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Saturday, April 4

6th Annual Chicago Rum Festival at Venue SIX10: TheRumLab.com is celebrating the 6th Annual Chicago Rum Festival (Previously the Midwest Rum Fest) on Saturday, April 4, 2020 at Venue SIX10 (610 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL) in Chicago with more than 50 rum expressions poured, speaker programing, entertainment, and more. 

The Rum Lab – program focused on becoming the Official Rum Expo throughout the Midwest. The RumLab team are the producers of the Taste of Rum Puerto Rico, the official national rum fest along with the California Rum Festival. Each event attracts attendees ranging from, trade, rum aficionados, tourists and locals. 

Guests of the fest will learn about rum premiumization, its history and what’s new in 2020, including the popularity of the gold rum category. 

New this year, the fest features a Daiquiri Competition hosted and run by The Beverage Institute. Rum brands from around the world will be represented and international judges will choose the top blend. A to-be-announced bartender from Chicago’s famed Lost Lake will be creating daiquiris using the different rums to showcase the spirit’s versatility during the competition. 

The event is divided into three sessions from 2:00pm - 8:00pm.

  • The Spirit Industry Session - consists of a 1.5-hour program (2:00-3:30 pm) offering industry professionals the opportunity to: network with brand representatives, attend training seminars, taste a wide variety of rums, and mingle with industry colleagues. Complimentary snacks and water will be available at each session. 2oz souvenir snifter cup included. Early Bird: $35.00 / Week of event: $45.00. 

  • VIP "GRAND TASTING" Session - consists of a 4-hour program (3:00-7:00 pm) offering attendees the opportunity to taste .25oz pours of neat rum, and attend educational brand seminars. 1 hour Early Access to event. Complimentary snacks and water will be available at each session. VIP souvenir snifter cup included.  Early Bird: $70.00 / Week of event: $90.00. 

  • General Admission “GRAND TASTING” Session – consists of a 3-hour program (4:00-7:00 pm) offering attendees the opportunity to taste .25oz pours of neat rum, and attend educational brand seminars. 1 hour Early Access to event. Complimentary snacks and water will be available at each session. 2oz souvenir snifter cup included.  Early Bird: $60.00 / Week of event: $80.00. 

Seminar Line-Up 

  • Let’s talk Sugar Cane & Terroir: Join Ben Jones, Chase Babcock & Ben Schaffer as they discuss Rum producers from the islands and continents go deep on the essential ingredient in every rum in the world – sugar cane: flavor and styles, agriculture, strains and species, changing climate impacts, definitions, sustainability and terroir

  • Caribbean Elixirs: Join Kiowa Bryan and Zan Kong for a journey into various Caribbean drinking traditions. They will explore many island potions including the magical “healing” properties of indigenous tree barks, the ritual of Ti’Punch, and the “energy” of Jamaican tonic wine.  

  • West Indies Rum Distillery: Fermentation, Distillation, Blending and Ageing at West Indies Rum Distillery in Barbados: 126 years packed in a 45min with panelists Don Benn & Adrienne Stoner. 

  • The Significance of Puerto Rican Rum For The Rum Category (Ver.2020) Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow : After the success of these seminars at the 2019 California Rum Festival 2019, Rums of Puerto Rico decided to take the education program on tour in 2020. Ramon Diaz (Global Brand Ambassador for Rums of PR) talks with leaders in the rum industry about the importance of Puerto Rican Rum for the rum category (Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow).

Mariano's Tastemaker Kitchen at West Loop Location (40 S Halsted): Make Fried Rice with Chef Bill Kim of Urban Belly and Table at Crate! From 12pm to 2pm, Chef Bill Kim will show you how you how to make Fried Rice, a family favorite! This class will be hands on and paired with wines during the class. Tickets are $30 and customers can book reservations online through OpenTable.com, or the OpenTable app, the world’s leading provider of online restaurant reservations. Visit www.marianos.com to find information about the event, including a link to online reservations through OpenTable.com.

Kinton Ramen Offers Buy One, Get One Free Ramen Bowls for National Ramen Day: Get your slurp on! Located in West Loop (163 N. Sangamon St.) and Wicker Park (1426 N. Milwaukee Ave.), Kinton Ramen’s two Chicago restaurants will offer ramen lovers a deal: buy one bowl of ramen, get one bowl of equal or lesser value free! Kinton Ramen’s high quality ramen starts with pork and chicken broth which are cooked for at least 20 hours to create the five styles served: Original, Shoyu, Miso, Spicy Garlic and Spicy Jalapeno. Each bowl includes accompanying slices of pork belly that are torched for added caramelization and flavor or juicy chicken breast slices. The offer is available for dine-in only, excludes add-ons and substitutions and taxes and gratuities are not included.

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Courtesy of Chicago Rum Festival

Friday, April 17

Da Best Fest Debuts at UIC Dorin Forum: From the creators of Baconfest, Da Best Fest is a new chef tasting festival devoted to the dishes of the Chicago culinary landscape. Guests will sample new and traditional versions of all Chicago favorites, plus get to know a few lesser-known Chicago originals. Think Italian beef, hot dogs, pizza, flaming saganaki, jibaritos, aquarium-smoked rib tips, chicken Vesuvio, shrimp de Jonghe, malort, and more.

Da Best Fest debuts Friday, April 17, 2020, from 6pm-10pm at the UIC Dorin Forum (725 W Roosevelt). Ticket prices include the opportunity to try dishes from approximately 40 chefs and to try samples from participating exhibitors. All ticket types include seven (7) drink tickets redeemable for paired beer, wine, and cocktails.

Today, event organizers released a first look at the current line-up of participating restaurants.

312Chicago - Luca Corazzina

676 Restaurant & Bar - Dominique LeBlanc Beers

Bangers & Lace - Evanston

Berger Station - Ivan Gonzalez

Black Dog Gelato - Jess Oloroso

Cantina Laredo - Daniel Espinoza

Chicago Chop House - Martin Martinez

Cooking Skills Academy - Paul Guerrero

Four Star Artisan - Kurt Guzowski and Thomas Rice

Goose Island Brewpub - Henry Pariser

Heritage Restaurant and Caviar Bar - Guy Meikle

Hermosa - Ethan Eang Lim

Jim's Original - Betty Domagala

Labriola Chicago - Tim Donohoe

Le Bouchon

Links Taproom - Josh Bushnick

Mesler Kitchen - Matthew Cappellini

Michael Jordan's Steak House - Craig Couper

Orso's Restaurant

Osteria Bigolaro - Anthony Gargano

Phillipe C'est Bon - Phillipe Sobon

Pinstripes - Juan Gonzalez

Spacca Napoli - Jonathan Goldsmith

Stan's Donuts & Coffee - Susan Barnett

State and Lake Chicago Tavern - Nathan Sears

The Broken Barrel Bar - Bryant Anderson

The Duck Inn - Kevin Hickey

The Heritage - Nariba Shepherd

The Royal Grocer & Co. - Shane Graybeal

Victory Tap Chicago - Joseph Farina

World of Whirlpool - Luke Creagan

XO Marshmallow - Melissa Humphrey

Restaurant registration is still open and the roster is expected to change as the event approaches. 

“Da Best Fest was born out of a love of Chicago’s home-grown cuisine and its distinctive neighborhoods,” said Seth Zurer, Co-Founder of Da Best Fest & Baconfest. “The fest will be a fantastic mix of classic takes and intriguing interpretations. It will be a great introduction to those not familiar with some of these canonical dishes, like The Mother-In-Law or Sweet Steak Sandwich. I hope to see some truly unique creations that take these beloved bites and turn them inside out to blow everyone’s minds. Da Best Fest will be a consumable love letter to Chicago and all of its delicious parts.”

Tickets available at dabestfest.com:

●      General Admission: 7:00 PM -10: 00 PM: $75 + fees

●      VIP Tickets: 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM: $130 + fees

Discounts are available for bundles, including tickets to Da Best Fest and Baconfest Chicago’s Saturday Dinner session.

●      General Admission Bundles – $140 + fees: save $20 and get GA tickets to Da Best Fest and Baconfest Saturday Dinner

●      VIP Bundles – $240 + fees: save $50 and get VIP tickets to Da Best Fest and Baconfest Saturday Dinner

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Courtesy of Sarah Becan

Saturday, April 18

12th Annual Baconfest Chicago at UIC Dorin Forum: The 12th Annual Baconfest Chicago returns on Saturday, April 18, 2020 to the UIC Dorin Forum (725 West Roosevelt). Baconfest Chicago is an annual tasting festival that draws culinary talent in Chicago together in one room to celebrate bacon in all its forms. Over the course of two sessions (Lunch & Dinner), bacon enthusiasts will be offered a menu of bacon dishes and its own lineup of chefs - all vying for the coveted Golden Rasher Awards.

Today, Baconfest organizers released a first look at the year’s list of participating chefs. This year’s line-up includes returning favorites and new Chicago spots, all vying for the Golden Rashers awards. Chefs compete in two categories: Most Creative Use of Bacon and Best Front of House Presentation, with winners taking home towering trophies topped with gleaming pigs, bragging rights, and the envy of their peers. Most Creative Use of Bacon comes in two flavors: Judges’ Choice, awarded by a panel of handpicked judges from the Chicago food world and People's Choice, selected by Baconfest attendees who vote for their favorite by text message. For the bacon public, a prize is offered for Best Bacon Poem. 

Baconfest Lunch - Presented by Jewel-Osco

AceBounce - Nina Madsen

Atwood - David FIngerman

Bespoke Cuisine - Joe Morales -- NEW FOR 2020

Bistro Campagne - Adam Grandt

Community Tavern - Joey Beato

Davanti Enoteca - Jim Day

Eden - Devon Quinn -- NEW FOR 2020

Farmhouse Chicago - Eric Mansavage

Firecakes

Flo & Santos - Lupe Garcia

Fred’s Garage - Geo Tapia

Goose Island Brewpub - Henry Pariser

Jordan's Food of Distinction - Stephanie Hickey

Kaiser Tiger

Kitty O'Sheas - Mario Garcia

Latinicity Food Hall - Marcos Flores

Market House on the Square - Dan Marquis

Mercat a la Planxa - David Murphy

Murray Bros. Caddyshack

N'awlins Edibles Traveling Chef - Cheryl Bowman

NoMI Kitchen - Eric Damidot

One Lake Brewing - Nick Stewart -- NEW FOR 2020

Paddy Long's

Phillipe C'est Bon - Phillipe Sobon -- NEW FOR 2020

Piece Pizzeria and Brewery

Sheekar Delights - Diane Joseph

Smack Dab - Axel Erkenswick

Smylie Brothers Brewing Company

Sociale - John McLean & Martin Murch 

Soul Kantina - Turon Cummings

The Broken Barrel Bar - Bryant Anderson

The Dearborn - Juan Cervantes

The Signature Room at the 95th - Cardel Reid

Travelle at The Langham - Jeff Vucko

Vinci - Ino Cruz

Wow Bao 

Baconfest Dinner

Amazing Edibles Catering - Eric Halvorsen

Asadito Taco - Nick Bajal -- NEW FOR 2020

Bangers & Lace - Evanston

Bar Roma - Fred Ramos

Batter & Berries - Ken Polk

Berger Station - Ivan Gonzalez -- NEW FOR 2020

Cafe ba ba Reeba! - Eric Jorgensen

Carnivore - Erik Williams

CheSa's Gluten Free Food Truck - Chesaree Rollins

Chicago Q

Copper Fox Gastropub - Cortney Pierce

CRĪO Bar and Restaurant - Luis Guzman

Edzo's Burger Shop

Fire Thyme - Jamie Bisioulis

Flo Cafe & Bar - Leonard Sanchez

Gale Street Inn - Geoff Silverwood -- NEW FOR 2020

Good Measure - Matthew Troost

Goose Island Brewpub - Henry Pariser

Imperial Lamian - Alan Tan

Naansense - Hiran Patel

Rack House Kitchen & Tavern - Bryant Anderson

SafeHouse -- NEW FOR 2020

Takito Street - Dudley Nieto

The Bageler's Coffeehouse - Jotam Torres -- NEW FOR 2020

The Florentine - Zachery Walrath

The Grill On The Alley - Ozzy Amelotti

The Grillroom Chophouse and Winebar

The Roaming Hog - Eddie Aguilar

Three Floyds Brewpub - Pat Niebling

Townhouse Restaurant & Wine Bar

XO Marshmallow - Melissa Humphrey

In addition to bacon dishes, attendees can peruse offerings from luxury brands, artisan bacon-makers and bacon-trepreneurs vendors. Local mixologists and brewers also serve up their bacon-inspired cocktails, beer, and wine throughout the two sessions.

Creators of Baconfest Chicago also look to give back and support the Greater Chicago Food Depository with a donation from events proceeds, a raffle on-site, and a food drive at both events. Over its 11 year history, Baconfest has generated more than $480,000 in donations to the area's largest food bank. This translates to more than 1.5 million meals for hungry people in the Chicagoland community. 

Tickets:

General Admission tickets offer access to a three-hour tasting session of their choice with unlimited tastings of creative bacon dishes. VIP tickets give guests an hour of early access to the annual pork-a-palooza. All ticket types (other than Bacon-Only) include seven drink tickets good for beer, wine, and cocktails. 

Saturday Lunch – April 18 (PRESENTED BY JEWEL-OSCO)

●      11:00 AM – 12:00 PM VIP Hour

●      12:00 PM – 3:00 PM General Admission

Saturday Dinner – April 18

●      6:00 PM – 7:00 PM VIP Hour

●      7:00 PM -10:00 PM General Admission 

Baconfest Tickets:

●      General Admission Tickets: Full Price: $85 + fees. Three hours of bacon splendor, up to 7 drink tickets included.

●      VIP Tickets: Full Price: $160 + fees. Includes all of the above plus one hour of early access to Baconfest.

●      Bacon-Only / No Alcohol - General Admission $60 + fees - Save with Bacon-Only tickets – take advantage of unlimited bacon dishes and complimentary soft drinks.  No  alcoholic drinks included in admission; alcoholic beverages are NOT available for purchase. 

●      Group Rate General Admission (Minimum 5). $70 + fees – Bring your whole bacon-posse and save.  Buy 5 or more general admission advance tickets and save $20 on each ticket. 

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Courtesy of Anne Petersen

Sunday, April 19

4th Annual Somm Madness Returns at Radius Chicago: The 4th Annual Somm Madness returns on Sunday, April 19, 2020, to award the 2020 title of Somm Madness Champion at Radius Chicago (640 W Cermack, Chicago, IL 60616). The evening includes a Tailgate Tasting from 5pm-7:30pm and the Somm Madness Tasting Tournament from 6pm-9pm. The event is hosted by Adam Sweders, creator of Somm Madness and Sommelier Jon McDaniel (Food & Wine’s 2018 Sommelier of the Year).   

Somm Madness brings together the nation’s sommelier community and wine aficionados for a blind tasting tournament. Sixty-four individuals will go head-to-head to advance to the championship round with the ultimate hope of taking home the grand prize: $10,000 cash. New in 2020, there is a $1,000 cash prize for the final four contestants and a $3,000 cash prize to the runner-up, bringing the grand total to $15,000 in cash prizes.

At 5pm, the event kicks off with an over-the-top Tailgate Tasting, the pre-party to the main event that will run through the first half of the competition until 8:00pm. Ticket holders will have access to more than 400 wines in a walk-around tasting as well as a grand display of endless bites provided by DineAmic Catering. Guests will be offered food from restaurants like Prime & Provisions and Siena Tavern while sampling from wineries that include some of the most iconic names in the world, including Silver Oak, Jordan, and Duckhorn. At 6pm, the Somm Madness Tournament begins. All ticket holders can watch the tournament while the 64 registered competitors try their luck at the tasting tournament led by judges.

While ticket holders look on, each competitor will partake in a blind taste test starting at 6pm, tournament-style, and have a specified amount of time to provide written answers following CMS Standards. The winner will advance to the next round, similar to March Madness. For a chance to compete in the 4th Annual Somm Madness Tournament, visit www.sommmadness.com. Registration is open March 1 - April 1, 2020, and final seedings will be announced on April 9, 2020. General admission tickets can be purchased here.

Event Judges

  • Joseph Spellman: Master Sommelier Frequent instructor + examiner in Court of Master Sommeliers. Named "Best Sommelier in the World in French Wines & Spirits" and 1998's Bon Appetit "Wine & Spirits Professional of the Year." Contributor to Wine & Spirits, Wine Enthusiast, Sante, Decanter, and Appellation.

  • Fred Dame: Master Sommelier. Global Wine Ambassador for DAOU Vineyards & Winery. Founder of the American Branch of the Court of Master Sommeliers. Former Vice President of Prestige Accounts for American Wine & Spirits of California. An inductee of the American Academy of Chef's Hall of Fame. One of only 250 individuals worldwide to have passed the Master Sommelier Examination. Winner of the Krug Cup of British Guild of Sommeliers in 1984. Active member of the Confrerie de la Chaine des Rotisseurs. Chairman of Board of GuildSomm.com. Holds honorary professorships at Purdue University and The University of South Carolina.

  • John Laloganes: Author & Director of Beverage Management, Kendall College IACP 2012's "Sommelier/Wine Steward of the Year." Founder and educator of Kendall's Wine Professional Program. Laureate Global Products & Services Award for Innovation. Beverage Book Judge for International Association of Culinary Professionals. Author of books such as The Essentials of Wine & Food Pairing Techniques and more.

  • Amelia Singer: International Wine Personality International wine influencer and TV personality will be judging for the first time in 2020. Amelia is one of the personalities on “The Wine Show,” a series on Hulu. This is Amelia’s first Somm Madness.

Like last year, a portion of the proceeds will benefit the James Beard Foundation's Impact Programs. The JBF Impact Programs are committed to establishing a more sustainable food system through education, advocacy, and thought leadership. In 2019, the event raised more than $7,000 for the foundation. This year, $10,000 will be donated to the foundation. 

Tickets are $100 each. All contestants and spectators must purchase a Tailgate Tasting ticket to attend. 

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Courtesy of Francis Son

Tuesday, April 21

George Trois, Temporis Team Up For Collaborative Dinner Series: The chefs of two of Chicago’s fine-dining restaurants are teaming up this spring on a dinner series that will bring each into the other’s kitchen for the night. For loyal guests of the restaurants, the dinners will be an opportunity to experience an outstanding combination of talent on a micro-level. 

Chef Michael Lachowicz of George Trois in Winnetka (64 Green Bay Rd) will host the first dinner on Tuesday, March 17, welcoming Chef Troy Jorge of the Michelin-starred Temporis (933 N Ashland Ave). On Tuesday, April 21, Jorge will return the gesture with Lachowicz joining him in the Temporis kitchen in West Town.

Each dinner will feature a tasting menu comprised of dishes from each chef highlighting their individual styles, with optional wine pairings. The 10-course George Trois dinner will be $215. The 12-course Temporis dinner will be $200. 

Lachowicz opened George Trois in 2015 as a restaurant within his acclaimed Restaurant Michael; last year, George Trois was named the Jean Banchet Restaurant of the Year. When Temporis received its first Michelin star in 2018, Lachowicz was the first to call and make a dinner reservation. Both restaurants are small—just 20 seats.

Reservations for both dinners are on OpenTable. Pricing in non-inclusive of beverages, gratuity and tax. 

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