Milwaukee’s newest dining event, Indulge Milwaukee, is slated to take place Aug. 20-21 from noon to 5 p.m. at American Family Field.
And yes, the opportunity to sample dishes from over 30 Milwaukee restaurants, enjoy wine and spirits pairings and attend amazing culinary and mixology demonstrations is reason enough to get excited. But here are five more reasons (plus a bonus incentive) for why you should definitely consider buying tickets!
1. Support a game changing event
Over the past two decades, Milwaukee has been utterly transformed. The food and beverage scene has grown and evolved, and we are well on our way to becoming a world class food city.
The goal of Indulge Milwaukee is to highlight and celebrate who we are as a food city and how far we’ve come. It’s not just an event. It's a love letter to the city of Milwaukee and the bar and restaurant industry.
Without exception, Indulge Milwaukee is the largest celebration of food and beverage that we’ve seen in the city for years. In fact, the event aspires to compete with other amazing food and beverage events including Chicago Gourmet and the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, Colorado, both of which regularly attract eager diners from cities across the U.S.
“Milwaukee deserves to be put on the national dining map,” says Paul Bartolotta of The Bartolotta Restaurants. “Our food scene has evolved… and it continues to evolve. This event is a catalyst for showcasing what we do. We all want to see our city shine. We’ll all be bringing our A game, and that’s going to elevate what this event can be.”
Dan Sidner of Black Shoe Hospitality (operators of Blue’s Egg, Maxie’s, Story Hill BKC and Buttermint Finer Dining & Cocktails) agrees.
“As restaurants, it’s exciting to be a part of something like this and help to build it for the future,” he says “We want it to be an event that attracts diners from all over and really showcases what Milwaukee does.”
2. Taste the city in a single day
How many restaurants have you dined at this year? How many restaurants in our city have you never experienced?
This event offers you the opportunity to sample items from over 30 different restaurants, from casual brunch spots and longtime staples to fine dining restaurants. In some cases, you’ll even have the opportunity to experience those dishes alongside expertly paired beverages.
Attending is also a great way to show support for an industry which was hit harder than any other during the pandemic, but which deserves appreciation and support for their work in creating spaces where we can eat, drink, relax and gather.
“Few people have really been to all the restaurants in the city, and it would be impossible to fit in visits to this many amazing eateries in just two days. But this event allows you to do just that,” says Barkha Limbu Daily of the cheel.
Guests will also have the opportunity to attend culinary demonstrations put on by local chefs during which they can glean tips and tricks for use in their own kitchens.
3. Taste rare wines, unique spirits
In addition to tasting a wide range of dishes from local restaurants, guests will also have the rare opportunity to sample a wide variety of spirits (including Whiskey, Scotch, Mezcal) and wines from around the world, including some seldom seen in Milwaukee. Check out the line-up!
For those who want to advance their knowledge, there will also be educational seminars, including mixology classes and a (very rare) session by Fred B. Noe, the 7th generation master distiller from Jim Beam.
4. The dug-out is a dining room
Fine dining on a baseball field? Why not? VIP attendees will have the unique opportunity for an on-field stadium experience like no other.
That includes the opportunity to indulge in sought-after spirits, craft cocktails and exquisite wines while enjoying culinary tastings created by the talented team from the Bartolotta Restaurant Group.
And you’ll experience it all in an iconic Milwaukee location with spectacular views of the stadium virtually never seen by spectators.
5. Indulge & support a great cause
Since its inception, 905 culinary students have benefited from $860,000 in scholarships from the Wisconsin Restaurant Association Education Foundation. And every day, a high school student comes closer to finding his or her passion in the culinary industry thanks to ProStart Wisconsin, a successful state-wide program run by the Foundation that's implemented in districts including Milwaukee Public Schools.
And every cent of the proceeds from Indulge Milwaukee will benefit those efforts, ensuring the vitality of the hospitality industry in Milwaukee and across the state.
That means you’ll get to enjoy an amazing day feasting and drinking with friends. But you’ll also support the growth and development of the industry that makes these types of experiences possible.
Bonus: Save $50 on tickets
Tickets for Indulge Milwaukee are available for purchase online. In fact, you can save $50 on your tickets if you purchase them before midnight tonight (Aug. 15).
Grand Tasting tickets are regularly priced at $150 per person and include tastings from participating restaurants, food vendors and wine and spirits pairings,, access to the Proudly Wisconsin Cheese and Wine Pavilion and culinary and mixology demonstrations. Meanwhile, VIP tickets are $350 per person and include all of those pers, plus access to the Exclusive on-field tasting experience.
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 each and every dish. She’s had the privilege of chronicling these tales via numerous media, including OnMilwaukee and in her book “Milwaukee Food.” Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or recording the FoodCrush podcast, 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.
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