Pavilion Stage ($250/person)
International talent from Japan will join Chicago’s Takashi Yagihashi, Tokyo-based Naoyuki Yanagihara and Ivan Orkin to create a lavish, multi-course seated dinner on the main stage of Millennium Park’s Jay Pritzker Pavilion. Chefs will present each course, which will be paired with wines selected by a Master Sommelier. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to diner under the stars in Millennium Park.
Date: Saturday, September 23, 2020
Time: 7:30 to 10:30 p.m.
Location: Jay Pritzker Pavilion Stage, 201 E. Randolph St.
Other events include cocktails on The Crown at Tribune Tower, sweet treats on the Willis Tower Skydeck, yoga session and brunch at the Chicago Athletic Association Hotel, farm-to-table dinner prepared by the legendary chef Rick Bayless, and other exciting events throughout the six-day celebration.
In addition to supporting local chefs, Chicago Gourmet’s programs benefit notable Chicago charities, including the Chicago Parks Foundation, Frontera Farmer Foundation, the James Beard Foundation, the Illinois Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (IRAEF) and Pilot Light.
“Chicago’s culinary industry is known for its big-heartedness and its commitment to giving back,” says Sam Toia, President and CEO of the Illinois Restaurant Association. “We want to emulate that same spirit of giving in all aspects of Chicago Gourmet. Through our charitable partnerships, we are committed to supporting and advancing the city’s green space, the Midwest farming community, the hospitality industry and the potential for our future generations.
Visit ChicagoGourmet.org for more information and to purchase your tickets starting on Thursday, June 22 at 10 a.m.
