Taste Talks Return to Chicago for Round 2

After the successful inaugural run of Taste Talks in Chicago last year, the culinary weekend of tastings, demos, and panels returns this weekend, October 2 – 4. With Chef Paul Kahan and April Bloomfield at the helm, the panel showcase on Saturday covers preservation to whole animal butchery, bread and pasta-making, restaurant operations, hotel bars to cocktail photography.

The talks reach audiences both within the industry and outside of it. Home cooks will learn pickling and preservation techniques from Paul Virant and Jessica Koslow, while aspiring entrepreneurs can analyze the trials and tribulations of building a restaurant group from three restaurateurs. At 10 a.m. in Morgan’s Penthouse, I discuss the Evolution of Food Media with Time Out’s Amy Cavanaugh and Crain’s Ari Bendersky. View the details of all 16 seminars here.

Recently opened Local Foods hosts the opening dinner party on Friday night, available with an individual ticket or the all-access pass. Visiting from New York, Chef April Bloomfield (who speaks with Stephanie Izard on creating a cookbook at 2:30 p.m.) leads the Saturday night feature at The Virgin Hotel, followed by a Sunday BBQ and closing party.

Conference: Morgan’s on Fulton
950 W. Fulton St.; (312) 374-3686
Tickets: $100 – $450