Chicago Gourmet 2011: Bring Your Appetite to Chicago's Premier Food Event

Foodies unite! Chicago Gourmet 2011 is almost here! Similar to Chicago's popular Taste of Chicago, Chicago Gourmet is, well, more gourmet than the Taste with some of Chicago's top chefs demonstrating their culinary prowess. Chicago Gourmet includes chef and sommelier seminars, as well as spirits, beers, and gourmet food samplings from over 100 of Chicago's best restaurants and chefs. Chicago Gourmet was created by the Illinois Restaurant Association to honor both Chicago’s culinary achievements and the creative vision of its chefs, master sommeliers and wine makers.

More Things to Do in Chicago This Fall: Chicago Oktoberfests l Chicago Halloween

Chicago Gourmet is September 23-25, 2011 with a Hamburger Hop opening event on Friday, September 23, from 6 to 9 p.m. Then on Saturday Chicago Gourmet goes from 12 to 6 p.m. and on Sunday from 12 to 5 p.m. The Grand Cru wine tasting event is both days from 2 to 3:30 p.m.

Chicago Gourmet will take place at Chicago's Millennium Park, Randolph Street and Michigan Avenue.

Chicago Gourmet includes chef and sommelier seminars such as Savor the Flavors of Mexico with chef Rick Bayless of Frontera Grill, as well as Brunch Basics with TV food celebrity Ted Allen and Filet the Italian Way with Harry Caray's Restaurant Group's Paul Katz. Here is a complete listing of seminars.

Suggested reading: Top 10 Online Gourmet Shops l Gourmet Brunch Menus l German Recipes / Oktoberfest

Tickets for Chicago Gourmet are $150 per day. Two-day passes are $250. Food seminars are included. Tickets for the Grand Cru wine tasting event are an additional $175, and tickets for the Hamburger Hop are $75. Attendees must be 21 years of age or older. Children under 5 can attend for free with a paying adult. Tickets can be purchased online.

You can visit Chicago Gourmet's Web site or follow Chicago Gourmet on Facebook.