Chicago stands as one of the nation's most distinguished food cities, offering a rich landscape of culinary adventure. The Chicago Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier is pleased to present “Sweet Home Chicago,” a five-day tour of the city's culinary scene. Chicago is an ideal location (especially in early summer!) to explore cultural foodways, arts and architecture.. 

Join us as we wander through ethnic neighborhoods and cuisines, dine at award-winning restaurants, and experience distinctly Chicagoan foods and innovations. Proceeds from the sale of this tour will be used to fund hospitality scholarships and community programs.

The Chicago Chapter of Les Dames d'Escoffier is pleased to invite you on this five-day exploration of our culinary scene. Join us as we discover Chicago's most traditional as well as trend-forward restaurants, learn about the history of our foodways and enjoy some of our preeminent cultural highlights at the same time. (Full details in the itinerary below.) Come see why Condé Nast Traveler readers voted us the Best Big City in the U.S. for an unprecedented five years in a row.

More details in the itinerary below. Hope to see you in June!

Please note, we are unable to accommodate physical limitations because some activities have only elevator access. Walking tours may last up to two hours. 

Arrive in Chicago and check into the elegant, historic Chicago Athletic Association Hotel. Located on Michigan Avenue (aka The Magnificent Mile), across from Millenium Park, this 1893 Venetian Gothic landmark is a living, breathing ode to Chicago’s rich history. Bon Appétit magazine named the hotel  “one of the 15 best food lovers’ hotels in the United States.”

This evening, indulge in exquisite wine, cocktails and delectable cuisine as you savor the breathtaking city views overlooking Lake Michigan and the fireworks display at Navy Pier.

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The day starts with a Chicago Architecture Boat Cruise along the Chicago River to learn the history of the city’s most iconic buildings. 

For lunch, you’ll be joined by Charla Draper, founder of National Soul Food Month and former food editor of Ebony and Southern Living magazines. Charla will talk about how the influence of soul food and southern cooking migrated to Chicago in so many meaningful and delicious ways.

After lunch, visit an old meatpacking plant in the historic Back-of-the-Yards neighborhood. We’ll start with a short presentation about our meatpacking history by Keri Underly and then head for the rooftop to discover urban beekeeping. The visit will finish with a walk around a closed-loop farm which is supplying greens to some of Chicago’s top restaurants. 

For dinner, we’ve got reservations at Virtue in Hyde Park, helmed by the James-Beard-award winning Chef Erick Williams. Dame Charla Draper will host this evening and share her history of African American food in Chicago. 

Start your day with a Chicago walking tour that incorporates history and delicious breakfast specialties! 

Save room for a “choose-your-own adventure” lunch:

• A pizza tour bus led by Emmy-winning, renowned pizza expert and author Steve Dolinsky 

OR

• A guided food tour of Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood, home to the city’s Latino community, including lunch at the beloved, authentic Five Rabanitos Restaurant. Chef Alfonso Sotelo worked for Rick Bayless and his accomplished resume comes to life in his kitchen

This evening take a trip to the trendy Wicker Park neighborhood, home to The Violet Hour cocktail bar for a hands-on class. This James Beard Award-winning bar put craft cocktails on the map. Enjoy modern bar snacks while you sip your cocktail creation.

The remainder of the evening is yours to explore the city.  

Early morning trip to Chicago’s Green City Market in Lincoln Park. Founded by the late Dame Abby Mandel, The Green City Market is home to the area’s premier farmers and vendors. Along with locals, Chicago’s best chefs shop here.  

Afterwards, a trip downtown to the famous Art Institute of Chicago for a special guided tour of “Food in Art.” From celebrations and hunts to still lifes to mosaics of antiquity, food has been depicted in art since we lived in caves 20,000 years ago. This unique tour of paintings in the AIC collection will celebrate the artistic epicurean delights that can be found throughout the museum.

After the museum, we’ll enjoy a “Lunch & Learn” program at the historic Glunz Tavern, Chicago’s oldest, continually operated family-owned tavern, adjacent to the country’s oldest family-owned wine shop, House of Glunz. European wines will be paired with a menu of Central European specialties. 

Chicago, once known as “hog butcher to the world," is a great steak town. For dinner, a private event will be held at Gibson’s, Chicago’s most iconic steak restaurant for more than 30 years. Located on the famous Rush Street in the heart of the Gold Coast, you’ll get a taste of the downtown hustle and bustle. 

This morning, after checking out of the hotel, enjoy breakfast with the Breakfast Queen herself, Ina Pinkney Ina earned her royal title as the owner and operator of Ina’s, where she reigned supreme for 33 years until 2013.  Breakfast will be at the historic University Club of Chicago.

Never one to rest on her laurels, in 2014, Ina published her book Ina’s Kitchen: Memories and Recipes and became a regular columnist for the Chicago Tribune until 2020. She was the subject of a documentary “Breakfast at Ina’s," released in 2015, which chronicles her career trajectory at Ina’s. The film was featured at 48 film festivals in the following year. Ina is a great storyteller and publishes a monthly newsletter on Substack, Ina’s Newsletter.