Mark your calendars for Tuesday, Sept. 15. That’s the day Alex Hanesakda of SapSap makes his next visit to Milwaukee following a series of successful pop-ups at Crossroads Collective and Lucky Ginger.
This time, he’s collaborating with Chef Aaron Patin of Iron Grate BBQ to showcase a menu of Lao dishes using a combination of grilling and smoke.
The Floating Market takes place on Sept. 15 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Iron Grate BBQ Co., 4125 S. Howell Ave., and will feature a number of SapSap’s popular offerings prepared with a twist.
"Essentially, we’ll be grilling all of the items just like we normally would," says Hanesakda. "But we’ll be holding them in a smoker to give them a bit of smoky flavor."
The menu will feature SapSap sausage, Lao style riblets, Lao marinated skirt steak and whole chickens perfumed with lemongrass. Entrees will be served with SapSap Jeow Som hot sauce, smashed snake beans sourced from the Fondy Farmers Market and sticky rice. Lao beef jerky will also be available for purchase, as will a banh mi sandwich created by Patin.
"I’ve always really respected Aaron’s style and the way he approaches his food," says Hanesakda. "He’s a really humble guy, and I’ve been really inspired by his work. We’ve been talking for a while now about working together to showcase different barbeque techniques, so it’s really great to see this coming together."
Hanesakda says that a portion of the proceeds from the Iron Grate pop-up will also be donated to the Hungry Hearts Community Meals initiative, a South Side meal program which launched in May and is currently raising vital funds to keep the program running through winter and beyond.
Food will be available for pre-order beginning Saturday, Sept. 12 at noon. Watch the SapSap Floating Market Facebook event page for the full menu and ordering link.
SapSap fans can also watch for news about a new SapSap collaboration with Chef Tory Miller of L’Etoile, Graze and Estrellon in Madison. The event is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 3 in Burlington. Watch the SapSap Facebook page for details.
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.
