Chicago Gourmet invites guests to 'Step Up to the Plate' for the ultimate culinary experience

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Ladies and gentlemen, start your appetites! One of the nation's top food festivals, Chicago Gourmet powered by Invesco QQQ, is hitting the field this fall for the ultimate flavor experience.

From Sept. 25-28, Chicago Gourmet returns with the theme "Step Up To The Plate," a celebration of the shared passion, energy, and excellence found in both food and sports. Whether you're here for the big league bites or buzzer-beater sips, this is the main event for food lovers who play to win.

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This year also welcomes Invesco QQQ as the new title sponsor, joining founding sponsor the Illinois Restaurant Association and presenting sponsor Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits.

As the title sponsor, Invesco QQQ is passionate about fueling innovation, entrepreneurship, and excellence - values that align seamlessly with Chicago Gourmet's mission. Invesco QQQ champions forward-thinking creativity and is a proud supporter of the hospitality industry.

"Chicago Gourmet is a celebration of the unmatched talent, innovation, and hustle that define our city's food scene," says Sam Toia, President and CEO of the Illinois Restaurant Association. "Just like in sports, excellence in hospitality comes down to precision, passion, and teamwork, and Chicago's chefs continue to prove they're playing at an elite level."

The festival will take over the Harris Theater Rooftop at Millennium Park, along with iconic venues across the city, transforming them into culinary arenas. The pre-game action starts early this year, with a new Culinary World Series of summer preview dinners and events designed to get food fans fired up ahead of the September main event weekend festivities. The Culinary World Series kicked off on July 2 with a sold-out, once-in-a-lifetime Italian dinner on the NASCAR Chicago Street Race course.

You can purchase tickets to Chicago Gourmet at chicagogourmet.org.