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—Details are out on this year’s Chicago Gourmet — quite possibly the best food festival in Chicago — and once again organizers have put together many noteworthy happenings. The main event and Grand Cru are coming back to Millennium Park on Sept. 23 and 24. A number of related events in celebration of the festival’s 10th anniversary also happen around that time, highlighted by a Rick Bayless dinner on the 606, a gourmet ballpark food dinner at The Park at Wrigley, the annual Hamburger Hop competition, and much much more. Click here for more info and tickets for this year’s festivities that were announced yesterday at a press conference featuring Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and a gaggle of chefs.
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—Tickets are now on sale for Chicago’s first Nacho Fest. The event, taking place at Chop Shop on June 25, features Half Acre, Texican, Whisk, and more restaurants cooking up their version of the delicacy made of tortilla chips, cheese, and toppings. Tickets, which cost $35 ($50 for VIP), are available here.
—And in more food festival news, Pilsen Taco Fest takes place this weekend at 18th and Newberry. Its website promises 10 taco vendors — although it says “food vendors coming soon” — as well as live mariachi music, beer, and agua frescas. Free admission.
—Big Star is popping up at The Robey’s Cabana Club — its rooftop bar with a pool — on June 15 (tomorrow) in Bucktown. Look for Big Star tacos, snacks, micheladas and margaritas from 5-9 p.m.
—It turns out that Michelin Bib Gourmand-winning Peruvian restaurant Via Lima isn’t closing for good in North Center...it’s reconcepting. Look for Nakka Wok, a cheaper and more casual wok-focused restaurant, to open in mid-July, DNAinfo reports. The news isn’t surprising, as ownership announced in January it was expanding into the space next door which made a complete shutter a curious move.
—Here’s a spot that is closing for good, however. Blind Robin, a casual neighborhood bar at 853 N. Western Ave., announced its shutter on Facebook yesterday. DNAinfo reports the space was available on the real estate market but its now off-market, so stay tuned for possible news on something new coming there.
—And finally, mk The Restaurant, chef Michael Kornick’s fine-dining flagship, held its last service last night and is closed for good following a landlord dispute. Kornick opened it 18 years ago at 868 N. Franklin St. Kornick planned to close it last Sunday but kept it open through last night, according to a rep.