NOTE: As of 1:30 p.m. on 11/5/24, the Sanford Anniversary Dinner is officially sold out.
This December marks 35 years of fine dining for Sanford Restaurant, 1547 N. Jackson St., an establishment that assisted in laying the foundation for the modern dining scene in Milwaukee.
To celebrate, the restaurant is hosting a special 35th Anniversary Dinner with seatings available on both Tuesday, Dec. 3 and Wednesday, Dec. 4. The dinner will feature six courses created by Chefs Justin Aprahamian and Sanford D’Amato along with a selection of chef colleagues. Accompanying wine pairings will be provided by Kenny Likitprakong of HOBO Wine Company.
Decades of gratitude
“From the beginning, it has been a tradition for Sandy [D’Amato] to host a dinner every five years to celebrate the restaurant’s anniversary,” says Chef and Owner Justin Aprahamian. “When Sarah and I took over, we carried on that tradition. And every year that we do this, it becomes more and more significant.
“So many things have happened over the years that have impacted the operation of restaurants, from the Gulf War and September 11th to the 2008 recession and COVID-19 pandemic. And, despite the challenges, we’ve had loyal patrons who’ve continued to support us. That’s something we don’t take lightly.”
When it comes to choosing the chefs to participate in this year’s dinner, Aprahamian says it was a tough decision.
“There are so many people that we love and respect, who have taught and inspired us,” he says. “So our goal was to pull together people that hadn’t cooked with us before.”
The slate of chefs for 2024 will include: Chef de Cuisine Joshua Mendiola of Sanford; Chef and author Cortney Burns; Chef Gregory León of Amilinda; Chef Joe Muench of Black Shoe Hospitality; Chef Dana Spandet of Flour Girl & Flame; and Chef Luke Zahm of The Driftless Cafe and enthusiastic host of “Wisconsin Foodie”.
“We’re truly grateful for the love and support our guests have shown us over the years. And, in turn, our dedication to the legacy of dining and compassionate hospitality that Sandy and Angie created will continue to be our inspiration as we move forward.”
A brief history
It was Dec. 7, 1989, when Chef Sanford D’Amato and his wife Angie opened the doors to Sanford Restaurant in the former home of the D’Amato family grocery store. And while it may not have been evident at the moment, it marked the beginning of Milwaukee’s culinary coming of age.
For 23 years, the D’Amato’s operated the restaurant together, earning accolades from publications throughout the U.S. including “Esquire” and “Gourmet” magazines. Sandy was also honored in 1996 as the first Wisconsinite to bring home a James Beard Award for Best Chef: Midwest followed by semi-finalist honors for Outstanding Chef in 2008.
In 2012, the D’Amatos sold the restaurant to Chef de Cuisine Justin Aprahamian, a chef who began his career working in the kitchen with D’Amato in 2002 and his wife, Sarah. Together, they have continued the restaurant’s legacy, earning a second James Beard Award for Best Chef: Midwest in 2014, preceded by semi-finalist honors for Rising Star Chef of the Year in 2010 and a nomination for Best Chefs in America in 2011.
Reserve your tickets
The Sanford 35th Anniversary Dinner will take place Dec. 3 and Dec. 4 with a reception beginning at 6 p.m. followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m.
Reservations will be open to the public for evenings starting at noon on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Tickets are $325 per person and can be secured by calling Sanford at (414) 276-9608. Each ticket is all-inclusive and includes six courses, wine pairings, valet parking, tax and gratuity.
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.
