THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2026

Join Us at City Hall Next Wednesday

Tell the Chicago City Council to override Mayor Johnson's veto of the ordinance to freeze the tip credit at 24%! City Council passed this ordinance 30-18, and we need to secure 4 more votes to override the veto.


How you can help:

1. Join us next Wednesday at 8:30am at City Hall! We will be gathering on the first floor to show our support. If you're interested in attending and sending team members to support, please contact Ali DeGuide. Please note: you cannot bring anything larger than a briefcase to City Hall, so do not bring a backpack.
2. Join our call-to-action campaign to email the 20 alders that did not support us! This campaign will automatically send an email. All you need to do is fill out the form and hit send.
3. Share our video and call-to-action campaign on social media. Help us spread the word!

There's only a week left to secure enough votes for the veto. We need your help today, so please act now!

Biometric Privacy Law (BIPA) Updates

A change to BIPA rules will likely lower payouts in biometric privacy lawsuits. Last week, a federal appeals court ruled that a violation occurs when a company fails to obtain consent. Previously, every fingerprint, face scan, etc. was considered a separate violation. This decision also applies retroactively, meaning it impacts cases that are already in progress.


For more information, read this article from Crain's Chicago Business.

Vendor Applications for Taste of Chicago Are Open

2026 Taste of Chicago vendor applications are officially open! From neighborhood staples to rising stars, food trucks to shared kitchens, this is your moment to show the city what you’ve got.


Join the virtual information session for potential food vendors on Tuesday, April 14 at 10am to learn more and get your questions answered.

Food vendor applications are due Monday, April 20. Click here for more information on vendor applications or to apply.

2026 Chef's Table Tickets on Sale

Join us at this year's 47th Annual Chef's Table presented by Home Grown Program supported by Sysco, 8 Hospitality, and the Illinois Pork Producers Association. The event will take place at Rockwell on the River on Thursday, April 23 with more than 30 tasting stations from restaurants throughout Chicago. This event raises funds for the IRA Educational Foundation, so get your ticket today!

We still need to sell 50 tickets, so get yours today! Click here to purchase tickets to Chef's Table.

We are also still looking for 35 silent auction packages to round out the auction. For information about donating to the silent auction or questions regarding ticketing, please contact Carmen Loi.

Sponsorship opportunities are still available. Please contact Megan DuPont for more information. 

Best Practices: Record Keeping Changes and Illinois Liquor Commission Rules for Retailers

Join the Illinois Restaurant Association, Christopoulos Law Group, and the Cook County Small Business Source for a must-attend session on Illinois Liquor Control Commission regulations. Learn about current rules on recordkeeping and retailer–distributor relationships, plus key proposed changes that could impact your business.

Date: Wednesday, April 29

Time: 10:00am

Click here to register for the Illinois Liquor Commission rules virtual advising session.

Register for Meet the Experts on May 13

Registration is now open for the Illinois Restaurant Association’s annual Meet the Experts event, taking place May 13 from 5 to 8pm at Tunnel Chicago. This signature evening of speed coaching and networking connects restaurant operators and industry professionals with leading experts in hospitality. 

This year’s event will kick off with a keynote panel featuring prominent women in hospitality: IRA Chair Liz Lombardo Stark of Gibsons Restaurant Group, IRA Board Member Korina Sanchez of Third Coast Hospitality, and IRA Board Member Michelle Durpetti of Michelle Durpetti Events and Gene & Georgetti.

Guests will also enjoy tasty bites and beverages. It's a must attend event.

Click here to register for Meet the Experts.

Employers: Registration for Hospitality Hires Chicago Is Open

The 9th Annual Hospitality Hires Chicago (HHC), a Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership production, is on Thursday, May 28 from 9am to 3pm! This year's event will once again be held at the Palmer House Hilton Hotel (17 East Monroe Street, Chicago).

Hospitality Hires Chicago is an opportunity for employers and pre-screened job seekers to meet and interview. Working with Chicago and Cook County's premier workforce agencies, HHC provides employers with an opportunity to take a strategic approach to finding their next best hire and for job seekers to receive a conditional offer on the spot.

Click here to register for Hospitality Hires Chicago. The deadline for submitting your information is Thursday, May 14. 

If you have any questions, please contact Marion A. Batey.

Lock in $199 before May 7—Your seat at foodservice's biggest Show is waiting

Your $199 pass to the National Restaurant Association Show is about to expire. Wait until May 8? You'll pay $250. That's $51 you're leaving on the table.

What's waiting for you at McCormick Place: 

• 2,000+ exhibitors solving YOUR biggest challenges
• Automation tools to crush staffing shortages
• FABI Award-winning innovations before anyone else sees them
• Real strategies from operators who've been in your shoes

Rising costs. Labor issues. Stale menus. The Show has answers.

The math is simple:

• Register by May 7: $199
• Register May 8: $250

Don't get cooked by the price jump.

IRA New Member Spotlight

The IRA would like to thank all existing members and welcome the following new members: 20fy.ai, Marie's Dream Cream, Noodles Pho U, and We Will Wok You, Inc.

New members who join this month receive a FREE ticket to Chef Table, and operators receive a FREE ticket to the National Restaurant Association Show.

For more information about the benefits of becoming an IRA member, contact Lisa Gilbert.

THANK YOU TO OUR CORPORATE SPONSORS