Foodie Fridays: Epicurious Entertains Chicago, 2nd Annual Pastoral's Artisan Producer Festival, & Around The World In 80 Plates!,

Epicurious will host an exceptional weekend culinary experience: “Epicurious Entertains Chicago,” on May 5-6, at the Chicago Illuminating Company with select events benefitting the Greater Chicago Food Depository.  

The editors at the iconic food brand, Epicurious, have convened a group of Chicago’s renowned chefs, sommeliers and mixologists, as they host this first-ever local event.  

The exclusive two-day experience will appeal to not only foodies, but kids, parents and local sports fans, with cooking classes, a BBQ blowout, and an intimate dinner with three of Chicago’s star chefs.  

Consumers can purchase tickets to individual events (prices below), or an all-access weekend pass for $175. 

 

Events include:

·         DINNER WITH CHICAGO’S TOP CHEFS: Saturday, May 5, 6:30-10pm

Three of Chicago’s culinary stars, including Art Smith of Table 52, Dale Levitski of Sprout, and Mindy Segal of Hot Chocolate, join Epicurious’ Tanya Steel to host a delicious evening featuring a three-course dinner prepared by the chefs themselves, hors d’oeuvres, wine and cocktails. Tickets are $100 (21 and over).

·         COOKING WITH KIDS: Saturday, May 5, 10am-1pm

Epicurious Editor-in-Chief, Tanya Steel, and Purple Asparagus Chef ,Melissa Graham, provide young chefs, ages 2-12, hands-on lessons in healthy, kid-friendly meals, as well as cookie, apron and herb pot decorating. Tickets are $25 for one adult and two kids.

·         ENTERTAINING, EPI-STYLE: Saturday, May 5, 2-5pm

Master Sommelier, Alpana Singh, Sabel Kitchen & Bar’s, Mike Ryan, Epoch Floral’s, Mike Hines, and other renowned local chefs teach wine pairing, cocktail recipes, healthy cooking and flower arranging with classes and interactive demonstrations. Tickets are $35 (21 and over).

·         BBQ, BREWS & BASEBALL: Sunday, May 6, 12-5pm

Feast on barbecue and southern favorites from Lillie’s Q, including pulled pork, pulled chicken and ribs, while rooting for your team of choice -- the Cubs or White Sox – as live games are displayed on the big screen.  Local sports legends will also be in attendance. Tickets are $35, and a portion of proceeds will benefit Greater Chicago Food Depository.

 

The Chicago Illuminating Company is located near the South Loop at 19 E. 21st Street, Chicago.

 

Please visit their website for full information and to purchase tickets.

Chicago French Market's Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine will host its second annual Pastoral's Artisan Producer Festival, a complimentary event to meet culinary artisans from throughout the U.S. and around the globe!  Come and sample products and celebrate small batch food, beer and wine at Chicago French Market (131 North Clinton Street), from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Saturday, April 28, 2012.

This year's lineup features more than 70 culinary producers-more than double the number of artisans who participated at last year's event-with award-winning cheese makers from across the country including Kenny's Farmhouse Cheese in Kentucky, Cypress Grove Chevre in California and Marcoot Jersey Creamery from Illinois among at least 25 others. Venerable cheese mongers from Neal's Yard Dairy in London will also be on hand and sampling some of the best cheeses from the British Isles, while New York-based Forever Cheese will feature some of the Mediterranean's finest cheeses and other culinary delights from Italy, Spain, Portugal and Croatia.
Additionally, there will be a variety of national and international artisans who produce Pastoral's distinctive sweet and savory accompaniments. From beer and spirit makers in Chicago to a potato chip producer from Virginia to caviar and truffle oil artisans from Italy, this year's festival is one of Chicago's most extensive events featuring culinary specialties from local, national and international producers.
Scheduled events throughout the day will include a cheese wrapping game sponsored by Formaticum, an avocado tasting for kids (and grown-ups) with The Good Food Project-sponsored by Avocados from Mexico-and Best of the Fest competition with food industry luminaries voting on their favorite featured artisans and products.
Pastoral created Pastoral's Artisan Producer Festival as part of the company's mission to make buying and eating great food and wine a fun, inviting and educational experience for its customers. Many of the products featured at Pastoral's Artisan Producer Festival are sold in the Midwest exclusively at Pastoral. The event also will highlight artisan producers featured at Pastoral's neighboring Chicago French Market vendors.
Parking for only $6 will be available for all attendees at 165 North Clinton, the parking lot located just north of Chicago French Market.   For more information, visit pastoralartisan.com or call 312-454-2200.
See below for a list of participating artisans and vendors.

CHEESEMAKERS
Beecher's Handmade Cheese (Washington)
Beehive Cheese Company (Utah)
Capriole Farmstead Goat Cheese (Indiana)
Cypress Grove Chevre (California)
Forever Cheese (Mediterranean)
Frisian Farms (Iowa)
Holland's Family Cheese (Wisconsin)
Cellars at Jasper Hill (Vermont)
Kenny's Farmhouse Cheese (Kentucky)
LaClare Family Farm (Wisconsin)
Marcoot Jersey Creamery (Illinois)
Milton Creamery (Iowa)
Neal's Yard Dairy (London)
Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company (California)
Prairie Fruits Farm and Creamery (Illinois)
Rogue Creamery (Oregon)
Sartori Cheese (Wisconsin)
Saxon Homestead Creamery (Wisconsin)
Seymour Dairy (Wisconsin)
Spring Brook Farm (Vermont)
Uplands Cheese Company (Wisconsin)
Vermont Butter and Cheese Creamery (Vermont)
Wisconsin Sheep Dairy Co-Op (Wisconsin)
Zingerman's Creamery (Michigan)
BREWERIES
5 Rabbit (Illinois)
Finch's Beer (Illinois)
Founders Brewing Company (Michigan)
Goose Island (Illinois)
Half Acre Beer Company (Illinois)
Brouwerij Liefmans (Belgium)
New Holland Brewing Company (Michigan)
North Coast Brewing Company (California)
Brewery Ommegang (New York)
Uinta Brewing Company (Utah)
VINEYARDS
Acustic Winery (Spain)
Adelsheim Vineyard (Oregon)
Barrelhead Winery (California)
Chateau de Tiregand (France)
Elk Cove Vineyards (Oregon)
Graziano Family Wines (California)
Julian Cider (California)
L. Mawby Vineyards (Michigan)
Laurel Glen Vineyards (California)
Marques Vargas Vineyards (Spain)
Monticello Vineyards (California)
Orin Swift Cellars (California)
Pazo San Mauro (Spain)
SPIRITS
Death's Door Spirits (Wisconsin)
Few Spirits (Illinois)
Koval Distillery (Illinois)
Valentine Vodka (Michigan)
CONFECTIONS
Confection Diva (Illinois)
DAS Foods (Illinois)
Happy Goat Caramels (California)
Rich Chocolates & Candies (Illinois)
Salted Caramel (Illinois)
Truffle Truffle (Illinois)
Whimsical Candy (Illinois)
GOURMET FOODS
34 Degrees Crispbreads (Colorado)
Ameline Mustards (France)
Ames Farm (Minnesota)
Avocados from Mexico in partnership with The Good Food Project
Calvisius Caviar (Italy)
Castleton Crackers (Vermont)
Cook au Vin (Illinois)
The Gracious Gourmet (Connecticut)
Mieli Thun (Italy)
Potter's Crackers (Wisconsin)
Quince & Apple (Wisconsin)
Route 11 Potato Chips (Virginia)
Savini Tartufi (Italy)
Sour Puss Pickles (New York)
Stu's Sour Pickles (Illinois)
CHARCUTERIE
Creminelli Fine Meats (Utah)

PARTICIPATING CHICAGO FRENCH MARKET VENDORS 
Abbey Brown Soap Artisans, Canady Le Chocolatier, City Fresh Market, Delightful Pastries, EJ Sushi, Lavazza Espression, FliP Crepes, Frietkoten, Fumare Meats & Deli, Klay Oven Kitchen, Loop Juice, Pastoral, Presto Café & Grill, RAW, Saigon Sisters, Spicy Monkey Soup Company, Superior Nut & Candy, Vanille Patisserie and WISMA.


Finally, cheer on Drawing Room's own Chef Nick Lacasse as he competes in Bravo's newest culinary adventure!

Click image for video..

Around the World in 80 Plates takes culinary competition to the next level as 12 chefs travel across the globe testing their skills and determination. 

In each episode, the contestants will travel to a different international city where they will learn the local customs, cultures, and cuisines as they participate in a gauntlet of culinary challenges. 

Ultimately, they will face-off in a kitchen takeover where they will not only recreate, but reinvent the menus for world-renowned restaurants and their demanding owners. 

Bravo's season premiere of Around the World in 80 Plates airs Wednesday, May 9th at 9:00 p.m. EST.