Instead of avoiding the crowds this year, we decided to explore as much of Taste of Chicago as we possibly could. We waded through the crowds, explored how to sample most of the city, broke the event down by numbers, and even examined how to drink for free. Now it’s time to watch someone else do some cooking. Though it doesn’t bring in nearly as many high profile chefs as Chicago Gourmet, Taste of Chicago does usually spring for one famous food celebrity a year. Last year it was Mario Batali, and today you’ll be able to watch Giada De Laurentiis give a cooking demo at the Dominick’s Cooking Corner at 1:30 p.m. But don’t worry if you can’t make the trip, as there are plenty of other chef demos to hit over the weekend. Check them all out below.
All the demos take place at Dominick’s Cooking Corner, which is located at the eastern edge of Jackson Drive.
Friday, July 1
12:30 p.m. - Charlie McKenna, Chef/Owner, Lillie’s Q
1:30 p.m. - Jimmy Bannos & Jimmy Bannos, Jr., Heaven on Seven, Purple Pig
2:30 p.m. - Giada De Laurentiis, presented by Bella Sera Wines of Italy
4:30 p.m. - Chef Anthony Bosko, Smokey Bears BBQ
5:30 p.m. - Chef Jared Leonard, Rub BBQ Company
Saturday, July 2
11:30 a.m. - Chef Vicente Duran, Vivo Restaurant
12:30 p.m. - Dawn Jackson Blatner, RD, National Food & Nutrition Expert, Author “The Flexitarian Diet”
1:30 p.m. - Chef Ryan Hutmacher and Chef Patsy Bentivegna, Pick Chow Cook Off, “Zisboombah.com”
2:30 p.m. - Philip Potempa, food & entertainment columnist, The Times Newspaper of Indiana and Illinois
3:30 p.m. - Patsy Bentivegna, VP & Executive Chef of Cooking Skills Academy
4:30 p.m. - Chefs Erin Joseph & Henny Maciaszek, Tu Chez Events & Heller Catering
5:30 p.m. - Chef Pierre Daval, Harvest & RUSH Bar, Marriott Downtown Chicago
Sunday, July 3
11:30 a.m. - Ryan Hutmacher, The Centered Chef
12:30 p.m. - Chef Armando Vasquez, LaScarola Restaurant
1:30 p.m. - Jennifer Stoker, At First Bite, LLC, Personal Chef Services
2:30 p.m. - Linda Szarkowski, Green Spirit
3:30 p.m. - Chef Cesar Pineda, Ciao Amore
