Like a little history with your dinner?
Bartolotta Restaurant Group has launched a new series of dinners that will give you a bit of both. From brewpubs to haute cuisine, the series will explore the stories behind the dishes through the eyes of Kyle Cherek, host of the Emmy Award-nominated PBS show, "Wisconsin Foodie" and host of "Chef Talk" on OnMilwaukee.com.
The "Amuse Bouche Dinner Series" begins Wednesday, Nov. 5 with a study of the gastropub at The Rumpus Room at 6:30 p.m. This event aims to present a dynamic evening of food and stories, tracing how a London pub and a handful of progressive young chefs turned simple British pub cooking on its ear and inspired a dining trend so popular it bridged the Atlantic. Enjoy a delicious four-course dinner by Executive Chef Guy Davies, complete with beer pairings, for $85.
Continue the journey in January at Joey Gerard's with a "Mad Men" era throwback dinner featuring four courses of classic 1960s American fare and the lesser-known stories behind them. Whether it’s the origin of supper clubs, how two French chefs changed the way America ate, or why President Johnson loathed fava beans, it promises to be a memorable evening.
Dishes will be prepared by Executive Chefs Joe Schreiter and Andrew Ruiz. The event includes cocktail. Two Mad Men dinners are scheduled -- one on Wednesday, Jan. 21 at Joey Gerard's Greendale, the other on Thursday, Jan. 22 at Joey Gerard's Mequon. Dinner is $85 per person.
A final dinner on Friday March 13 at Bartolotta's Lake Park Bistro will celebrate the father of haute cuisine, Augute Escoffier. Learn the fascinating story behind history’s most famous chef, and enjoy an unparalleled culinary experience. James Beard Award-winning Chef Adam Siegel will present seven luxurious courses from Escoffier’s legendary 1906 menu from the London Ritz Hotel. Dinner, which begins at 6:30 p.m. is $185 or $245 with wine pairings.
Tickets for each of the events can be purchased online by visiting bartolottas.com/events. A special VIP Package for guests who want to experience all three dinners (Gastropubs at The Rumpus Room, Throwback at Joey Gerard’s – Greendale, and Auguste Escoffier at Lake Park Bistro) is available for $415. VIPs will also receive a Bartolotta Restaurants apron and wine key as bonus gifts in addition to the rewards points they will receive from each dinner.
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.
