Welcome to a reinvented Chicago Gourmet.

The iconic food festival is introducing a new format for 2020. This year’s programming will celebrate Chicago’s diverse culinary scene with unique in-person and virtual events. Guests can enjoy an intimate dinner series at acclaimed local restaurants, live virtual demos from some of the country’s best chefs, and even a reimagined Hamburger Hop event.

Here’s a taste of the 2020 Chicago Gourmet schedule.

Friends dine on the patio at Virtue in Hyde Park
Virtue in Hyde Park

Go Gourmet Dinner Series

Enjoy an intimate night out while supporting local restaurants with this in-person dinner series. Many of Chicago’s most acclaimed restaurants are opening their doors for a one-of-a-kind dining experience from Sept. 14 – 30. Enjoy special tasting menus, visits from the chef, wine and cocktail pairings, and more. Participating restaurants include:

  • Virtue
  • Piccolo Sogno
  • Sun Wah BBQ
  • Gibsons Italia
  • Tzuco
  • The Duck Inn
  • Norman’s Bistro
  • Monteverde
  • River Roast
  • Yūgen

All dinners will adhere to the current restaurant guidelines including gathering size, distancing, and face coverings. Make your reservations today.

Chicago Gourmet tacos
Photo by Rio Chavez

Go Gourmet Live Virtual Demos

Cook alongside some of the nation’s best chefs with this series of live virtual cooking demos. Take your pick from award-winning chefs from Chicago and around the country and learn how to make one of their signature dishes. You can even upgrade to a Meal Kit package, which feeds four and includes all the ingredients you need for the demo delivered right to your door. Participating chefs include:

  • Art Smith
  • Lorena Garcia
  • Fabio Viviani
  • Thai Dang
  • Kwame Onwuachi
  • Rick Bayless
  • Jernard Wells
  • Jeff Mauro
  • Stephanie Izard

Demo tickets are $20; meal kit prices vary. Proceeds from the event will benefit the IRAEF Restaurant Employee Relief Fund.

Hamburger Hop

One of Chicago’s most beloved culinary events is back! Can’t Stop The Hop will feature more than 100 restaurants throughout the city, from fine-dining spots to neighborhood classics. Each restaurant will offer a special burger that can be enjoyed for dine-in, carry-out, or delivery from Sept. 1 – 13. Try as many as you can then vote for your favorites! Participating restaurants include: 

  • The Loyalist
  • Luella’s Southern Kitchen
  • Dusek’s Board & Beer
  • Funkenhausen
  • Kuma’s Corner
  • Longman & Eagle
  • Mi Tocaya Antojeria
  • Publican Quality Meats
  • And many more!

Check here for the full list of restaurants. $1 of every burger sold will benefit the IRAEF Restaurant Employee Relief Fund.