FOODIE FAVE

Lake Forest will become the epicenter of the culinary universe next month as top chefs and winemakers from around the country descend on the city to tickle the taste buds of foodies near and far.

Founded last year by the popular Food Network regular, Chef Beau MacMillan, and the husband-and-wife team who own Lake Forest restaurants The Gallery and The Peanut Gallery— art curator Cecilia Lanyon and James Beard-nominated chef Dominic Zumpano—Revelry Food and Wine Festival returns on September 19, running through September 22.

62 Fb2024 08 050 Burger Battle Competing Chef Todd Stein Of Sophia Steak. Photo Courtesy Of Cecily George — Burger Battle Competing Chef Todd Stein of Sophia Steak. Photo courtesy of Cecily George

While there’s no shortage of activities in Lake Forest during warmer months, the founders of the festival have high hopes for it to become a late summer staple on the North Shore.

“This is a great community and there are a lot of fun things to do throughout the summer and Lake Forest does a fantastic job with Music in the Park and car shows and activities at the beach,” Zumpano says. “We recognized there was a gap because there wasn’t anything that was really food-centric. We had a tremendous outcome last year.”

That enthusiastic interest led to the expansion of this year’s festival to four locations in Lake Forest. In addition to an opening reception at The Gallery, events will be hosted at Gorton Center, Elawa Farm, and Adrian and Nancy Smith’s David Adler estate.

“We’re really trying to grow this as a community-based and lifestyle event here in Lake Forest,” says Zumpano.

Lanyon agrees. “Having two businesses here, and being fortunate enough to grow up and live here, you realize there’s such a rich, deep history here,” she says. “To be able to bring people from out of town and other parts of the country to participate in our events, and have guests travel to Lake Forest who might not otherwise visit is really special.”

62 Fb2024 08 051 Chef Ryan Clark, Chef Dominic Zumpano, Chef Brian Kane, Chef Beau Macmillan At Masters Of Taste. Photo Courtesy Of Caitlin Saville — Chef Ryan Clark, Chef Dominic Zumpano, Chef Brian Kane, Chef Beau MacMillan at Masters of Taste. Photo courtesy of Caitlin Saville

Before transplanting to Lake Forest, Zumpano was a sous chef for Beau MacMillan, or Chef Beau as he’s known in the kitchen. They worked together at Elements, the highly regarded restaurant in Scottsdale, Arizona, where MacMillan was the chef. Well-known for his many appearances on the Food Network, MacMillan is also a familiar face in the culinary festival world.

MacMillan established the Nirvana Food and Wine Festival in Paradise Valley, Arizona, one of the premier culinary festivals in the world. When the idea for Revelry emerged, it was natural for the three to partner together. The festival capitalizes on MacMillan’s profile and expertise, Zumpano’s local ties to Lake Forest restaurants, and Lanyon’s experience as Executive Director of the Deer Path Art League—where her primary role was to produce The Art Fair in the Square, one of the oldest and largest art fairs in the country.

62 Fb2024 08 052 Masters Of Taste Tablescape. Photo Courtesy Of Caitlin Saville — Masters of Taste tablescape. Photo courtesy of Caitlin Saville

“I know Dominic and Cecilia and we always stayed in touch. We’ve remained in touch and have a ton of respect for each other,” MacMillan says. “Then I started coming to Lake Forest to cook for charitable events and fell in love with the community. They said, ‘we’d love to put something together’ and I said I’d be glad to help’.”

That partnership is perhaps best reflected in the festival’s opening event on September 19 at The Gallery. “Palate to Palette,” hosted by celebrity chef Jonathon Sawyer and MacMillan, brings together four artists and four renowned chefs for an art-infused culinary experience. The reception-style event will allow guests to mingle with the artists and chefs throughout the evening.

Other events include a country-themed evening at Elawa Farm with music from Nashville and chef ’s dishes inspired by the great small farms of the U.S.; a burger contest at Gorton Center MC’d by former Chicago Blackhawk Jeremy Roenick; a five-course chefs’ dinner with MacMillan, Zumpano, and Top Chef Winner Joe Flamm, and hosted by award-winning winemaker Dan Kosta; and a boozy Italian brunch with James Beardaward winning chef Sarah Gruenberg at the Smith’s David Adler estate.

62 Fb2024 08 053 Musicians Kathleen And Nic Of The Nic Barnum Band With Chef Fabio Viviani At Palate To Palette. Photo Courtesy Of Erin Loughlin — Musicians Kathleen and Nic of the Nic Barnum Band with Chef Fabio Viviani at Palate to Palette. Photo courtesy of Erin Loughlin

The Revelry Food and Wine Festival is the culmination of a year’s worth of planning and for MacMillan it’s about telling the story of the Lake Forest community. A portion of the proceeds from ticket sales support a local charity.

“You look at a culinary event like this in a smaller community like Lake Forest and it makes you feel blessed because life is all about relationships,” MacMillan says. “We’re bringing in superstar talent, we have the engagement, and we’re just really proud of that.”

The Revelry Food and Wine Festival takes place on September 19 to 22 in Lake Forest. Tickets for events are sold separately and range from $150 to $350, depending on the event. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit revelryfoodandwine.com.