It would be a major understatement to say that last year's inaugural Chicago Gourmet (the upscale answer to Taste of Chicago in Millennium Park) was a disappointment. The main gripe? Too much wine, too little food. The 2009 installment (September 26-27) should address those issues, and the long list of participating restaurants is a good start, as are demonstrations from the likes of Rick Bayless (Frontera Grill and Topolobampo), Mindy Segal (Hot Chocolate) and Tony Mantuano (Spiaggia). Check out the full roster (via GrubStreet) after the jump, and buy tickets ($120-$175) on the official website.

Want to sample the food without all the fuss of a festival? Consider participating in the dine-around; many participating restaurants will be offering special prix-fixe menus from August 24-September 27. Even better, if you eat at five of the spots, you'll secure a free ticket to Chicago Gourmet.