InspiringKitchen.com Festival Archives

Jul 15

Beer, BBQ and Country Music at Windy City Smokeout

Posted by Inspiring Kitchen | Chicago, Culinary Event, Festival, Restaurants, Tourism | No Comments

Grab your cowboy boots and hat and make your way to the Windy City Smokeout happening this weekend in Chicago. Gates just opened for the 5th year of this food and music fest with two stages filled with artists from around the country entertaining fans all weekend long.

Beer, BBQ and Country Music at Windy City Smokeout

With over 25 country music bands playing throughout the three day festival

Beer, BBQ and Country Music at Windy City Smokeout

and 20 of the world’s best pitmasters sharing their BBQ creations, this is an event you just can’t miss. … Read more

Oct 13

Chicago Gourmet Turns Ten

Posted by Inspiring Kitchen | Festival, Restaurants | 10 Comments

Chicago Gourmet Turns Ten – Celebrating ten years, attendees enjoyed bites from prestigious Chicago restaurants, chefs, wine and spirit brands at festival.

The HOTTEST event of the year, both literally and figuratively, took place in Chicago’s Millennium Park September 23-24. Chicago Gourmet, celebrating its 10 year anniversary, opened to a weekend of soaring temperatures, blue skies and big crowds. The 94 degree temperatures made an already warm and welcoming group of people even more so.

Opening ceremonies for this momentous occasion included Illinois Restaurant Association president and CEO, Sam Toia, Chicago’s Mayor Rahm Emanuel and a wealth of Chefs from near and far.… Read more

Aug 16

The Mystery of Diner en Blanc Arrives in Chicago

Posted by Inspiring Kitchen | Festival, France | 13 Comments

What would you think if I invited you to a party with the key direction being you must wear white. The location is a secret until an hour before the event begins. You bring your own table, chairs, linens and food. And you have the time of your life!

Diner en blanc pop up festival on Chicago's lakefront

Intrigued?

Diner en blanc pop up festival on Chicago's lakefront

It’s called Le Diner en Blanc and was started 30 years ago in Paris by Francois Pasquier and a handful of friends. Now, you will find events across the world with thousands of guests in attendance each time. The concept is simple: bring together a group of guests in a secret location where the purpose is to share a beautiful meal with new and old friends at a city’s most special locations.… Read more

Aug 01

Country Music and BBQ Shine at Windy City Smokeout Festival

Posted by Inspiring Kitchen | Festival, Foods | 16 Comments

As anyone who pays attention to the weather knows, winter in Chicago means one of hibernation. But summertime is another story. We are outdoors. Every day, if possible. One of the many reasons to love living in a city like Chicago are the vast assortment of summer festivals. Chicago has an abundance of them throughout the summer whether food, sports, art or music. No matter where you live, you will find one near you. In its fourth year, one of the most recent food festivals to pop up is Windy City Smokeout.

Country Music and BBQ Shine at Windy City Smokeout Festival

With the 23 Country music bands playing over the course of the weekend, attendees had the opportunity to listen to their favorites throughout the festival.… Read more

Jul 13

Exploring The Taste of Chicago Festival

Posted by Inspiring Kitchen | Festival, Foods, Restaurants | 15 Comments

“Summer, fun and food” could only mean Taste of Chicago, the world’s largest free food and music festival held in Grant Park along the gorgeous lakefront. 69 restaurants including food trucks and pop-up restaurants from across Chicagoland offered their signature dishes in full size and Taste portions. The Petrillo Music Shell hosting musical artists The Roots, Kongos, The Decemberists, Billy Idol and The Isley Brothers each evening of the fest.

Chicago's Most Popular Summer Food Festival

As the culinary scene expands so do the diverse items being offered. You will find everything from classic food festival items, ethnic cuisine, sweet treats and gourmet choices.

Chicago's Most Popular Summer Food Festival

Sweet treats:

Chicago's Most Popular Summer Food Festival

Some adventures choices from Chicago’s Dog House: Alligator smoked sausage and Rattlesnake, rabbit and pork sausage

Chicago's Most Popular Summer Food Festival

In case you thought food was brought to the festival already made…..Vee… Read more

Jun 13

Caffeine Crawl Visits Chicago

Posted by Inspiring Kitchen | Coffee, Festival | 9 Comments

As you know, I am a coffee addict or enthusiast if you will. So when I heard about the Caffeine Crawl I knew I had to jump on the (caffeinated) bandwagon!

Inspiring Kitchen Caffeine Crawl Crawls Through Chicago

Originally started in Kansas City in 2011 by LAB 5702 (a Kansas City-based beverage marketing company), the Caffeine Crawl has since expanded nationally. Each crawl is “built around the (host) city’s personality, culture, traffic structure, and local event flow”. This year was Chicago’s second annual Caffeine Crawl. It contained 11 different routes over the course of a weekend. Each route explored five different local coffee or tea shops in the Chicagoland area.… Read more

Oct 01

Culinary Heaven Chicago Gourmet Food n Wine

Posted by Inspiring Kitchen | Culinary Event, Education, Festival | 19 Comments

Chicago’s grandest food and wine event, Chicago Gourmet, took place this past weekend. Whether you are local or a tourist, dining in Chicago is always a fun and sometimes adventurous experience. For the eighth year, Chicago Gourmet was held in the heart of the city’s Millennium Park. The in-demand tickets sold out well in advance of the first day’s activities. (Heads up if you want to go next year!)

This culinary heaven showcases Chicago’s greatest chefs, restaurants, Master Sommeliers, wine, spirit and beer makers. In addition, celebrated chefs like Emeril Lagasse, Lorena Garcia, and Jean-George Vongerichten just to name a few, hosted cooking demonstrations on Bon Appetit’s Main and Culinary Stages.… Read more

Sep 01

Debut of Chicago Food + Wine Festival

Posted by Inspiring Kitchen | Culinary Event, Education, Festival, Travel, Trends | 16 Comments

In a food town like Chicago, having the opportunity to learn about new restaurants, dishes, foods, wines, spirits, beers and cocktails is always a reason to gather. Food makes us happy after all. Something that the Chicago Food + Wine Festival knew as they launched their first fest this weekend in Chicago’s Lincoln Park.

This two-day food and wine celebration highlighted our local chefs and their restaurants including those that are soon to be opening in Chicago. (See Monteverde from Chef Sarah Grueneberg and Earl’s Kitchen and Bar). The fest was held in a beautiful park just to the north of Chicago’s famed Magnificent Mile.… Read more

Jul 16

Experiencing The Taste of Chicago Food Festival

Posted by Inspiring Kitchen | Culinary Event, Festival, Foods, Tourism | 25 Comments

Chicago is known for so many amazing things from the architecture of the city to the beautiful beaches to the Magnificent Mile of shopping to the arts to our sports teams and of course, to the food and restaurant scene. For five days in July, the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events welcomes everyone to the Taste of Chicago Food Festival held in Grant Park on Chicago’s glorious lakefront.

Since 1980, visitors have been offered a wide range of food options, musical acts and cooking demonstrations among other reasons to attend the fest. This year, there were more than 60 restaurants, pop-ups and food trucks including 19 new restaurants serving their specialties.… Read more