Chicago’s food and drink scene is among the best in the world. From an endless list of delicious restaurants and cocktail bars to a booming craft beer scene, the city is a culinary tour de force. At Chicago Ideas Week in October, a number of our Labs will give everyone in Chicago the opportunity to explore the city’s food scene at an intimate level. If you love food, you don’t want to miss these.

How Saved By The Max Became the Country’s Most Talked About Pop-Up

Hey, Preppy! Saved by The Max, a Saved by the Bell-themed pop-up in Wicker Park, is one of the country’s most successful pop-up shops. Join its three creators—Derek Berry, Zack Eastman and Steve Harris—for a behind-the-scenes look at how it came to be, and how you can make your own business go viral. Attendees will also get treated to a “Taste of The Max” from the pop-up’s chef Brian Fisher (formerly of Michelin-starred Schwa).

Wicker Park Food Crawl with Steve Dolinsky, the Hungry Hound

You’ll learn about Chicago history and cultural via food on a walking tour of Wicker Park with Steve Dolinsky—Chicago’s Hungry Hound—that will take you to the neighborhood’s most delicious locations. Meet restaurant owners, learn about the foods and individuals who make up the Wicker Park community, and sample a wide variety of the area’s food specialties. The tour will kick off at 5411 Empanadas, head to Urban Belly and finish at Antique Taco. Consider wearing a pair of stretch pants to this culinary gauntlet.

Margarita Mixer with Antique Taco & Tromba Tequila

From tacos to cocktails, fresh and gourmet ingredients are essential to Antique Taco’s delicious fare. In this CIW Lab, the restaurant’s Beverage Director Madeleine Suter will provide a crash course in making a killer margarita using Tromba tequila and Antique Taco’s signature recipe. Join fellow food aficionados for margarita making and tasting in Wicker Park’s one-of-a-kind taco joint.

Pie Making 101 with Bang Bang Pie Shop

From key lime to cherry, Bang Bang specializes in all things pie. Now, peek behind-the-scenes in their kitchen, where you’ll bake your own pie. While the pies bake, founder Michael Ciapciak will take you through the Logan Square pie shop’s history—over coffee and wine, of course.

Coffee Meets Beer with Pipeworks and Dark Matter

Beer and coffee might seem like an odd combination, but by the end of this CIW Lab, you’ll think of the two as inseparable. Head to local brewery Pipeworks for a tour of their facility, and learn how they’re collaborating with local coffee roaster Dark Matter to create barrel-aged coffees and coffee-flavored beers. You’ll even be able to blend your own version of Pipeworks’ “Hey, Careful Man, There’s a Beverage Here” on site.