Chicago Gourmet “Dine Around” Sweepstakes Official Rules
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.
1. Eligibility: The “Dine Around” Sweepstakes (“Sweepstakes”) is open only to persons 21 years of age or older who are legal residents of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia. The Sweepstakes begins at 12:00 a.m. Central Standard Time ("CST"), on September 1, 2026 and ends at 11:59 p.m. CST, on September 18, 2026 (the "Promotion Period"). Not eligible are employees, and their immediate families including household members, of Illinois Restaurant Association and its respective affiliates, agents, and those prize providers and agencies that are involved in the development or execution of the Sweepstakes or any of its materials. The Sweepstakes is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations and is void where prohibited by law.
2. How to Enter : There are two ways to enter the Sweepstakes.
a. Online with “Dine Around” restaurant receipts: During the Promotion Period, dine in at any participating Chicago Gourmet Dine Around restaurant, spend a minimum of $50, collect the receipt provided, and enter it through the online form at the Chicago Gourmet website, www.chicagogourmet.org., by clicking on the "Dine Around" page and following the entry instructions. Multiple entries per person is allowed however limited to one entry per restaurant per person. Upon clicking the Submit button, you will automatically receive an entry into the Sweepstakes. For a list of participating restaurants, go to https://www.chicagogourmet.org/page/dinearound.
b. Mail: During the Promotion Period, hand print your name, address, phone number, email address, age, and the title of the Sweepstakes (as set forth on the "Sweepstakes" page) on a 3" x 5" piece of paper and mail it in an envelope with proper postage to "Chicago Gourmet Dine Around Sweepstakes," 33 W. Monroe, Suite 250, Chicago, IL 60603. For each mailed-in entry, you will receive one (1) entry into the Sweepstakes. Limit one entry per envelope. Entries are the exclusive property of Sponsor, and will not be acknowledged or returned. Proof of sending or submission will not be deemed to be proof of receipt by Sponsor. Sponsor is not responsible for lost, late, incomplete, invalid, unintelligible, illegible, misdirected or postage-due entries, which will be disqualified. All mail-in entries must be postmarked and received by the dates set forth in the details of the Sweepstakes accessed from the Dine Around page on the Website.
3. Prize to be Awarded: One (1) winner will receive the Prize of four Hamburger Hop tickets, four Sarah Grueneberg & Chris Shepherd Chef Demo tickets, four Grand Cru Session 2 tickets , and two-night double-occupancy Hyatt Regency Chicago hotel accommodations for September 25, 2026 and September 26, 2026. Tickets include access to the Hamburger Hop event, Chef Demo event, Grand Cru Session 2 event, a Chicago Gourmet gift bag, a signed cookbook, and access to VIP experiences. All other incidental or travel costs are the responsibility of winner. Guests of the winner must be 21 or older as of September 25, 2026. Approximate Retail Value ("ARV") of Grand Prize is $2,500.
No more than the stated number of prizes for the Sweepstakes will be awarded. PRIZES ARE NOT TRANSFERABLE OR REDEEMABLE FOR CASH.
4. Drawings: Winners will be selected in a random drawing from all entries to be conducted on or about September 19, 2026. The potential winner will be notified by email, and/or phone by the Illinois Restaurant Association. The odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received for the Sweepstakes.
5. Requirements of Potential Winner: Potential winner must continue to comply with the Official Rules and winning is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements. When applicable, potential winner will be required to sign and return, by Monday, September 21 at 5pm CST (unless otherwise indicated), a Declaration of Compliance, Liability and Publicity Release (the "Declaration") (except where prohibited) in order to claim his/her prize. If a potential winner cannot be contacted, does not respond, or fails to sign and return the Declaration (if applicable) within the required time period, the potential winner will be disqualified and forfeits the prize. In the event that a potential winner is disqualified for any reason, an alternate winner may be selected in a random drawing from among all remaining eligible entries, up to 3 alternates, if time permits. If all potential alternate winners are disqualified for a prize, no further drawings will take place and that prize will not be awarded.
6. Individual Sweepstakes: The Sweepstakes, starting, ending and drawing dates/times, the prize descriptions, age requirements, and other requirements may be accessed on the Sweepstakes page on the Chicago Gourmet website. No substitution, exchange or transfer of prize by any winner is permitted. Sponsor reserves the right to substitute any prize for one of equal or greater value. Winners are responsible for all taxes and fees associated with prize receipt and/or use. Prize is not transferable or redeemable for cash.
7. General Conditions: In the event that the operation, security, or administration of the Sweepstakes is impaired in any way for any reason, including, but, not limited to, fraud, virus or other technical problems, the Sponsor may, in its sole discretion, either: (a) modify the Sweepstakes in a manner that best conforms to the spirit of these Official Rules without suspending it; (b) suspend the Sweepstakes to address the impairment and then resume the Sweepstakes in a manner that best conforms to the spirit of these Official Rules; or (c) cancel the Sweepstakes and award the prizes in a random drawing from among all eligible entries received up to the time of the impairment. The Sponsor reserves the right in its sole discretion to disqualify any individual it finds to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Sweepstakes or to be acting in violation of the Official Rules of this promotion.
8. Release and Limitations of Liability: By participating in the Sweepstakes, each entrant agrees to release and hold harmless the Illinois Restaurant Association and their respective affiliates, promotional partners, prize partners, providers and their respective agents and agencies, officers, directors, and employees (the “Released Parties”) from and against any claim or cause of action arising out of participation in the Sweepstakes or receipt, use or misuse of any prize, including, but not limited to: (a) unauthorized human intervention in the Sweepstakes; (b) technical errors related to computers, servers, providers, or telephone or network lines; (c) printing errors; (d) errors in the administration of the Sweepstakes or the processing of entries; (e) late, lost, or undeliverable mail or email; or (f) injury or damage to persons or property which may be caused, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from entrant's participation in the Sweepstakes or receipt, use or misuse of any prize. Entrants further agree that in any cause of action, the Released Parties' liability will be limited to the cost of entering and participating in the Sweepstakes and in no event shall the Released Parties be liable for attorney's fees. Entrants waive the right to claim any damages whatsoever, including, but not limited to, punitive, consequential, direct, or indirect damages (other than for actual out-of-pocket expenses) and any and all rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased. If for any reason an entrant's entry is confirmed to have been erroneously deleted, lost, or otherwise destroyed or corrupted, entrant's sole remedy is another entry in the Sweepstakes, if it is possible.
9. Publicity: Except where prohibited, participation in the Sweepstakes constitutes entrant's consent for the Sponsor, applicable prize providers and their respective designees to use entrant's first and last name, likeness, prize information, city and state of residence, and any comments, testimonials or other feedback related to any prize or entrant's Sweepstakes experience, whether written or oral, for promotional purposes in any media without further consideration.
10. Disputes: Each entrant agrees that: (i) any and all disputes, claims and causes of action arising out of or connected with the Sweepstakes or any prizes awarded shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, and exclusively by the appropriate Illinois State Court located in Cook County, Illinois; and (ii) any and all claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, including costs associated with entering the Sweepstakes, but in no event attorneys' fees. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of the entrant and Sponsor in connection with the Sweepstakes, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Illinois, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules (whether of the State of Illinois or any other jurisdiction), which would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Illinois.
11. Sweepstakes Results: For a list of confirmed winners, go to https://www.chicagogourmet.org/page/dinearound/winners within 60 days after drawing or send an email with your name and the Subject Line: "Dine Around Sweepstakes Win List Request” to info@illinoisrestaurants.org. Requests must be received by September 30, 2027.
12. Privacy: By entering into the Sweepstakes, entrants also agree to Sponsor’s use of your personal information as described in its privacy policy at http://www.chicagogourmet.org/page/privacypolicy.
13. Sponsor: The Sweepstakes is sponsored by the Illinois Restaurant Association, 33 W. Monroe, Suite 250, Chicago, IL 60603.
