Wine lovers can discover a brand new relationship with Illinois wines with the unique opportunity to sample over 150 wines from more than 15 wineries on Saturday, June 1 from 1PM-9PM in downtown Oak Park. Location on Marion Street between Lake St. and North Blvd. A few of the wineries involved are Lynfred,  City Winery, Gluntz, Illinois Sparkling Company, Cooper's Hawk and Wild Blossom Meadery. Easy trip from downtown Chicago on the Metra or "L" to the festival. Admission is $20 at the gate which includes a tasting glass for 7 tastings. Artisan food samples and live jazz music will also be part of the admission. Wine will be for sale by the glass and the bottle. All proceeds will go to Wonder Works Children's Museum of Oak Park: More information: Downtownoakpark.net.

The 4^th Annual Chicago Craft Beer Week, organized by the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild comes to Chicago for eleven days: 5/16-5/26. More than 200 venues which are mostly bars and brewpubs host more than 400 events including beer dinners, pairings, brewery tap takeovers including a West Loop Craft Beer Fest. The purpose of the event is to expose, educate and inform Chicagoans about great tasting beer made in our neck of the woods. Local participants include Goose Island, Two Brothers, Metropolitan, Half Acre, Revolution, 5 Rabbit and the newest on the block, Solemn Oath.

More information and scheduled events can be found at: chibeerweek.com.

There’s also a mobile app available for downloading: CCBW.

Chicago Botanic Garden's Garden Chef Series runs on Saturdays and Sundays, May 25 - October 6, 1:30 and 2:30PM, 1000 Lake Cook Rd., Glencoe. 

Learn to cook with garden-fresh ingredients all summer long. Noted chefs prepare recipes in the Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden’s open-air amphitheater.

A partial listing of farm-to-table Chicago chefs and proprietors coming up this spring and early summer:

Saturday,  May 25        312 Chicago Restaurant - Chef Luca Corazzina

Saturday,  June 1          Big Bowl Restaurant - Executive Chef Marc Bernard and Chef Patricia Yeo

Sunday,  June 16          Dirk's Fish and Gourmet Shop - Terry and Dirk Fucik, Proprietors

Saturday, June 22       The Fountainhead - Chef Cleetus Friedman

Seating is first-come, first-serve for these free demonstrations. Recipes available on the website.

According to the Botanic Garden, The Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden is the Midwest's headquarters for fruit and vegetable gardening information and exhibits the best edible plants grown in the Chicago area. 

More information: 708-835-5440.  For a full chef schedule lisiting: www.chicagobotanic.org.

Enjoy a farm experience for the day this spring! Take a break from hectic city life for an afternoon or evening out in the country with your favorite Illinois farmer and guest chef(s) as hosts. Enjoy the fresh air, make new like-minded foodie friends. Tour the farm and enjoy a spectacular tasting meal served family-style made with farm fresh, local ingredients. For more detailed information about these farm dinners, and for ticket purchasing and directions, visit the following websites.

Here's a listing of spring farm dinners:

HERITAGE PRAIRIE FARM. Elburn, Illinois  

Sunday, May 12, Mother's Day Brunch

Thursday, June 6, Pig Gig

MINT CREEK FARM. Stelle, Illinois  

Saturday, May 11, Farm Tour and Mother's Day Eve Dinner

Sunday, June 22, Farm Tour and Dinner  

SLAGEL FAMILY FARM. Fairbury, Illinois  

Saturday, May 18. Farm Tour and Dinner with Found Kitchen and Panozzo's Italian Market

Saturday, June 8, Farm Tour and Dinner with the Publican