’Tis Dining Month, the tastiest time of year! This means we’re dishing up fun and fascinating food content throughout October. Dig in, Milwaukee! OnMilwaukee Dining Month is served up by Potawatomi Hotel & Casino and Wollersheim Winery & Distillery.
Voyager, 422 E. Lincoln Ave., will host its very first pop-up dinner on Sunday, Oct. 30 at 6 p.m.
The Gato/Nero dinner will feature eight delicious courses which showcase the intersection of ingredients and flavor profiles in both Northern Italian and Argentine cuisines.
The chefs behind the dinner include Katie Gabert and Samantha Sandrin of Strega, the creative Italian concept which made its brick and mortar debut in the 3rd Street Market Hall, and Chef Alex Burgos, a native of Argentina who has spent his cooking career behind the scenes, most recently working as a corporate chef in the healthcare field.
“I met Alexis because our kids go to school together,” says Jordan Burich, owner of Voyager. He’s a really talented chef and I really want people to see what he is capable of.
“I’m also excited to have Katie and Sam on board for this. They’re not only both talented in their own unique ways, but they work really well together. I also want them to be able to follow their passions, and this is a great way to highlight the great work they do.”
The atmosphere will conjure a bit of pre-Hallow's Eve darkness and the menu will showcase the best of Strega's experimental side, along with flavors conjured from Borgas' childhood in Buenos Aires.
Guests can expect fare that embraces autumnal flavors (and spooky season vibes) with courses that incorporate seasonal truffles, black pasta and expertly prepared beef with an Argentine flare. There will also be some "tricky treats" like savory cheesecake and liquid desserts.
Courses will be accompanied by thoughtfully eccentric beverage pairings curated by Burich, including top tier wine selections with unique flavor profiles from both South America and Italy.
“There will also be a lot of little surprises,” notes Burich with a telltale grin.
Tickets for the pop-up are $200 per person and include eight courses, wine pairings (and surprises). They can be purchased online. Seating is limited.
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.
