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Amid Violent Reputation, Emanuel Touts Chicago As Tourist Destination

CHICAGO (CBS) -- After a week in which he focused on Chicago's violence and ways to stem it, Mayor Rahm Emanuel began the weekend in the role of cheerleader.

The same mayor who showed solidarity with police recruits by running with them showed up to greet foodies attending the Chicago Gourmet opening ceremonies at Millennium Park's Pritzker Pavilion in jeans, with shirttails out.  And while critics called Chicago dangerous, he touted it as inviting, WBBM's Bob Robert reports.

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"Chicago's where people from all over the world come, and their families come, to settle here and achieve the American Dream," he said.  "And it's not an accident that the most American of American cities is also the culinary capital of America."

The mayor made a point of noting that tourism in Chicago has increased in recent years from 39 million visitors to 53 million.

Chicago Gourmet, now in its ninth year, showcases the creations of gourmet chefs from Chicago, elsewhere in the United States, Mexico and Japan.  Celebrity chef Rick Bayless joined the mayor at the opening ceremonies, praising the "diversity" in cooking styles and "beauty in what we create."

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