Chicago food lovers have a fresh reason to head to the West Loop this spring as Mariano’s relaunches its popular Tastemaker Kitchen, an interactive culinary experience powered by OpenTable and benefiting Common Threads. The newly redesigned space at 40 S. Halsted offers hands-on classes, demonstrations and meet-and-greets featuring some of Chicagoland’s most celebrated chefs and beverage experts. Guests can imagine cooking fried rice with Bill Kim, tasting wine with Belinda Chang, mastering pasta with Tony Priolo or learning barbecue techniques from Dominique Leach.
To celebrate the relaunch, Mariano’s hosted “Taste the Night!” on April 7, welcoming guests for an open-house preview featuring culinary samples, beverage tastings and the chance to meet members of the 2026 Mariano’s Tastemakers collective. The roster includes chefs and industry leaders such as Brian Jupiter, Lamar Moore, Sarah Stegner and Todd Stein.
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Classes begin in April and all ticket proceeds will benefit Common Threads, which provides cooking and nutrition education to children and families in under-resourced communities. Since launching programming in Chicago in 2003, the nonprofit has delivered more than one million hours of food education and served millions of nutritious meals nationwide.
Michael Marx, president of Roundy’s Mariano’s Division, said the company is committed to supporting community partnerships and creating programs customers will enjoy while giving back. Common Threads co-founder and CEO Linda Novick-O’Keefe called the partnership a natural fit and noted the series celebrates the joy of food and homemade meals.
One of the first upcoming classes is Spritz & Roll with Brian Farleigh of Chandon and Chef Pat Sang of Oki Sushi on Tuesday, April 21 from 6 to 7:30 p.m., where guests will learn to roll sushi and pair bites with Chandon’s new spritz line.
Reservations for upcoming classes can be made online through OpenTable, with additional details available at marianos.com. (More information can be found HERE.)
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