Food & Wine Chef Showcase in Chicago - November 14!

FOOD & WINE returns to Chicago for the 14th year, to host its annual event, with a new name, FOOD & WINE Chef Showcase in Chicago (formerly Entertaining Showcase). The event will take place at the Museum of Contemporary Art on November 12 from 6:30pm to 9:30pm.

This year's event will highlight Chicago's flourishing culinary scene and showcase dishes from epicurean greats including Art Smith, Stephanie Izard, and Graham Elliot Bowles. While tasting delectable treats from the chefs, guests can also enjoy wine and spirits from around the globe.

The event is supported by Buitoni, Cameron Hughes Wine, Cayman Islands Department of Tourism, FIJI Water, Folie à Deux, Gnarly Head, King Estate Winery, Patrón Tequila, Robert Mondavi Winery, Ruffino, Segura Viudas, Stella Artois, Sterling Vineyards, Tonnino Tuna, United Airlines, Verismo™ System by Starbucks, Wines from Spain, and Wines of Germany.

FEATURED RESTAURANTS:
• Acadia: Ryan McCaskey
• bellyQ: Bill Kim
• Bistronomic: Martial Noguier
• Blackbird: Paul Kahan and David Posey
• Boka and GT Fish & Oyster: Giuseppe Tentori
• The Bristol and Balena: Chris Pandel
• Cafe Spiaggia: Sarah Grueneberg and Tony Mantuano
• Girl & The Goat: Stephanie Izard
• Graham Elliot, Grahamwich, and g.e.b.: Graham Elliot Bowles and Merlin Verrier
• Hot Chocolate: Mindy Segal
• Moto and iNG: Homaro Cantu
• Nightwood: Jason Vincent
• North Pond: Bruce Sherman
• Province: Randy Zweiban
• The Publican: Brian Huston
• The Purple Pig: Jimmy Bannos Sr. and Jimmy Bannos Jr.
• Rustic House and Gemini Bistro: Jason Paskewitz
• Sepia: Andrew Zimmerman
• Slurping Turtle: Takashi Yagihashi
• Table Fifty-Two: Art Smith and Rey Villalobos
• Vie and Perennial Virant: Paul Virant

Tickets are $110 in advance; $125 at the door. To purchase tickets, visit http://www.foodandwine.com/chicago; or for more information, call 212-827-6418.

Has anyone ever attended one? And if so, are they fun? I always entertain attending, but my fear is it's a bunch of over dressed, snooty people, which I am very far from.....I saw that Food and Wine will be here in November at the Museum of Contemporary Art. Any thoughts appreciated.

See this post and the ones linked to in this post to get an idea, but if people dressed up offend you, you should probably avoid this event because there will undoubtedly be some.

jleblanc05,
I say go! I have never been to one and am worried about the same thing. I am by no means a foodie (although I would love to be one) and am so far out of my league on this... but then I thought... who cares!!! I am going to put on decent clothes, and my boyfriend and I are going to go table to table sampling amazing foods from restaurants I have always wanted to try and anyone who thinks we don't belong can be damned. Chefs want us to try their food and become fans so we go to the restaurants and they make money. Without us "little people" they are nothing.

j_miller1981 wrote:jleblanc05,
I say go! I have never been to one and am worried about the same thing. I am by no means a foodie (although I would love to be one) and am so far out of my league on this... but then I thought... who cares!!! I am going to put on decent clothes, and my boyfriend and I are going to go table to table sampling amazing foods from restaurants I have always wanted to try and anyone who thinks we don't belong can be damned. Chefs want us to try their food and become fans so we go to the restaurants and they make money. Without us "little people" they are nothing.

There's no reason to feel out of your league. There are people of all ages, all backgrounds, different interests, and dressed differently. Some people look at the list of chefs, think of all the restaurants they haven't tried and would like to, and decide that this is a good opportunity to sample the restaurants, sip wine, etc. Some will dress up; others will be in jeans. And hey, everyone has very different food tastes - not liking or not having tried a particular dish in the past doesn't mean a thing. Ask questions about what you're eating . . . and try new things . . . you've already paid and the portions are small so there's no risk once you're there. But don't go and judge others or believe they're judging you - just enjoy!

All that being said, the very best event of this general type is the annual Green City Market BBQ in my opinion. Keep that in mind when it rolls around next summer.