One quick glance at the jam-packed Chicago Gourmet, and you’ll think you’ve died and gone to culinary heaven. Why?
1) All Day Long Tasting
Does stuffing your face sound appealing to you? Well, it does to us, and there will be plenty of it to go around here. Hundreds of chefs from hundreds of restaurants both in and around Chicago will be showcasing their mouthwatering cuisine. There’s Mexican, steak, Italian, BBQ, pizza, bourbon (yeah, bourbon), cheesecake, beer, and pretty much everything else you’d ever want to eat/drink. You can see the full list here.
2) Emeril Lagasse
Yeah, Emeril Freakin’ Lagasse! Of all the famous chefs to ever grace us with their delicious creations, Emeril’s name is about as household as it gets. Not only is he the food correspondent for Good Morning America, he’s also hosted over 2,000 shows on the Food Network. Oh and by the way, he’s the best-selling author of 18 cookbooks, with his 19th on the way this October. Perhaps you’ve heard of him.
3) Hamburger Hop
The simple yet catchy-named Hamburger Hop pits 15 of Chicago’s top chefs against each other in all-out burger grilling warfare. Who will be the master of the grill? That’s where you come in. Attendees will vote on the best burger while sipping on some delicious Lagunitas brews and scoping out the skyline from their pedestal at the rooftop bar.
4) Millennium Park
Who doesn’t love Chicago’s front yard? The majority of the events take place right in the city’s famous park, and really – who could ask for a better venue?
5) Late Night Gourmet
They say everything gets hotter when the sun goes down, and we’d have to agree. The Underground will be hosting the official after-party of Friday’s Hamburger Hop – so you can top your night off with even more good eats, revel in the company of Chicago’s top chefs & sommeliers, and jam out to mixes from the hottest DJs around town.
Chicago Gourmet takes place from Friday, 9/25 to Sunday, 9/27 at Millennium Park. You can get all of the details at their official site. If you’re planning on stopping by, the nearby parking garage at 20 E. Randolph has some phenomenal $25 All Day Parking Specials available.
Photo: Chicago Gourmet Facebook