The votes are in, and the winners have been selected for OnMilwaukee's Best Dining 2009. The results of this readers' poll, including an editors' pick, are available in this series of articles that run all October long during Dining Month on OnMilwaukee.com.
While working as a chef in his hometown for nearly 30 years, including 20 at the iconic restaurant that bears his first name, Sanford D'Amato has garnered dozens of awards for his cooking.
Now, he has another.
D'Amato, who along with his wife, Angie, operates Sanford, 1547 N. Jackson St., and Coquette Cafe, 316 N. Milwaukee St., was named Milwaukee's best chef in a survey of OnMilwaukee.com readers.
This is the first time the chef category has been included in the "Best of" competition and D'Amato, who worked at John Byron's Restaurant before opening his own place in 1989, narrowly edged Adam Siegel of Bacchus and Lake Park Bistro.
Sanford graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in 1974, worked a one-year fellowship in the Scoffier Room and spent the rest of the ‘70s at various New York restaurants before returning to Milwaukee in 1980.
In November 1992, Sanford was one of 12 chefs in the nation to be personally chosen by Julia Child to cook for her 80th birthday celebration in her hometown, Boston.
Editors' choice: Jason Gorman, Dream Dance Steak
Runners-up:
2. Adam Siegel, Bacchus/Lake Park Bistro
3. Adam Lucks, Comet
4. Sarah Jonas, Lulu/Juniper 61
5. Rich Alvarado, Five O'Clock Club
6. Juan Urbieta, Ristorante Bartolotta
7. Jason Gorman, Dream Dance Steak
8. Dominic Zumpano, Umami Moto
9. Jerry Garcia, Hotel Metro
10. Marc Bianchini, Osteria del Mondo
12. Michael Feker, Il Mito
13. Robert Ash, Kil@wat
14.Jan Kelly, Ginger
15. Peter Gebauer, Potawatomi Bingo Casino
16. Chris Hatleli and Nick Burki, Cafe Calatrava
