Chicago dining challenge serves up tasty prizes

Yes, but: Your local patronage can also win you cool experiences like:

• A chocolate & mezcal class with Rick Bayless
• Dinner for two at Galit
• A cookie class and hang out in the Floriole kitchen
• A four-course Bronzeville Winery wine tasting, with food pairings
• $100 Lou Malnati's gift cards
• A private patio party at Big Jones and more

How it works: Folks are asked to eat at six local spots (national chains excluded) from Nov. 28-Jan. 22 and post about it on Instagram, tagging @ChicagoChefsCook.

• Organizers ask for posts to include a photo or video and some words about what makes the place so special.
• Once all visits are complete, diners can fill out this form to be eligible for prizes.

What they're saying: "Every meal purchased at a neighborhood restaurant is a vote for our local food system against the backdrop of unprecedented economic and social turbulence," Chicago Chefs Cook co-founder Darren Gest tells Axios.

The cool secret: Gest is hopeful that everyone who meets the challenge and fills out the form will win a gift.

• At press time, CCC had already gathered 30 prizes and more were coming in.
• "It would be a happy situation if so many people did this that we'd have to cut it off, but I really think everybody is going to get something, even if it's just a $20 gift certificate," he says.