In celebration of the 135th anniversary of the Thomas’ English Muffin brand, the company is celebrating with a national chef recipe competition.
During the competition 135 chefs from 135 cities – including Milwaukee's own Thomas Hauck of c.1880 – will battle it out for a $25,000 grand prize.
But, that's not all. Every time a consumer votes, he or she will be entered into a sweepstakes to win $10,000. Voters can also win instant prizes like free Thomas’ products (see voting details below).
Chef Hauck's submission for the contest is a Thomas’ English Muffin Sandwich featuring bratwurst-spiced pork, an over-medium egg, farmstead cheese, beer hollandaise, pickled peppers and arugula.
As for his inspiration, Chef Hauck says the sandwich was inspired by Wisconsin: "It incorporates our beer, our cheese and our sausage making tradition in the form of brats."
Sounds delicious, no?
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But, there's another element of Chef Hauck's participation that's pretty remarkable: the building in which c.1880 resides is also 135 years old this year.
Coincidence? Maybe.
Good luck for Chef Hauck? We hope so.
If Chef Hauck makes it through the first round, he’ll be part of just 16 chefs from around the country who will compete in an additional four rounds of voting over the next six weeks for a chance to win the grand prize.
The Grand Prize winner will be notified via email and announced on Thomas' Facebook page on October 28.
Vote Milwaukee
Show your Milwaukee pride by voting for Chef Hauck online at ThomasBreakfastBattle.com (just click on the dot representing Milwaukee on the map to vote). You can vote for your favorite chefs' creations (up to three) once a day throughout the contest.
Why take the time to vote? Chef Hauck says it best: "Because Wisconsin is the best."
Other Wisconsin cities with chefs competing in the Thomas' Breakfast Battle include Green Bay, Kenosha and Madison.
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
