Bartolotta Restaurant Group’s Care-a-lotta program has partnered with Milwaukee’s Victory Garden Initiative, an organization committed to building communities that grow their own food for the purpose of creating a community-based, sustainable, nutritious food system.
As part of their partnership, throughout the month of March, every Bartolotta restaurant will feature one specialty cocktail and one first course, all profits from which will be donated to VGI.
In addition, during the sixth annual Victory Garden Blitz, which will take place May 10-24, Bartolotta’s has committed 1,000 hours of staff time to the organization. During the Garden Blitz, VGI and hundreds of volunteers will build at least 500 4x8-foot raised-bed gardens throughout the Milwaukee community.
"We immediately recognized the passion and importance behind VGI’s mission, and we share their dedication to providing fresh, quality food," said Jennifer Bartolotta, chair of the Care-a-lotta board. "Our employees are very excited to grab their shovels and roll up their sleeves to take part in this exciting and worthy endeavor."
Following the Blitz, the Victory Garden Initiative is expected to have a strong presence at Northpoint Custard on Milwaukee’s lakefront, where the two organizations aim to find creative and impactful ways to raise funds, friends and awareness for VGI throughout the summer. Watch for more details on OnMilwaukee.com.
For more information on Care-a-Lotta and the Victory Garden Initiative, visit their web sites: bartolottas.com and victorygardeninitiative.org.
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.
