Focus on Food Festivals | April 2016
As you're checking out Chicago's April food festivals, you will see two major themes: beverages (particularly wine and cocktails) and pork!
Once you have reviewed the basics below, check out the event websites for additional information. Be sure to visit any event beneficiaries online to learn more about whom you'll be helping.
When: April 16, 2016, 2 p.m.–5 p.m.
Location: Navy Pier's Lakeview Terrace, 600 East Grand Avenue, Chicago
Lakeview Terrace is located on the eastern end of Navy Pier (see map).
Admission: Basic tickets are $79.54 ($75 ticket + $4.54 fee). Other options, such as early entry, are available for an additional cost.
Event Website: Pinot Days Chicago
Guests can sample up to 150 pinot noir wines representing every significant domestic region, talk with talented winemakers, and enjoy magnificent views of Lake Michigan. Sounds like an amazing afternoon!
When: April 24, 2016, 5 p.m.–8 p.m.
Location: Loews Chicago Hotel, 455 North Park Drive, Chicago
Admission: Tickets begin at $130.95 ($125 ticket + $5.95 service fee) for general admission.
Event Website: Cochon555
Event Beneficiary: A portion of ticket sales will support Piggy Bank, a charity dedicated to creating the world's first open-source genetics model for family farming.
In this friendly culinary competition, Rural Society's Cory Morris, Monteverde Restaurant & Pastificio's Sarah Grueneberg, Analogue's Alfredo Nogueira, Lula Cafe's Sarah Rinkavage, and El Ideas' Phillip Foss will each prepare a maximum of six dishes from a whole locally raised heritage breed pig.
The chefs' creations will be paired with wines, brews, and spirits for guests to taste. In addition, there will be food and beverage pop-up experiences every 20 minutes throughout the evening including ramen bars, signature desserts, tartare bars, and sponsored bites paired with featured cocktails. Check out the Cochon555 website to get all the details.
When: April 28, 2016, 6 p.m.–10 p.m.
Location: Galleria Marchetti, 825 West Erie Street, Chicago
Admission: Tickets are currently priced at $55.
Event Website: Chicago Cocktail Social
Event Beneficiary: A portion of event proceeds will be donated to Un86'd, which provides monetary assistance to restaurant professionals in need and educates workers on how to utilize public and private health care for their own benefit.
Guests will enjoy delicious cocktails created by the talented staff at Bar DeVille, Broken Shaker, The Dawson, The Drifter, The Duck Inn, Fremont, The Heavy Feather, Punch House, Queen Mary, Sable, Scofflaw, Sepia, Sink|Swim, Sportsman's Club, The Sixth, The Violet Hour, and Ward Eight. Just imagine all the possibilities! Gourmet food stations catered by Galleria Marchetti and Northern Fork and entertainment provided by a Cage and Aquarium deejay will make the evening complete.
When: April 30–May 1, 2016
Three sessions are available: Saturday Lunch (12 noon–3 p.m.), Saturday Dinner (7 p.m.–10 p.m.), and Sunday Brunch (12 noon–3 p.m.).
Location: University of Illinois at Chicago Forum, 725 West Roosevelt Road, Chicago
Admission: Tickets begin at $103.49 ($100 ticket + $3.49 ticketing fees) for general admission.
Event Website: Baconfest Chicago
Event Beneficiary: A portion of event proceeds will go to the Greater Chicago Food Depository.
If you love bacon, this is the festival for you! Top Chicago chefs will be serving more than 175 bacon dishes. Check out the menus to help decide which session to attend. After you see all the tasty offerings, the choice won't get any easier!
Once you have reviewed the basics below, check out the event websites for additional information. Be sure to visit any event beneficiaries online to learn more about whom you'll be helping.
Pinot Days Chicago
When: April 16, 2016, 2 p.m.–5 p.m.
Location: Navy Pier's Lakeview Terrace, 600 East Grand Avenue, Chicago
Lakeview Terrace is located on the eastern end of Navy Pier (see map).
Admission: Basic tickets are $79.54 ($75 ticket + $4.54 fee). Other options, such as early entry, are available for an additional cost.
Event Website: Pinot Days Chicago
Guests can sample up to 150 pinot noir wines representing every significant domestic region, talk with talented winemakers, and enjoy magnificent views of Lake Michigan. Sounds like an amazing afternoon!
Cochon555
When: April 24, 2016, 5 p.m.–8 p.m.
Location: Loews Chicago Hotel, 455 North Park Drive, Chicago
Admission: Tickets begin at $130.95 ($125 ticket + $5.95 service fee) for general admission.
Event Website: Cochon555
Event Beneficiary: A portion of ticket sales will support Piggy Bank, a charity dedicated to creating the world's first open-source genetics model for family farming.
In this friendly culinary competition, Rural Society's Cory Morris, Monteverde Restaurant & Pastificio's Sarah Grueneberg, Analogue's Alfredo Nogueira, Lula Cafe's Sarah Rinkavage, and El Ideas' Phillip Foss will each prepare a maximum of six dishes from a whole locally raised heritage breed pig.
The chefs' creations will be paired with wines, brews, and spirits for guests to taste. In addition, there will be food and beverage pop-up experiences every 20 minutes throughout the evening including ramen bars, signature desserts, tartare bars, and sponsored bites paired with featured cocktails. Check out the Cochon555 website to get all the details.
Chicago Cocktail Social
When: April 28, 2016, 6 p.m.–10 p.m.
Location: Galleria Marchetti, 825 West Erie Street, Chicago
Admission: Tickets are currently priced at $55.
Event Website: Chicago Cocktail Social
Event Beneficiary: A portion of event proceeds will be donated to Un86'd, which provides monetary assistance to restaurant professionals in need and educates workers on how to utilize public and private health care for their own benefit.
Guests will enjoy delicious cocktails created by the talented staff at Bar DeVille, Broken Shaker, The Dawson, The Drifter, The Duck Inn, Fremont, The Heavy Feather, Punch House, Queen Mary, Sable, Scofflaw, Sepia, Sink|Swim, Sportsman's Club, The Sixth, The Violet Hour, and Ward Eight. Just imagine all the possibilities! Gourmet food stations catered by Galleria Marchetti and Northern Fork and entertainment provided by a Cage and Aquarium deejay will make the evening complete.
Baconfest Chicago
When: April 30–May 1, 2016
Three sessions are available: Saturday Lunch (12 noon–3 p.m.), Saturday Dinner (7 p.m.–10 p.m.), and Sunday Brunch (12 noon–3 p.m.).
Location: University of Illinois at Chicago Forum, 725 West Roosevelt Road, Chicago
Admission: Tickets begin at $103.49 ($100 ticket + $3.49 ticketing fees) for general admission.
Event Website: Baconfest Chicago
Event Beneficiary: A portion of event proceeds will go to the Greater Chicago Food Depository.
If you love bacon, this is the festival for you! Top Chicago chefs will be serving more than 175 bacon dishes. Check out the menus to help decide which session to attend. After you see all the tasty offerings, the choice won't get any easier!