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:
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
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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+.
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+.
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+.
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+.
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+.
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