CHICAGO — This year's Taste of Chicago celebrity chef lineup features Frontera Grill mastermind Rick Bayless for starters and ends with recent James Beard champ Paul Kahan, the city announced Monday.
In another effort to bring more Chicagoans to the table after dwindling Taste sales in past years, the city announced a chef-du-jour lineup that includes plenty of James Beard winners and Food Network stars.
The series of three-course meals began at last year's Taste, and each will cost $40 per person.
The chefs will whip up dinner on July 10, 11 and 12, and brunch on July 13 and 14. Students from the Washburne Culinary Institute once again will help prepare and serve meals.
Up to four tickets per person can be bought on the Taste's website starting at 10 a.m. Wednesday. Also at that time, tickets for the Taste's concert series will go on sale for $25 each.
The schedule for the Mazda6 Celebrity Chef du Jour:
Wednesday, July 10, 6:30 p.m. - Rick Bayless, of Frontera Grill, Topolobampo, XOCO, Tortas Frontera
Thursday, July 11, 6:30 p.m. - Carrie Nahabedian, of NAHA, Brindill
Friday, July 12, 6:30 p.m. - Giuseppe Tentori, of BOKA Restaurant, GT Fish & Oyster
Saturday, July 13, Noon - Gale Gand, of Tru, and The Hearty Boys, made up of Dan Smith and Steven McDonagh of Food Network's "Search for the Next Food Network Star"
Sunday, July 14, Noon - Paul Kahan, of Blackbird, The Publican, avec, Big Star and Publican Quality Meats.
