Food News: Tickets go on sale for Oyster Fest and Taste of the Nation!

Summers in Chicago are so full of festivals and foodie events that one could almost literally attend a different one every day.  Recently, Brandy caught wind of two very special events that she felt she simply must bring to her readers' attention.

Taste of the Nation

Photo Credit: Share Our Strength

Tickets are now on sale for Taste of the Nation Chicago, taking place at the Navy Pier ballroom on Sunday, October 11, and can be purchased online at www.tasteofthenation.org/chicago. The annual tasting event will feature the city’s top chefs, sommeliers and mixologists united for a cause: to ensure all children in this country get the healthy food they need, every day. Proceeds from the event benefit No Kid Hungry’s work to end childhood hunger in America.

Photo Credit: Share Our Strength

Culinary tastemakers leading the 2015 event include chairs Elissa Narow (Vie and Perennial Virant Restaurants), Debbi Peek (Southern Wine & Spirits of Illinois), Jennifer Paulson (US Foods) and Jared Van Camp (Element Collective) while award-winning mixologists Lynn House and Natalia Cardenas lead the event’s beverage and mixology program. In addition to showcasing the city’s best and brightest culinary stars, this year’s event will also cater to Chicago’s youngest foodies, with family-friendly activities ranging from an on-site bake sale to an interactive celebrity chef demo, available to families who purchase VIP packages.

Tickets start at $125 for adults 18 and over, and $35 for children ages five to 17. For additional information, please visit: NoKidHungry.org/Chicago

Photo Credit: LEYE

Oyster Fest

Photo Credit: LEYE

This year’s 27th Annual Oyster Fest will take place on Friday, September 11th. Located at 435 N. Wabash at Hubbard and Rush, the festival will take place from 3-10pm.

The festival will bring live music from synth-pop act band, St. Lucia, fresh seafood, a variety of East, West and Gulf Coast Oysters, craft beer, and cocktails to more than 6,000 guests in downtown Chicago. This year’s Oyster Fest menu will be curated by Shaw’s Crab House and Chef/Partner Doug Psaltis.  New to this year will be a special crab dinner for $75/person with two seatings at 6pm or 8pm, Dishes may include Shaw’s signatures items like King Crab Bites and other regional favorites like New England Chowda, Steamers with drawn butter, Oyster Po’ Boy’s and Seafood Gumbo.

Tickets for Oyster Fest will go on sale at 10am on Thursday, July 30th and are available for $30/person at www.oysterfestchicago.com.