Who’s Headlining Taste of Chicago? Emeril!

While the masses are chowing on their flash-frozen caramel corn and head-sized turkey drumsticks, this Taste of Chicago we’re planning on being where the action is: the Dominick’s Cooking Corner, where chefly types will be showing off their skill to a swooning crowd (and maybe — no promises here — offering samples of their fare). The stage will be running every day of the festival, but the kickoff lineup is one not to be missed. On Friday, June 26th, check out (among others) chef Phillip Foss of Lockwood at noon, Jimmy Bannos of Heaven on Seven at 2, and — the headliner — chef Emeril Lagasse at 4pm (after his demo, Emeril will stick around to sign copies of his new book Emeril at the Grill).

Other highlights from later in the Taste include Sikia pastry chef Laura Vaughn, chef Daniel Humm of New York’s Eleven Madison Park, Chef Jackie Shen of Red Light, Amalia Obermerer-Smith of Kuma’s Corner, Tony Priolo of Piccolo Sogno, Robert & Allison Levitt of Mado, and the mistress of spirits herself, Alpana Singh. Check out the complete Cooking Corner lineup after the jump.

Friday, June 26, 2009
• 11am - Zagat’s Sweet Treat Challenge
• 12pm - Chef Phillip Foss, Lockwood at the Palmer House Hilton
• 1 pm - Chef Haley Bitterman, Ralph Brennan Restaurant Group, Louisiana
• 2pm - Chef Jimmy Bannos, Heaven on Seven
• 3pm - Sam Niemann, Chef & George Reisch, Brew Master, Anheuser-Busch
• 4pm - Emeril Lagasse
• 5pm - Book signing “Emeril at the Grill”

Saturday, June 27, 2009
• 11am - Elena Marre & Erin Haswell, The Kids’ Table
• 12pm - Lucinda Scala Quinn, host of Everyday Food PBS TV
• 1pm - Ana Victoria Belaval & Ana Belaval “Around Town” reporter WGN
Morning News
• 2pm - Chef Patrick Quakenbush, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
• 3pm - Devin Alexander, host, Healthy Decadence, Fit TV, author of “Biggest Looser Cookbook”
• 4pm - Laura Vaughn, Pastry Chef, Sikia Restaurant
• 5pm - Chef Daniel Humm, Executive Chef, Eleven Madison Park

Sunday, June 28, 2009
Dawn Jackson Blatner
• 11am - Humana presents Healthy, Sustainable Cooking with Chef Greg Christian
• 12pm - Chef Christopher Tong, My Private Chef
• 1pm - Chef Haley Bitterman, Ralph Brennan Restaurant Group, Louisiana
• 2pm - Chef Jackie Shen, Red Light
• 3pm - Dawn Jackson Blatner, RD, National Nutrition Expert, author of “The Flexitarian Diet”
• 4pm - Chef Tonya Valentine, Chant
• 5pm - Chef Jeff Muldrow, Va Pensiero

Monday, June 29, 2009
• 11am - Melissa Graham, Monogramme Events/Purple Asparagus
• 12pm - Chef Haley Bitterman, Ralph Brennan Restaurant Group, Louisiana
• 1pm - Stephen Henry, Executive Chef, The Palmer House
• 2pm - Daniel Ovanin, Executive Chef, Glen Prairie Restaurant
• 3pm - Vijay Puniani, Chutney Joe’s
• 4pm - Chef Alex Lopez, The Food Diva
• 5pm - Cleetus Friedman, City Provisions


Tuesday, June 30, 2009
• 11am - Amalia Obermerer-Smith, Kuma’s Corner
• 12pm - Cheril Vendetti, “The Comic that Cooks”, author “Mistress of the Mob”
• 1pm - Chef Steve McHugh, John Besh Restaurants, Louisiana
• 2pm - Tony Priolo, Executive Chef, Piccolo Sogno
• 3pm - Keli Fayard, Vanille Patisserie
• 4pm - Chef Mario Palaggi, Sean’s Rhino Bar & Grill
• 5pm - Chef Cesar Casas, Café Bella

Wednesday, July 1, 2009
• 11am - Roberta Trenbeth, Jersey Mary BBQ
• 12pm - Chef Steve McHugh, John Besh Restaurants, Louisiana
• 1pm - Chef David Oland, David’s on Jefferson Hill
• 2pm - Chef’s Robert & Allison Levitt, Mado
• 3pm - Chef Sherman Scott, Harvest Grill, Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile
• 4pm - Lisa Williams of Lisa Cooks Allergen Free
• 5pm - Michael Niksic, The Food Mercenary


Thursday, July 2, 2009
• 11am - Chef Steve McHugh, John Besh Restaurants, Louisiana
• 12pm - Alekka Sweeney, Executive Chef, Give Me Some Sugar
• 1pm - Philip Potempa, Food Columnist, The Times Newspaper of Indiana & IL
• 2pm - Maneet Chauhan, Executive Chef, Vermilion
• 3pm - Carlyn Berghoff, Berghoff Catering & Restaurant
• 4pm - Alpana Singh, master sommelier, host of WTTW Channel 11’s Check Please!
• 5pm - Chef Victor DeLeon, O’Donovan’s Pub & Restaurant


Friday, July 3, 2009
• 11am - Amy Donati, Fox & Obel
• 12pm - Michele Scicolone, author 1,000 Italian Recipes & The Soprano’s Cookbook
• 1pm - Daniel Ovanin, Executive Chef, Glen Prairie Restaurant
• 2pm - Luca Corazzino, Executive Chef, 312 Chicago
• 3pm - A.J. Rudis, Chef Chicago White Sox
• 4pm - Chef Angela Douglas, The Parrot Cage

Saturday, July 4, 2009
• 11am - Derryl L. Reed, Smokin’ Joe Products
• 12pm - Dublins own Stuart O’Keeffe
• 1pm - Chef David Richards, Sweets & Savories
• 2pm - Steve Dahl, Tom Thayer & Chef Hans, Trader Vic’s
• 3pm - Chef Joey Morelli, Joey’s Brickhouse
• 4pm - Chef Gloria Hafer, Washington RJD Culinary Institute/After School Matters
• 5pm - Jennifer Gavin, Executive Chef, Catered Excellence - Finalist - Hell’s Kitchen Season 4

Sunday, July 5, 2009
• 11am - Wilbert Jones, Healthy Concepts & Sergio Bondi of US Foodservice
• 12pm - Chef Linda Szarkowski, Green Sprit Living
• 1pm - Lori Parett, Lori’s Cakewalk
• 2pm - Shaun J Raja, Palm Court, Special Events Mgr & Chef Patrick Crane, The Drake Hotel
• 3pm - Ying Stoller, Ying’s Kitchen, Inc.
• 4pm - Chef Hector Marcial, Mundial Cocina Mestiza

[Photo: WireImage/Grub NY]

Who’s Headlining Taste of Chicago? Emeril!