Chilean Gastronomic Week in Chicago

Cuisine and Wines of Chile to Be Showcased During  “Chilean Gastronomic Week” at Dinotto Ristorante

Hosted by Chilean Consulate General and Chicago’s recently opened Chilean Trade Office 

CHICAGO-September 17, 2009-Chicagoans will have the opportunity to experience unique Chilean meals when Chile’s Consulate General and the recently-opened Chilean Trade Office in Chicago (ProChile) hosts Chilean Gastronomic Week-a week long promotion celebrating Chilean gourmet food products, cuisine and wines.

Chilean Gastronomic Week will be held from Tuesday, October 13, through Sunday, October 18, at Old Town’s Dinotto Ristorante, 215 W. North Avenue.

Throughout the week, the restaurant will feature a special Chilean menu (in addition to its traditional Italian fare) developed by Chilean chef Katherine Medel. She will travel to Chicago (from Wisconsin) for the week and prepare meals with Dinotto Ristorante chef Dino Lubbat. During the week Chef Medel also will be giving cooking demonstrations at the School of Culinary Arts from Kendall College, in coordination with chef Christopher Koetke, and at Le Cordon Bleu Culinary School Chicago, in coordination with chef Jim McGuiness. Both schools will also be hosting a wine seminar with a Chilean wine expert.

“We are thrilled at the opportunity to present Chile’s most authentic flavors to Chicagoans during Chilean Gastronomic Week,” says Jose Miguel Gonzalez, Consul General of Chile. The General Consulate of Chile opened its trade office in the Lincoln Park neighborhood in August 2009 (www.chileanconsulatechicago.org).

“The three course meals at Dinotto Ristorante will spotlight Chile’s traditional gourmet ingredients such as the Mapuche spice blend Merken, extra virgin Chilean olive and avocado oils, Chilean  fruit, Chilean salmon, top Chilean wines as well as Chilean ‘pisco,’ a popular liquor distilled from grapes,” says Carolina Ordonez, Trade Representative of the new Chilean Trade Office-ProChile (www.prochile.us).