Foodie Fridays:"Diner En Blanc" & James Beard's "Taste America" Visit Chicago

Celebrating its 25th anniversary, and now spanning over 40 cities across 5 continents, Dîner en Blanc (DeB) returns to Chicago for an unforgettable summer finale on Thursday, September 19, 2013 at 6:30pm. One of the most sought after “secret” events, DeB Chicago allows hundreds of participants to join together as a community to celebrate an extraordinary evening in an outdoor Chicago venue, while enjoying friends, food, wine, culture, music and fashion.

In its 2012 Chicago inaugural debut, the hosts of Dîner en Blanc Chicago held their secret pop-up picnic in the urban oasis of the South Garden of the Art Institute of Chicago, an intimate garden setting with gravel paths and a cover of trees resembling a Paris garden. For its second year, event hosts have worked to organize the event at another public location in the city that will celebrate the spirit of not only the cultural event, but of the city of Chicago itself.

“It was amazing to see people from all over Chicago and the Chicago suburbs come together last year and feel a sense of community for the city of Chicago and for the vibrant food scene. I have participated in this event in Paris and other cities around the world, and no matter where you are, when a city comes together to share a meal in a beautiful space with old friends and meet new ones amid music and moonlight dancing, it always is and will be a memorable evening.”   - Director of Dîner en Blanc Chicago, Roger Hobby

Staying true to Dîner en Blanc’s original pop-up picnic 25 years ago, all participants in Chicago are asked to wear all white and bring the makings of an elegant picnic dinner with them - chairs, white linens, food and drink. Dîner en Blanc does serve alcohol and therefore all attendees must be 21 years old to participate.

For busy Chicagoans, the DeB Chicago team is busy preparing options for pre-made picnic baskets with wine pairings that may be purchased online prior to the event. Details will be posted on their website and all social media shortly. 

Interested in Attending?

Registration for this event will be limited and available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Formal invitations will be sent to registered members who participated in the 2012 Chicago event shortly. Other interested parties can secure a spot on the waiting list atwww.chicago.dinerenblanc.info/register  for an opportunity to attend this magical event.

Those interested in attending or participating as a group leader should like Dîner en Blanc Chicago on Facebook (www.facebook.com/DinerEnBlanc.Chicago), follow on Twitter (@ChiDinerEnBlanc) and register for the waitlist on the official website at www.chicago.dinerenblanc.info/register .

Those who have registered will be emailed additional information regarding times, procedures, dress, what to bring, and how to make the most out of Dîner en Blanc Chicago. For help with fashion, recipes and more, find us on Pinterest (www.pinterest.com/chidinerenblanc/ ) and Instagram ( www.instagram.com/dinerenblancchicago ).

Additionally, there will be an after party at Le Bar at the Sofitel Chicago Water Tower. Details are below.


       

The James Beard Foundation’s Taste America®: “Local Flavor from Coast to Coast,” a national traveling food festival which will visit Chicago on Friday, September 20 and Saturday, September 21. The five weekend festival will visit 10 cities from September 20 through October 19, 2013. Taste America will showcase culinary all stars and public events exploring the nation’s unique range of local cuisines in Chicago along with nine other cities including Boston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Francisco, and Washington D.C. Taste America is presented by the James Beard Foundation (JBF) in partnership with Chase Sapphire Preferred® Visa Signature®. Tickets for the public are available at jbftasteamerica.org.

Chef Andrew Zimmerman

“In the words of James Beard himself, ‘food is a common ground, a universal experience,’” said Chef Andrew Zimmerman, Executive Chef at Chicago’s Sepia and Host Chef of Chicago’s “A Journey Through the Great Lakes” benefit dinner. “The Chicago chef and restaurant community is thrilled with the opportunity to bring the country’s greatest culinary institution to our city with the James Beard Foundation’s Taste America tour, showcasing how the cuisine of the Great Lakes region contributes to the fabric of today’s American gastronomic landscape.”

A weekend-long tour, Chicago’s James Beard Foundation Taste America festivities kick-off on Friday, September 20 with the official benefit dinner, A Journey Through the Great Lakes, at the city’s legendary Union Station (500 West Jackson). The evening begins at 6 p.m., where guests are invited to a cocktail reception curated by The Violet Hour, Chicago’s first handcrafted artisanal cocktail lounge and a 2013 James Beard Award nominee for Outstanding Bar Program.

At 7 p.m., the official dinner commences and features a total of five courses presented by ten James Beard Award nominees and winners from the Great Lakes region. Every course offers two “dual plates,” or side-by-side tastings, inspired by the bounty of the Great Lakes. Chefs will highlight the cuisine of the region and complement their companion chef’s dish with each shared course.

Hosting “A Journey Through the Great Lakes” is James Beard Award nominee Andrew Zimmerman (2012, 2013) of Chicago’s Sepia, a Michelin-starred fine dining destination featuring Zimmerman’s inventive American cuisine, evolving with the seasons and highlighting the best ingredients that the Midwest has to offer. Joining Zimmerman, Taste America All-Star Richard Blais – restaurateur, author, and winner of Top Chef All-Stars – will co-host the event, bringing his creative approach to cooking to the Chicago stage as an honorary Great Laker for this exclusive epicurean evening. Other Taste America dinner chefs include James Beard Award winning Alex Young (Zingerman's Roadhouse; Ann Arbor, MI), Gale Gand (Tru; Chicago), and Tony Mantuano (Spiaggia, Cafe Spiaggia, Bar Toma, and Terzo Piano; Chicago) and James Beard Award nominated Chris Pandel (Balena and The Bristol; Chicago), Giuseppe Tentori (Boka and GT Fish & Oyster; Chicago), Jonathon Sawyer (The Greenhouse Tavern; Cleveland), Patrick Fahy (Sixteen; Chicago ), and Paul Virant (Perennial Virant and Vie; Chicago).

At 9 p.m., the dinner comes to a close and “After Dark” begins, offering additional complimentary bites, sips, and imbibing courtesy of some of Chicago’s top rising star chefs.

Tickets for the public are on sale at www.jbftasteamerica.org. Ticket options include:

•  All-Star Package Ticket: $350 include Cocktail Reception, Dinner, and After Dark
•  A Journey Through the Great Lakes Dinner Ticket: $300 includes Cocktail Reception and preferred seating at Journey Through the Great Lakes
•  After Dark Ticket $75 includes all-access to post-dinner event beginning at 9 p.m.

All-Star Chef, Richard Blais

In addition to the benefit dinner, a series of free, in-store consumer retail events will take place on Saturday,
September 21 beginning at 10 a.m. at Sur La Table (900 North Michigan Avenue). Featured chefs include James Beard Award-winning Chef Paul Kahan and All-Star Richard Blais, who will both participate in cooking demos at the event. Activities of the day will also include cookbook signings, local artisanal tastings, and more.

“The Taste America traveling food festival will shine a light on the dynamic culinary cities across the country,” said Susan Ungaro, president of the James Beard Foundation. “Our Taste America chefs will be working with local farmers and artisanal producers of everything from cheese to chocolate. With the support of Chase Sapphire Preferred Visa Signature, we are now able to bring together the best innovators in our food world to educate and entertain Americans about local flavors from coast to coast.”







Photo credits: Diner en Blanc (Street Scene) - Patrick Fahrner
                          Diner en Blanc (Table Scene) - Ryan Cosens