CHICAGO — Chicago chefs and restaurants will get major screen time during the Chicago International Film Festival Oct. 15-29.
There are three films with Chicago food ties: "For Grace," about chef Curtis Duffy's journey to open his acclaimed West Loop restaurant Grace; "Breakfast at Ina's," chronicling the final days of Ina Pinkney's beloved West Loop restaurant, which closed on Dec. 31, 2013, and "Open Tables," a romantic comedy by Old Town resident Jack C. Newell set in some of the city's most popular restaurants.
Two other films in which food plays a key role, both from Japanese filmmakers, are the documentary "The Birth of Sake" and "Sweet Bean," a tale of two cooks and an inspiring red bean cake recipe.
But what's a foodie film without food from the film? To complement the screenings, fest organizers have lined up three tasting events, ticketed separately from the festival.
There's a party after the Oct. 18 premiere of "Breakfast at Ina's" at Local Root, 601 N. McClurg Court, featuring several of Pinkney's signature dishes — Heavenly Hots pancakes, scrapple, fried chicken, frittata and salmon cakes — and coffee cake made by the "Breakfast Queen" herself.
Local Root chef Isaac Weliver, who first met Pinkney in 2007 when she spoke at his graduation from what's now Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts, said he'll stay true to the recipes in Pinkney's cookbook. He's just scaling them down to appetizer portions, and topping her scrapple with housemade chorizo.
The Oct. 20 screening of "Open Tables" will be paired with appetizers and cocktails at Trenchermen, 2039 W. North Ave. — chosen because a key scene between two couples takes place there, Newell said. (Audience members might also recognize the actors in the film. They're established players on the local improv and theater scene.)
Following the Oct. 19 screening of "The Birth of Sake," fest-goers can head to Murasaki Sake Lounge, 211 E. Ontario St., for sake and Japanese tapas.
Those hoping to get a taste of Duffy's Michelin-starred cuisine are out of luck, though. There'll be no food at his screenings and no extra events at the restaurant, though Duffy said he'll be at the festival for question-and-answer sessions.
Tickets go on sale Friday. General admission festival tickets are $14; tickets to the food events are $50. Films will be shown at the AMC River East 21, 322 E. Illinois St.
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