Foodie Fridays: Special Edition - Chicago Gourmet Celebrates Culinary Scene

Fall's favorite culinary event has arrived in Chicago!  Tonight Chicago Gourmet kicks-off with Hamburger Hop^® (completely sold-out) at Harris Theater in Millennium Park.  Presented by Bon Appétit magazine and the Illinois Restaurant Association, the event runs from Friday, September 28th through Sunday, September 30th.

Below is your guide to all the chefs, tastings, and participants at this year's event.  If you haven't secured tickets, there are a few left for Sunday's events.  Grab them now!

Hamburger Hop^®

Chicago Gourmet kicks-off on Friday, September 28th with the Hamburger Hop^®, a fun—and tasty—burger showdown.

Join top area chefs on the rooftop of the Harris Theater as they do battle in a friendly competition to create the city’s best burger. You'll enjoy tasty, gourmet burgers, along with beer, wine, spectacular city views, and more as a celebrity panel of judges determines the city's best burger.
Date:   Friday, September 28, 2012
Time:  6:00-9:00 pm
Place: Harris Theater Rooftop, Millennium Park

Tickets for the Hamburger Hop are now sold out.

2012 Judges

John Besh, Besh Restaurant Group
Lin Brehmer, WXRT
Sheamus Feeley, Hillstone Group
Sue Ontiveros, Chicago Sun-Times
Nick Roach, Chicago Bears
Keith Villa, Blue Moon Brewing Co.

2012 Chefs

Arturo Aucaquizhpi, Gene & Georgetti
John Chiakulas, Mity Nice
Amanda Downing, Rockit Bar & Grill/ Rockit Burger Bar
Dirk Flanigan, Henri/ The Gage
Clark Grant, III Forks Chicago
Kevin Hickey, Allium at Four Seasons Chicago
Yoshi Katsumura, Yoshi's Café
Ryan Kikkert, Jake Melnick's Corner Tap
Jonathan Lane, Benny's Chop House
Steven Lawhorn, Palmer Place
JR Luna, LUXBAR
Mark Rimkus, Flo & Santos
Joseph Rosetti, Harry Caray's Italian Steakhouse
Jeff Starr, Sutter Home Build a Better Burger®
Matt Troost, Three Aces

2012 Chicago Gourmet Chefs

Josh Adams, June
Jorge Alvarez, The Grill on the Alley
Rodelio Aglibot, Argent Restaurant & Raw Bar
Louie Alexakis, Avli Estiatorio
Brad Alexander, The Grillroom Chophouse & Wine Bar
Johnny Anderes, Telegraph
Irno Arosi, Fogo de Chao
Luis Avila, Midtown Kitchen & Bar
Jerome Bacle, Courtright's Restaurant
Peter Balodimas, Rosebud Steakhouse
Jimmy Bannos, Heaven On Seven and The Purple Pig
Jimmy Bannos Jr., The Purple Pig
Rick Bayless, Frontera Grill/Topolobampo/XOCO
Valeria Benner, Lockwood at the Palmer House Hilton
Daren Bergeron,  Fou d'lci
John Besh, Besh Restaurant Group
Ce Bian, Roka Akor
Greg Biggers, Café des Architectes at Sofitel Chicago Water Tower
Angel Blasco, Cantina Laredo
Fabrice Bouet, Lockwood at the Palmer House Hilton
Niall Campbell, Firefly Grill
Homaro Cantu, iNG Restaurant
Evandro Caregnato, Texas de Brazil
Gregory Carso, The Metropolitan Club
Manuel Casas, Alimentari Osteria
John Chiakulas, Mity Nice
John Coletta, Quartino
Meg Colleran Sahs, Terzo Piano at the Art Institute Chicago
Judy Contino, Bittersweet Pastry Shop & Café
Toni Marie Cox, Toni Patisserie and Café
Thai Dang, Embeya
Jesse DeGuzman, Sunda New Asian
John des Rosiers, Inovasi
Amanda Downing, Rockit Bar & Grill
Stephen Dunne, Paramount
Gregory Elliott, WAVE
Christian Fantoni, Filini Bar and Restaurant 
Richie Farina, MOTO
Paul Fehribach, Big Jones
Kelli Fenwick, Hyatt Regency Chicago
Dirk Flanigan, Henri/ The Gage
John Folse, Restaurant R'evolution
Erik Freeberg, Bar Toma
Mark Freedman, Myron & Phil Steakhouse
Jo-Marie Frigo, Nonna Santi's Biscotti
Dirk and Terry Fucik, Dirk's Fish and Gourmet Shop
Meg Galus, NoMI Kitchen
Curtis Gamble, Bread & Wine
Edward Garza, El Popular, Inc
John Gatsos, Tavern on Rush
Carlos Gaytan, Mexique
Vincent Geraci, Café Gelato Inc.
Richard Ginn, Devanti Enoteca
Armando Gonzalez, Libertad
Clark Grant, III Forks
Troy Graves, Red Door
Tim Griffin and Manny Gomez, N9NE Steakhouse
Mark Grosz, Oceanique
Sarah Grueneberg, Spiaggia
Lee Guidry, SUSHISAMBA rio
Curtis Hawk, ZED451
Perry Hendrix, Maison
Stephen Henry, Lockwood at the Palmer House Hilton
Joseph Heppe, Untitled
Kevin Hickey, Allium at Four Seasons Chicago
John Hogan, Keefer’s Restaurant/ Tavern at the Park
Sandra Holl, Floriole Bakery & Café
Matthew Holmes, Uncommon Ground on Devon
Trevor Hoyte, IPO
Tony Hu, Lao Sze chuan
Daniel Huebschmann, Hugo's Frog Bar & Fish House Chicago
Nathan Huntington, Argent Restaurant & Raw Bar
Kevin Ives, Francesca's Restaurant
Stephanie Izard, The Girl & The Goat
Brian Jupiter, Frontier
Paul Katz, Old Town Pour House
Ryan Kikkert, Jake Melnick's Corner Tap
Shigeru Kitano, SUSHISAMBA rio
Michael Kornick, MK The Restaurant/ Ada Street
Sunil Kumar, Bombay Spice
Mariano Lanfranconi, 5411 Empanadas
Gilbert Langlois, Chalkboard
Ryan LaRoche, NoMI Kitchen
Chan Le, Le Colonial
Thomas Lents, Sixteen
JR Luna, LUXBAR
Chris Macchia, The Florentine
Tony Mantuano, Spiaggia/ Terzo Piano/ Bar Toma
Dan Marquis, Quay Restaurant & Bar
Justin Martin, Uncommon Ground on Clark
Steve McCarty, primebar
Ryan McCaskey, Acadia
Shawn McClain, Green Zebra/ Sage Restaurant 
Steve McDonagh, HEARTY
John McGowan, Devon Seafood + Steak
Charlie McKenna, Lillie's Q
Cory Morris, Mercat a la Planxa 
Martial Noguier, Bistronomic
Rosemarie O'Carroll, Rose's Wheat Free Bakery & Café
James O'Donnell, Michael Jordan's Steakhouse
Jessica Oloroso, Black Dog Gelato
Leigh Omilinsky, Café des Architectes at Sofitel Chicago Water Tower
Terry Opalek and Michael Frontier, Terry's Toffee
Evan Packer, Market
Victorio Padilla, Tuscany Taylor
Joel Paige, Pure Kitchen Catering
Will Pagulayn, One North Kitchen & Bar
Dan Pancake, Autre Monde Café
Chris Pandel, The Bristol/ Balena
Beth Partridge, Autre Monde Café
Mark Payne, deca RESTAURANT + BAR
Evan Percoco, The Wit Hotel
Brad Phillips, LM Restaurant Group
Ryan Pitts, RL Restaurant
Ryan Poli, Tavernita
Mark Pollard, EPIC
Tony Priolo, Piccolo Sogno
Devon Quinn, Paramount Events Chicago
Michael Dean Reynolds, Lepold
Cesar Reyes, Zapatista
Matt Riordan, Saigon Sisters
Joe Rosetti, Harry Caray's Restaurant Group
Phil Rubino, Moderno
Jacob Saben, g.e.b.
Arun Sampanthavivat, Arun’s
Patricio Sandoval, Mercadito
Mario Santiago, May St. Contemporary Latin
Zoë Schor, Ada Street
Nathan Sears, Vie Restaurant
Rah Shabazz, C-House
Michael Sheerin, Trenchermen
Patrick Sheerin, Trenchermen
Michael Shrader, Urban Union
The Signature Room at the 95th
Art Smith, Table fifty-two
Dan Smith, HEARTY
Jose Sosa, Hugo's Frog Bar & Fish House Naperville
Mark Sparacino, Prosecco
Rodney Staton, The Drawing Room
Kristine Subido, Pecking Order
Jim Teutemacher, Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse
Worachai "Chao" Thapthimkuna, Union Sushi + Barbeque Bar
Edgar Torres, ZOCALO
Rick Tramonto, Restaurant R'evolution
Jared Van Camp, Nellcôte/ Old Town Social
Chico Vilchez, Nacional 27
Rey Villalobos, Table fifty-two
Randy Waidner, Gibsons Restaurant Group
Michael "Wally" Wallach, Park Grill Chicago
Scott Walton, Markethouse Restaurant and Bar
Roger Waysok, South Water Kitchen
Jared Wentworth, Longman and Eagle
Erick Williams, MK The Restaurant
Kelly Wilson, Townhouse Restaurant & Wine Bar
Takashi Yagihashi, Takashi/ Slurping Turtle
Ji Yoon, Henri/ The Gage
Geoffrey Zakarian, The Lambs Club
Jose Zetina, Pazzo's Cucina Italiana
Andrew Zimmerman, Sepia
Bob Zrenner, Hubbard Inn/ Black Bull/ Ban & Co./ English
Randy Zweiban, Province

2012 Master
Sommeliers

Serafin Alvarado, MS, Southern Wine & Spirits of Illinois
Frederick Dame,MS,  Southern Wine & Spirits of California
Jay Fletcher, MS, Southern Wine & Spirits of Colorado
Reggie Narito, MS, Southern Wine & Spirits of California

2012 Speakers

Bridget Albert, Southern Wine & Spirits of Illinois
Patrick Coyne, Lockwood at the Palmer House Hilton
Bobby "G" Gleason, Jim Beam Brands
Charles Joly, The Aviary
Edward Kim, Ruxbin
Andrew Knowlton, Bon Appétit
John Legnard, Blue Moon Brewing Co.
Peter Marks, MW, Constellation Wines
Matthias Merges, yusho
Gregor Mina, Glenmorangie & Ardbeg
Ira Norof, CWE,  Southern Wine & Spirits
Debbi Peek, Southern Wine & Spirits of Illinois
Adam Rapoport, Bon Appétit
Glenn Salva, Antinori Wines
Danny Shapiro, Scofflaw
Martin Sinkoff, Frederick Wildman and Sons
David Tamarkin, Food Editor at Time Out Chicago

2012 Emcees

Lin Brehmer, WXRT Chicago
Joe Campagna, ChicagoNow.com
Catherine De Orio, Culinary Curator
Steve Dolinsky, ABC 7/ Hungry Hound
Arthur Hon, Sepia
Andrew Knowlton, Bon Appétit
Chris Koetke, Kendall College
Kiki Luthringshausen, Beauty and Her Feast
Camille Parker, NBC Foodies/ Camile's Dish
Adam Rapoport, Bon Appétit
Lisa Shames, CS Magazine
LeeAnn Trotter, NBC 5

2012 Exhibitors

Throughout the Great Lawn, attendees will enjoy premium wine, spirits, and beer tastings, and gourmet food samplings from famous Chefs and their restaurants.

Wine & Spirits Exhibitors ABSOLUT Vodka ABSOLUT Vodka ABSOLUT Vodka Flavors Accolade Wines North America  Atlas Peak Geyser Peak XYZin American Harvest American Harvest Arel Group Wine & Spirits, Inc. Candoni Wine Argyle Winery/ MacRostie Winery Argyle MacRostie Atlas Imports Campo Lindo Urlar Aveníu Brands Gran Bach James Mitchell Mermelada Pittacum Pomagria Terras Gauda Barone Ricasoli Castello di Brolio Brolio Chianti Classico Colledila Bartenura Bartenura Belvedere Vodka Belvedere Vodka Flavors Bernardus Winery Bernardus Bianchi Winery - Paso Robles Bianchi Brassfield Estate Winery Brassfield Estate Bronco Wine Company BIVIO Masked Rider Picket Fence Campari America Cabo Wabo Tequila Campari Espolon Tequila Flor De Caña Rum Frangelico Liqueur Glen Grant Scotch SKYY Infusions Flavors SKYY Vodka Wild Turkey Bourbon X-Rated Fusion CASTLE BRANDS INC. A. De Fussigny Cognac  Gosling's Rum Goslings Stormy Ginger Beer Pallini Liqueur Celani Family Vineyards Celani Family Vineyards Champagne Lanson Champagne Lanson Charonge Charonge First Press La Merika Chopin Imports Chopin Rye Vodka Chopin Vodka Chopin Wheat Vodka Dorda Double Chocolate Liqueur Single Distillantes CIV USA Garcia Antaño Crianza Cava Cristalino Opera Prima Cline Cellars Cline Cellars Cognac Ferrand USA Citadelle Gin Pierre Ferrand Cognac Plantation Rum Combier Combier Liqueur COOPER SPIRITS Creme Yvette St. Gernain Crimson Wine Group - Pine Ridge Vineyards Archery Summit Forefront Pine Ridge Cruzan Rum Cruzan Rum Flavors Cruzan Rum Cuvaison Estate Wines Cuvaison Doube Cross Vodka Double Cross Vodka Echelon Vineyards Echelon Estates & Wines - Moët Hennessy Cape Mentelle Domaine Chandon Newton Numanthia Terrazas Ferrari Carano Vineyards & Winery Ferrari Carano FIJI Water FIJI Four Roses Distillery & Square One Organic Spirits Four Roses Bourbon Square One Vodka Francis Ford Coppola Winery FFC Diamond FFC Director's Cut Sofia Votre Santé Frederick Wildman & Sons Cavicchioli 1928 Folonari La Scolca Marchesi di Barolo Marziano Abbona Santi Freixenet USA Acordeón Freixent Gloria Ferrer Tapeña Vionta Albariño Gekkeikan Sake Gekkeikan Sake Gérard Betrand Gérard Betrand Glenmorangie Scotch Whisky/ Ardbeg Scotch Whisky Ardbeg Scotch Whisky Glenmorangie Scotch Whisky Gnarly Head Wines & HandCraft Artisan Collection Brazin Gnarly Head HandCraft Graham's, Dow's & Cockburn's Port Cockburn's Dow's Port Graham's Port Grand Marnier Grand Marnier Grgich Hills Estate Grgich Hills Groth Vineyards & Winery Groth Heaven Hill Distilleries Admiral Nelson Rum  Elijah Craig Bourbon  Evan Williams Bourbon  Hpnotiq PAMA Hennessy Cognac Hennessy VS Cognac Henriot Inc. Henriot Champagne Tenuta di Ghizzano William Fèrve Huneeus Vintners Faust Primus Veramonte illy caffé illy J Vineyards & Winery J Vineyards Jellybean Wines Jellybean Joseph Phelps Vineyards Freestone Joseph Phelps Knob Creek Knob Creek Rye Laetitia Vineyards Laetitia Vineyards LAURENT-PERRIER Laurent-Perrier Layer Cake Layer Cake Maison Louis Latour Henry Fessy Louis Latour Simonnet - Febvre Marchese Antinori Col Solare Montenisa Tormaresca Villa Antinori Matchbook Vineyard and Winery Chasing Venus Matchbook Miller Squared Inc Budaherz Romantic Saint Josef Mionetto USA Duca del Frassino il Lambrusco il Moscato il Prosecco il Spriz Mionetto Pertinace Re Midas Volére

Wine & Spirits Exhibitors Old Bridge Cellars d'Arenberg Greywacke Innocent Bystander ONEHOPE WINE ONEHOPE Oyster Bay Wines Oyster Bay Palm Bay International Spirits 901 Silver Teuila Aperol Bastille Whisky Cinzano Prosecco OR-G Liqueur Voli Vodka Palm Bay International Wines Ferrari Feudi Montgras Quatro Sella & Mosca Parducci and Paul Dolan Wines Parducci Paul Dolan Passport to Wine Franciscan Inniskillin Kim Crawford Robert Mondavi Napa Ruffino Simi Wild Horse Pasternak Wine Amancaya Cave de Lugny Valdo Pernod Ricard USA Wines & Champagnes Brancott Campo Viejo Graffigna Mumm Sandeman Pisco Porton LLC Pisco Porton Prestige Wine Imports Gruppo Mezzacorona Arancio Goosebump Purity Vodka Purity Roederer Estate Roederer Estate Querciabella Mongrana Russian Standard Vodka Imperia Vodka Russian Standard Vodka SakeOne G Sake Momokawa Moonstone Murai Family Yoshingogawa Schweiger Vineyards & Winery Schweiger Vineyards Serralles USA Blackbeard Rum Caliche Rum Don Q Rum Seven Sisters Seven Sisters SHAW- ROSS INTERNATIONAL IMPORTERS SACHA LICHINE EPICA Glengoyne Marques Riscal Sidney Frank Importing Company, Inc. American Harvest Gekkeikan Silver Oak and Twomey Cellars Silver Oak Twomey Cellars Skinnygirl Cocktails, Courvoisier, Pucker Vodka Courvoisier Cognac Pucker Vodka Flavors Skinnygirl Cocktails Ste. Michelle Wine Estates 14 Hands Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte Chateau Ste. Michelle Columbia Crest Erath Northstar Red Diamon Spring Valley Summerland Winery Summerland SVEDKA SVEDKA Vodka SVEDKA Vodka Flavors TGIC Importers Bodega Norton Montes Twins Pascual Toso The Patrón Spirits Company Patrón Tequila Ultimat Vodka Pyrat Rum The Wine Group Albino Armani Broquel California 37 Calling All Angels Concannon Cupcake Vineyards Drops of Jupiter Trapiche Thorny Rose Wines Thorny Rose Toad Hollow Vineyards - Steelhead Vineyards Steelhead Toad Hollow Treasury Wine Estates Be. Beringer Chateau St. Jean Etude Stags' Leap Trinchero Family Estates Angove Zibibbo Avissi Carmen Doña Paula VILLADORIA Joel Gott Lock & Key SeaGlass The Show Trump Winery Trump Wines Valentine Distilling Co. Valentine Valentine White Blossom Vodka Van Gogh Imports Lucid Molonari Ron Abuelo Tap 357 Van Gogh Vodka Van Gogh Vodka Flavors VeeV Açaí Spirits VeeV Açaí Spirit VeeV VitaFrute Vin Divino Caldora Nino Franco Tre Rose Zantho Vintage Wine Estates Cartlidge & Browne Cosentino La Tarasque Ray's Station Vision Wine & Spirits LLC Highland Reserve Scotch  John B. Stetson Bourbon  Pisa Vranken Pommery America Listel Pommery Whiskies of the World Canadian Club Whisky Canadian Club Dock 57 Spiced Whisky Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey Laphroaig Scotch Whisky Maker's Mark Bourbon Marker's Mark 46 Bourbon W.J. Deutsch & Sons Adult Chocolate Milk Adult Limeade Adult Strawberry Milk Flirt Girard HobNob Josh Cellars  Ruta 22 The Calling The Crossings Wine Sisterhood/ Canopy Management Middle Sister Purple Cowboy Wine Sisterhood Wines Unlimited Inc. Maremma Pinnacoli Villadoria Bricco Magno Zaccagnini Zignum Zignum Mezcal Zonin USA Zonin Prosecco Ca'Bolani Pinot Grigo Castello d'Albola Chianti Classico Principi de Butera Nero d'Avola

Food/ Beer/ Specialty Blue Moon Bombay Spice Bon Appétit Buick BUNN® CS Magazine El Popular, Inc Filini Bar and Restaurant Frontier Highland Baking Co. Gibsons Restaurant Group IPO KIND Healthy Snacks Labriola Baking Company Lockwood at the Pamer House Hilton Maple Leaf Farms Market Midtown Kitchen & Bar Negra Modelo One North Kitchen & Bar Peroni primebar Pure Kitchen Catering Roka Akor Singha Stella Artois Best of Belgium SuckerPunch Gourmet Supreme Lobster & Seafood Co. TARGET® Texas De Brazil The Grill on the Alley The Grillroom Chophouse & Wine Bar The Palmer House Hilton Hotel The Parrot Cage Tourisme Québec Townhouse Restaurant & Wine Bar West Town Bakery & Diner Victoria Vosges Haut-Chocolat

 

For a complete schedule and up-to-date information and tickets go here.



All information courtesy of Chicago Gourmet 2012 - Illinois Restaurant Association (all rights reserved)
Photo credit:  Chicago Gourmet