By Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor, Podcast Host Published Jun 19, 2015 at 8:02 AM
Summerfest is coming, and that means it's time for one of the biggest fireworks displays of the year. But, you don't need to fight the crowds to get one of the best seats in the house for the display.
Just get tickets to the 8th Annual Big Taste, which takes place at Pier Wisconsin on Wednesday, June 24 from 6:30 - 10:15 p.m. 

Enjoy all-inclusive food from over 15 of the city's best restaurants, live music from Evan Christian and spectacular views of  the Big Bang fireworks from Pier Wisconsin's lakefront terrace.  Tickets are $50 each when purchased online.
Here's just a sampling of some of the big flavors you'll find at the event:
  • Mekong Cafe: Crying Tiger: Thinly sliced Thai seasoned grilled steak wrapped in lettuce with basil, cilantro and chile dipping sauce
  • Jimmy's Island Grill: Caribbean jerk marinated shrimp on kale with black bean slaw and topped with a fresh mango salsa.
  • Allgauer's in the Park: Crab cakes with orange jicama slaw and citrus aioli and their special version of bananas foster featuring rum banana sauce served atop housemade banana bread.
  • Scardina Specialties: Hungarian, Polish, bratwurst, and Italian sausages
  • Chef Thomas Schultz of Superior Equipment and Supply: Sugar water poached shrimp with mango coulis and avocado; roasted portabella with herb whipped goat cheese and 4 hour tomato; or orange blossom honey whipped camembert with 80 proof cherries
  • Happy Dough Lucky Mini Donuts Serving freshly-made donuts at Big Taste.
  • Sol D'Licious Wholistic Cafe:  BBQ seitan sliders or Not Chik'N salad on a baguette
  • Double B's BBQ: Smoked pork sliders with creamy cole slaw and BBQ sauce or sliced smoked brisket on pumpernickel.  
  • National Pizza and Grille: housemade pizzas

Other participating restaurants include: Antigua, Bacchus, Centro Cafe, Harbor House, Izumi's Japanese Restaurant, Rodizio Grill, Sassy Cow Creamery and the Tripoli Shrine Center.

Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor, Podcast Host

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.