Chicago's Grand Cru 2014; Jay Rayner's 'Dining Hell'

CHICAGO— The annual Chicago Gourmet food festival is set for September 26 to 28 this year, and organizers have announced the theme for its Grand Cru main event: In honor of the James Beard Awards holding its 2015 ceremony in Chicago, the festival will adopt a Beard theme, featuring chefs who are Beard winners or nominees. Eater Chicago reports local chefs like Stephanie Izard and Tony Mantuano will share the line-up with visitors Jamie Bissonnette and Jonathan Sawyer. Tickets and more information here. [Eater Chicago]

EDINBURGH— The Guardian restaurant critic Jay Rayner is among the speakers at this year's installment of the acclaimed Edinburgh Fringe Festival. My Dining Hell (named for Rayner's 2012 book of the same name) will be a spoken word "performance" that "examines our fascination with lousy reviews." The show is scheduled for August 2; more information and tickets here. [EaterWire]

MELBOURNE— Ruth Reichl is among the list of panelists and instructors at this year's Melbourne Writers Festival, scheduled for August 21 to 31. Reichl will appear three times at the conference: Once in a discussion about her new novel Delicious!, again as the instructor of a food writing "Masterclass," and finally as the guest of honor during a "Thinking and Drinking" dinner. More information here. [EaterWire]

[Photo: Chicago Gourmet/Facebook]