The 2009 Taste of Chicago, Dominick's Cooking Corner opens on June 26 at 11:00a.m. It starts off with a little sugar and ends with a BAM! Throughout the ten days, the Cooking Corner offers a vast array of chefs and notables in the kitchen including Lucinda Scala Quinn of Everyday Food magazine and television show on PBS (June 27), WGN-TV's Ana Belaval with her mother Ana Victoria Belaval (June 27), Jackie Shen of Red Light (June 28) and Chef Stuart O'Keeffe of Dublin, Ireland (July 4). For Bears fans, enjoy a triple bill with Chef Hans of Trader Vics that includes legendary radio star Steve Dahl and Super Bowl Champion Bear and current broadcaster, Tom Thayer (July 4).
On June 26 at 11:00 a.m. The Cooking Corner launches the festival with the Zagat Sweet Treat Challenge where select students of the Washburne Culinary Institute compete in the dessert category to see who can whip up the most delectable Chicago-inspired sweet. The winner of the challenge will receive a $1000 scholarship. Emeril Lagasse won't be the only Louisiana Chef at Taste, throughout the week The Louisiana Office of Tourism will bring chefs from the renowned Ralph Brennan Restaurant Group and John Besh Restaurants.
Other notable demonstrations include Devon Alexander, host of Healthy Decadence on Discovery Health Channel and author of the Biggest Loser Cookbook on Saturday, June 27; Chef Alex Lopez, The Food Diva on June 29; Cheril Vendetti, "The Comic that Cooks", author of Mistress of the Mob on June 30; New York's Michele Scicolone, author of The Sopranos Cookbook on Friday, July 3 and Hell's Kitchen –Season 4 finalist, Jennifer Gavin on July 4.
Dominick's Cooking Corner page 2 of Four
Friday, June 26
11a.m.
Zagat Sweet Treat Challenge – students from Washburne Culinary Institute
compete for $1,000
Noon
Chef Phillip Foss, Lockwood at the Palmer House Hilton
1p.m.
Chef Haley Bitterman, Ralph Brennan Restaurant Group, Louisiana
2p.m.
Chef Jimmy Bannos, Heaven on Seven
3p.m.
Chef Sam Niemann and George Reish, Brew Master, Anheuser-Busch
4p.m.
Emeril Lagasse , World renowned chef, restaurateur, national TV personality and bestselling author, host of Emeril Green on Discovery's Planet Green and Emeril Live on Fine Living and Food Network
5p.m.
Emeril Lagasse book signing, "Emeril at the Grill"
Saturday, June 27
11a.m.
Elena Marre & Erin Hasmell, The Kids' Table
Noon
Lucinda Scala Quinn, Food Director at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Host of Everyday Food on PBS and Executive Editorial Director of Everyday Food magazine; book signing to follow for best-selling books Martha Stewart's Cupcakes and Everyday Food: Great Food Fast
1p.m.
Ana Victoria Belaval & Ana Belaval "Around Town" reporter WGN Morning News
2p.m.
Chef Patrick Quakenbush, Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
3p.m.
Devin Alexander, host, Healthy Decadence, Fit TV, author "Biggest Loser Cookbook"
4p.m.
Laura Vaughn, Pastry Chef, Sikia Restaurant
5p.m. Daniel Humm, Executive Chef, Eleven Madison Park
Sunday, June 28
11a.m.
Humana Presents Healthy, Sustainable Cooking with Chef Greg Christian
Noon
Chef Christopher Tong, My Private Chef
1p.m.
Chef Haley Bitterman, Ralph Brennan Restaurant Group, Louisiana
2p.m.
Chef Jackie Shen, Red Light
3p.m.
Dawn Jackson Blatner, RD, National Nutrition Expert, author "The Felxitarian Diet"
4p.m.
Chef Tonya Valentine, Chant
5p.m.
Chef Jeff Muldrew, Va Pensiero
Monday, June 29
11a.m.
Melissa Graham, Monogramme Events/Purple Asparagus
Noon
Chef Haley Bitterman, Ralph Brennan Restaurant Group, Louisiana
1p.m.
Stephen Henry, Executive Chef, The Palmer House
2p.m.
Daniel Ovanin, Executive Chef, Glen Prairie Restaurant
3p.m.
Vijay Puniani, Chutney Joe's
4p.m.
Chef Alex Lopez, The Food Diva
5p.m.
Cleetus Friedman, City Provisions
Tuesday, June 30
11a.m.
Amalia Obermerer-Smith, Kuma's Corner
Noon Cheril Vendetti, "The Comic that Cooks" Author "Mistress of the Mob Cuisine"
1p.m.
Chef Steve McHugh, John Besh Restaurants, Louisiana
2p.m.
Tony Priolo, Executive Chef, Piccolo Sogno
Dominick's Cooking Corner page 3 of Four
3p.m.
Keli Fayard, Vanille Patisserie
4p.m.
Chef Mario Palaggi, Sean's Rhino Bar & Grill
5p.m.
Chef Cesar Casas, Café Bella
Wednesday, July 1
11a.m.
Roberta Trenbeth, Jersey Mary BBQ
Noon
Chef Steve McHugh, John Besh Restaurants, Louisiana
1p.m.
Chef David Oland, David's on Jefferson Hill
2p.m.
Chef's Robert & Allison Levitt Mado
3p.m.
Chef Sherman Scott, Harvest Grill, Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile
4p.m.
Lisa Williams of Lisa Cooks Allergen Free
5p.m.
Michael Niksic, The Food Mercenary
Thursday, July 2
11a.m.
Chef Steve McHugh, John Besh Restaurants, Louisiana
Noon
Alekka Sweeney, Executive Chef, Give Me Some Sugar
1p.m.
Philip Potempa, Food Columnist, The Times Newspapers of Indiana & Illinois
2p.m.
Maneet Chauhan, Executive Chef, Vermilion
3p.m.
Carlyn Berghoff, Berghoff Catering & Restaurant
4p.m.
Alpana Singh, Master Sommelier, Host of Channel 11's Check Please!
5p.m.
Chef Victor DeLeon, O'Donovan's Pub & Restaurant
Friday, July 3
11a.m.
Amy Donati, Fox & Obel
Noon
Michele Scicolone (NY), author "1,000 Italian Recipes" & "The Sopranos Cookbook" (Book Signing)
1p.m.
Chef Daniel Ovanin, Executive Chef, Glen Prairie Restaurant
2p.m.
Luca Corrazino, Executive Chef, 312 Chicago
3p.m.
Chef A.J. Rudis, Chicago White Sox
4p.m.
Chef Angela Douglas, The Parrot Cage
Saturday, July 4
11a.m.
Darryl L. Reed, Smokin' Joe Products
Noon
Chef Stuart O'Keeffe, (Dublin, Ireland)
1p.m.
Chef David Richards, Sweets & Savories
2p.m.
Steve Dahl, Tom Thayer ('85 Bears) & Chef Hans, Trader Vics
3p.m.
Chef Joey Morelli, Joey's Brickhouse
4p.m.
Chef Gloria Hafer, Washington RJD Culinary Institute/ After School Matters
5p.m.
Jennifer Gavin, Executive Chef, Catered Excellence & Finalist of "Hell's Kitchen-Season 4"
Sunday, July 5
11a.m.
Wilbert Jones, Healthy Concepts & Sergio Bondi of US Foodservice
Noon
Chef Linda Szarkowski, Green Spirit Living
1p.m.
Lori Parett, Lori's Cakewalk
2p.m.
Shaun J. Rajah, Palm Court, Special Events Mgr & Chef Patrick Crane, The Drake
Hotel
Dominick's Cooking Corner page 4 of Four
3p.m.
Ying Stoller, Ying's Kitchen, Inc.
4p.m.
Chef Hector Marcial, Mundial Cocina Mestiza
The 2009 Taste of Chicago is presented by the City of Chicago and, and sponsored in part by Bud Light, Dominick's, Pepsi, Chicago Tribune, Illinois Lottery, Best Buy, Louisiana Travel, ABSOLUT, Gallo Family Vineyards, Hinkley Springs, Humana, V-103, 107.5fm, 93 XRT, am 1300 Radio Disney, 101.9 fm THE MIX, Zagat, WGN TV, Shoreline Sightseeing, CLTV, LaGrou Distribution System, Communications Direct, CTA, Chicago Park District, United, Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, Hilton Chicago, Chicago's Essex Inn.
