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The makers of Top Chef have decided to jump into the world of stadium concessions as on Saturday a new “premium” food stand bearing the TV show’s name will debut at the home of Major League Soccer’s Chicago Fire at Toyota Park in suburban Chicago. Called Top Chef Quickfire — named after the show’s speed round-style challenges — the stand will feature food inspired by the series’ contestants including hometown hero Joe Flamm (Spiaggia), former Chicagoans Radhika Desai and Dale Talde, as well as Houston chef John Tesar.
Top Chef’s marketing describes the stand as its “first-ever premium concession stand concept,” according to a news release. A menu wasn’t available, but samples were to be unveiled later today at a media event at the stadium.
The stand will be open for Fire games at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, which is about 15 miles southwest of Chicago. The stadium is also home to the Chicago Red Stars of the National Women’s Soccer League and the Chicago Bliss of the Legends Football League (formerly the Lingerie Football League). The stand will be open for those games and other stadium events, too.
Sports and Top Chef are a natural combination. Many episodes include tailgate-themed challenges where contestants prepare food for fans before games outside stadiums. There have been tons of Super Bowl promotions and during season four — which took place in 2008 in Chicago with Stephanie Izard winning — contestants prepared food outside of Soldier Field, home of the Bears. The stand’s lineup lacks Izard, the award-winning chef from Girl & the Goat. Her absence is glaring, but she’s plenty busy at Wrigley Field and her restaurants. For the last two years, she’s been part of the Cubs’ Chef Series.
The stand is a collaboration between Bravo Media and Spectra, the stadium’s venue management firm which oversees concessions. Both Bravo and Spectra are divisions of Comcast.
Other chefs slated to contribute dishes to the rotating menu include Carrie Baird, Chris Scott, Spike Mendelsohn, Tre Wilcox, Cliff Crooks, and Harold Dieterle.
