Mayor Daley joined in toasts today as the Gourmet was announced in the Chicago Cultural Center.
The Chicago Gourmet will be held in Millennium Park, and will feature more than 300 wineries and 65 spirit brands.
The mayor said the hospitality industry employs 132,000 area residents and is very important to the economy.
He also praised the chefs.
"These are our ambassadors throughout the world," said Daley. "They are creative. They're artists. They're professional. They meet with more people visiting than anyone else."
"We are highlighting Chicago as the number one food and wine city in the world," said Sheila O'Grady, president of the Illinois Restaurant Association.
Like previous ones, this Gourmet will include seminars on trends in food and drink, cooking demonstrations, food and wine tastings, and book signings.
