Brought to you by the Chicago Office of Tourism Department of Cultural Affairs

CulinaryBrowse a Farmer's Market for fresh berries and produce or artisanal cheeses on your culinary adventure.

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Dining Adventures

Go Behind the Scenes

Trek to the birthplaces of the brownie and other famous foods, beverages, and cooking equipment created in Chicago during Fabulous Food Firsts (June 27, August 2), a Loop walking tour that takes you behind the scenes.

Dine in Style

On one of our Dining Adventures, hop aboard a luxury motorcoach destined for Chicago neighborhoods, with a course served at each of three stops, plus meeting owners and chefs, and learning about the neighborhood histories.

bottles of wine in a wine cellar

One Exciting Evening (August 28) included a chance for you to be interactively involved in the dinner making process at 3 unique stops in three unique neighborhoods..

Make Cheese the Main Course

Make cheese the main course at the American Cheese Society 25th Anniversary Conference’s public events. Celebrate the award winners of its world-renowned cheese competition at the Festival of Cheese (July 26) exhibiting 1,200 North American artisan and specialty cheeses.

Chat with the cheese makers; sample their wares with a selection of wines; and browse a marketplace of foodstuffs, wines, and beers that complement cheese. To catch some of the cheese that runneth over, head to the American Cheese Society Cheese Sale (July 27). Choose from hundreds of high quality, handmade, artisan, and farmstead cheeses, which were among those judged during the competition, available at very low prices.

Continue your culinary expedition with a Chicago Greeter

Continue your own culinary expedition or explore with a Chicago Greeter by foot and public transportation. Pre-register 7 to 10 business days in advance of your Chicago arrival for this FREE insider orientation.

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Enjoy a meal at one of the city's award-winning resaurants. An elegantly set table sets the mood.

key information

Go behind the scenes

Fabulous Food Firsts
Friday, June 27 and Saturday, August 2; 10 am–Noon
Depart from the Chicago Cultural Center
77 E. Randolph Street
312.742.8497 (advance booking required)
$10 per person per tour
wheelchair accessible

Dining adventures

One Exciting Evening
Thursday, August 28, 6–10 pm
Depart from the Chicago Cultural Center
77 E. Randolph Street, 312.742.8497 (advance booking required)
$80 per person per tour
wheelchair accessible

Make cheese the main course

Festival of Cheese Gala
Saturday, July 26, 5:30–9 pm
Normandy Lounge
Hilton Chicago Grand Ballroom
720 S. Michigan Avenue
502.583.3783 cheesesociety.org (tickets and information)
$85 per person
wheelchair accessible

American Cheese Society Cheese Sale
Sunday, July 27, 10 am–1 pm
Kendall College
900 N. North Branch Street
502.583.3783 scheesesociety.org (information and retailers)
freewheelchair accessible

Continue your culinary expedition

Chicago Greeter
Depart from the Chicago Cultural Center Visitor Center
77 E. Randolph Street
312.744.8000
www.chicagogreeter.com
(pre-registration required 7–10 business days in advance)
freewheelchair accessible