Chicago Gourmet

Is anyone else attending this event?
http://www.illinoisrestaurants.org/asso ... /index.cfm

davecamaro1994 wrote:Is anyone else attending this event?
http://www.illinoisrestaurants.org/asso ... /index.cfm

Possibility.

It appears that way... thanks Hammond.

Thinking about it (but worried after last year's debacle).

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ronnie_suburban wrote:Thinking about it (but worried after last year's debacle).

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I think that is on every one's mind.

Cathy2 wrote:

ronnie_suburban wrote:Thinking about it (but worried after last year's debacle).

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I think that is on every one's mind.

From what I've seen, they've learned from last year's mistake (which was basically too little food).

David Hammond wrote:

Cathy2 wrote:

ronnie_suburban wrote:Thinking about it (but worried after last year's debacle).

=R=

I think that is on every one's mind.

From what I've seen, they've learned from last year's mistake (which was basically too little food).

And giving away so many friend / "industry" passes as to make the bill-and-a-half admission a double insult to those who would actually pay them.

Santander wrote:And giving away so many friend / "industry" passes as to make the bill-and-a-half admission a double insult to those who would actually pay them.

I don't know any one who has received a pass to this year's event, but undoubtedly some will. I sure would take one, if offered...wouldn't you?

$89 Groupon deal - http://www.groupon.com/deals/chicago-go ... _medium=em

Positive reports coming in via Twitter and on Tribune’s blog.

Not clear how some chefs grouped in "Gourmet Tasting" and others in "Main Restaurant/Speciality Tasting." There are some in the latter group (Mendez, Sheerin) who would seem more appropriately lodged in the former.

Just walking into Chicago Gourmet yesterday, it was clear that learning had taken place: the grounds looked and felt different, and the organizers clearly took criticism of last year’s event to heart.

This year, there was no vast wasteland in the center, but rather a village of clustered tents, some containing nothing but cushy sofas and chairs, a radical improvement over last year’s skimpy effort at providing any place of rest between gorging orgies. The weather was about as perfect as one could imagine, though these tented areas would also provide shelter in case of rain.

There was much more food (and some really fine stuff) and, as with last year, a vast quantity of wine and many more spirits. This year, in addition to lounge areas, the tent supports provided tables that many of us found ourselves eating from (and I never came upon one covered with other people’s plates; the service at this event was superb, with old plates removed as quickly as they were left).

As with all of these events, one major source of enjoyment is just running into fellow food enthusiasts: Sudo, Sula, Daley, Chu, the Figs, and others.

Sudo blasted last year’s event on Chicagoist, and when I asked him if there was anything he’d suggest changing next year, he had to think a long time before he said, “Music.” I could see how the slightly Vegas-like choices might tire some. Music, however, is going to be tough to modify as no one kind of music is going to please everyone. In keeping with the Vegas vibe, Binion’s featured showgirls, which proved a cheesy though effective touch (long lines at that booth).

My one recommendation for next year is to go more green. Just about vendor distributed food on a black plastic plate with a black plastic fork. We reused our forks, but for every course we dumped a plate or two, and I’m sure they ran through tens of thousands of these non-recyclable platters this year. I don’t have a solution here, but there was a lot of waste.

This is turning into an excellent event, though it’s still pricey, and I’m not sure if $150 for one day is a good value. Perhaps organizers are not interested in appealing to more people. There is a point at which more attendance is not a good thing (creates longer lines, more crowding, etc.), but unless the price comes down I doubt this event will ever become generally popular. It is, however, fulfilling its promise and it's becoming a very fun, interesting and tasty way to spend an autumn day.

I volunteered on Saturday, and though the volunteer management seemed to be just as incompetent as last year's reports, I thought as a post-volunteer attendee it was a very good experience.

From pictures I've seen of last year, this was much better arranged spatially. Tents filled the entire grounds. While the main food tents dotted the edges, there were food vendors spread out all over, so you weren't too far away from food at any point. Some even shared tents with alcohol vendors, which I thought was a nice touch. Getting a pour from a vendor and hearing that it would go great with the ceviche Carnivale was offering two feet away was a good way to unite the two communities and underscore the 'gourmet' aspect (even if I didn't actually like the ceviche all that much).

It still seemed like many more alcohol than food vendors, but I get the impression there was a much better ratio this year. Food standouts for me included Vie's pork belly on mini-biscuit with corn slaw, Mercat la Planxa's pork w/ white beans, and a thoroughly refreshing spread of chevre w/ fig from Pastoral in the middle of all that pork. A duck confit ravioli w/ mole (forgot from who) and crab-avocado salad (I believe from Hugo's) fell flat for me. I also had a teriyaki fillet skewer and a boar's belly dish in the 'stockyard' tasting tent, a 'kobe' slider from Luxbar, a La Quercia prosciutto-mozzarella roll w/ tomatoes (forgot who), and a nice little sausage taste from the Three Floyds booth. I must have totally missed one of the tasting tents, and skipped Phil Stefani's, Jack Binions, the dessert tasting tent (as well as a separate dessert stand), Morton's, and LaBriola. I'm sure there's a few more I've forgotten, as I also had a bit to drink

My knowledge of wine is limited to the fact that it makes me say things I never meant to say, so I can't speak to quality, but the quantity was certainly there. Non-wine offerings included Grey Goose, Jim Beam and Three Floyds, Blue Moon, and Pilsner Urquell on the beer front. The fruity-but-not-too-sweet cocktails Grey Goose had were especially delicious. Lilly was serving coffee at a few setups around the grounds.

Minimal lines while I was there (Saturday 10-2:30 or so). If there was a line, it was for food. The longest I waited was probably 5 minutes a piece at the Latin and Stockyard tents where 4 or 5 food vendors were grouped, which seemed entirely reasonable to me.

Two personal highlights I'd like to mention. They paid Fabio from Top Chef to walk around and shmooze. I spied him kissing old women's hands and looking excessively Italian, while his business partner was glued to a cell phone into which he said pleadingly, "No, no. Amore, amore, listen to me!" Classic. Also, the Mercat booth had a pigs head on a platter for decoration alongside their sterno dish. A sign advertised what was being served, there was no mistaking there was pork to be had. Upon seeing the head, the toned, haughty looking blond in front of me who stood shifting around impatiently for the 3 minutes we had to wait (the horror!) blanched, covered her mouth, and gagged slightly, then shook her head when her partner nudged her to take the plate being offered. She begged off, and made her way queasily away, demonstrating that not everyone who goes to a festival labeled gourmet is a foodie, or even stops to think about where her food comes from, let alone accept the gory realities. Hey, more for me!

David Hammond wrote:My one recommendation for next year is to go more green. Just about vendor distributed food on a black plastic plate with a black plastic fork. We reused our forks, but for every course we dumped a plate or two, and I’m sure they ran through tens of thousands of these non-recyclable platters this year. I don’t have a solution here, but there was a lot of waste.

Chicago Bites echoes sentiment that this event could and probably should be more green.