Charlie Jones, founding partner of C3 Presents, chef Tim Love (Lonesome Dove Western Bistro, Woodshed Smokehouse, Queenie's Steakhouse, Love Shack and White Elephant Saloon) and Christina Grdovic, SVP/Publisher of FOOD & WINE, are pleased to announce the inaugural Chicago Food + Wine Festival, August 28-30, 2015.

Featuring world-class chefs, sommeliers, cocktail experts, culinary personalities, rising stars, and musical acts, Chicago Food + Wine Festival will attract a national and international audience of food and wine lovers, while showcasing the talent, innovation and unique flavors of Chicago in the heart of downtown.

"Chicago is now home to a record number of globally-acclaimed culinary experiences, and Chicago Food + Wine Festival will give every Chicagoan -- and millions of visitors -- a chance to mix and mingle with some of the most acclaimed chefs and culinary personalities from our city and across the country," says Rahm Emanuel, Mayor of Chicago. 

"I have come to consider Chicago my second home, and have had the opportunity to meet and get to know many of the great chefs here," says Charlie Jones, festival co-founder. "With the city's vibrant culinary scene and incredible talent, a food and wine festival is a natural fit."

Offering various events over three days in beautiful downtown Chicago, the Festival will include Grand Taste tents offering food, wine and cocktail samples from local and regional artisans; Chef Showcase, where 40 Chicago chefs will serve tasting portions of their restaurant's signature dishes in the Grand Taste tents; over 30 interactive cooking demonstrations and intimate tasting sessions; Toast & Taste, the festival's signature Saturday night tasting event featuring 16 of the country's best chefs and live music; Last Call, late-night dessert and nightcap party; book signings; and more.

"Since the first time I had dinner in Chicago, I have loved the culinary diversity, energy and spirit of this city's unparalleled restaurant community," says chef/partner Tim Love. "In developing the festival, we created an Advisory Board of some of Chicago's most acclaimed chefs to honor that spirit. We are greatly appreciative for the Board's feedback about event programming and talent recommendations, and I am honored to cook alongside such a stellar group of chefs."

The Chicago Food + Wine Festival Advisory Board is comprised of Chicago chefs including Jimmy Bannos (Heaven on Seven, The Purple Pig, Juicy-O); Rick Bayless (Frontera Grill, Topolobampo, Xoco, Tortas Frontera); Graham Elliot (Graham Elliot Bistro); Jose Garces (Garces Group); Stephanie Izard (Girl & The Goat, The Little Goat); Paul Kahan (One Off Hospitality Group); Tony Mantuano (Spiaggia, Cafe Spiaggia, Bar Toma, River Roast, Terzo Piano); and Art Smith (Art and Soul, Table Fifty-Two, Lyfe Kitchen, Southern Art). 

"Chicago is a culinary capital primed for a standout, all-star food festival with huge national appeal.  At FOOD & WINE, we're obsessed with uncovering and championing amazing talent and of course there's a ton of it in Chicago," says Christina Grdovic, SVP/Publisher of FOOD & WINE. "We're also passionate about creating extraordinary food experiences, so we're thrilled to be teaming up with C3 Presents and chef Tim Love to bring together some of the most interesting and exciting people in the world of food from celebrity chefs to renowned winemakers for this first-ever Chicago Food + Wine event."

Feast Under the Stars:
On Friday, August 28, join chefs Jimmy Bannos, Graham Elliot, Stephanie Izard, Tony Mantuano and Mindy Segal (HotChocolate) for collaborative, family-style Feast Under the Stars.  This pre-Festival dinner will be a separately ticketed event, hosted at Lincoln Park. Feast Under the Stars is an intimate, outdoor celebration featuring five of Chicago's best chefs preparing an al fresco dinner with wine pairings. Tickets for Friday's Feast Under the Stars are $225 per person and must be purchased separately from any festival tickets.

Chef Showcase:
Featuring different chefs and restaurants on Saturday, August 29 and Sunday, August 30, the Grand Taste tents at Lincoln Park will give festivalgoers the opportunity to meet some of the city's top chefs, while sampling dishes from a diverse line-up of restaurants, including Jimmy Bannos, Jr (The Purple Pig); Dennis Bernard & Tom Van Lente (Dove's Luncheonette, Big Star); Christine Cikowski & Josh Kulp (Honey Butter Fried Chicken, Sunday Dinner Club); Christopher Donovan (House of Glunz); Cameron Grant (Osteria Langhe); Sarah Grueneberg (Monteverde); Jason Hammel (Lula Cafe; Sandra Holl (Floriole Cafe & Bakery); Brian Huston (Boltwood); John Manion (La Sirena Clandestina); Chris Marchino (Spiaggia Restaurant & Lounge); Charlie McKenna (Lillie's Q); Joel Nickson (Wishbone); Jessica Oloroso (Black Dog Gelato); Chris Pandel (Armour & Swift); Mathew Rice (Girl & the Goat); Amanda Rockman (Nico Osteria); Giuseppe Tentori (GT Fish & Oyster); Jared Van Camp (Nellcote); John Vermiglio (A10 Hyde Park); Paul Virant (Vie); Zach Walrath (The Florentine); Stephen Wambach (Allium); and Takashi Yagihashi (Slurping Turtle).  Additional Grand Taste and Chef Showcase participants will be announced summer 2015.

Cooking Demonstrations:
Throughout the weekend, festival attendees will have the opportunity to get up close and personal as top chefs offer interactive and engaging cooking demonstrations, including:  Jimmy Bannos; Rick Bayless; John Currence (City Grocery Restaurant Group); Vinny Dotolo & Jon Shook (Animal, Trois Mec, Petit Trois, Son of a Gun); Jose Garces; Stephanie Izard; Ludo Lefebvre (Petit Trois, Trois Mec, Ludo Bird); Tim Love; Tony & Cathy Mantuano; Art Smith; Rick Tramonto (Seafood R'evolution, Restaurant R'evolution); Fabio Viviani (Mercato, Cafe Firenze, Siena Tavern); and Jonathan Waxman (Barbuto, Adele's Nashville, Bajo Sexto Taco). The full list of cooking demonstration topics will be released in May.

Toast & Taste:
Saturday night's signature event at Grant Park, Toast & Taste, will give guests the opportunity to sample signature dishes from award-winning chefs, including: Jimmy Bannos; Rick Bayless; John Currence; Vinny Dotolo & Jon Shook; Graham Elliot; Jose Garces; Stephanie Izard; Justin Large & Erling Wu-Bower (Nico Osteria); Ludo Lefebvre; Tim Love; Tony Mantuano; Art Smith; Rick Tramonto; Fabio Viviani; and Jonathan Waxman.