Chefs Paul Zerkel and Lisa Kirkpatrick have made a name for themselves over the last decade through their work at Roots, Wolf Peach, Odd Duck and, most recently, their own restaurant, Goodkind. Both express their personal stories through the food they serve; but we were curious to learn more. So we sat down with the Bay View chefs to chat about work, life and love.
During our conversation, we review their careers in both Milwaukee and Oregon, the similarities between Portland and Milwaukee and the reasons they moved back to the Midwest. Along the way, we reminisce about the development of the Milwaukee food scene over the past 10-12 years. We also touch on Zerkel’s love for sandwiches, late-night dining, the growing ethnic dining scene in Milwaukee and what it’s like to work in the industry as a husband and wife team.
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Got an idea for a topic we should consider for FoodCrush? Want to offer feedback on our latest episode? Email me at lori@staff.onmilwaukee.com. You can also give @FoodCrushPod a follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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.
