By Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor, Podcast Host Published Apr 17, 2019 at 11:01 AM

The Third Annual Wisconsin Foodie Smörgåsbord, the annual celebration of Wisconsin’s top chefs, farmers and artisans, will take place Sunday, April 28 from noon to 3 p.m. at Turner Hall Ballroom, 1040 N. Vel R. Phillips Ave.

"This is a real highlight of my year," notes Arthur Ircink, "Wisconsin Foodie" founder and publisher of "Edible Milwaukee," "The event has always been about bringing together our fans with the people from the show… and gathering together for one big celebration of Wisconsin and Milwaukee’s food culture."

This year, Ircink notes, the celebration will not only feature chefs, artisans and makers from the last two seasons of "Wisconsin Foodie," but also those featured in "Edible Milwaukee."

During the event, James Beard nominated chef Luke Zahm of Driftless Cafe will host a live stream including chef and vendor interviews that will be broadcast on both the Wisconsin Foodie Facebook page and YouTube channel.

New this year

In addition to its new venue, Wisconsin Foodie Smörgåsbord will feature two new elements during 2019.

In the days leading up to the event, Wisconsin Foodie will host a very special online silent auction benefiting the work of the independent program. During the auction, guests can place bids on a host of items including gift certificates to area restaurants including The Bartolotta Restaurants, Birch + Butcher, Black Shoe Hospitality venues and Sujeo (Madison) along with featured products from Anarchy Acres, Big City Greens, Great Northern Distilling, J. Henry & Sons and more. The silent auction will be live until just before the event on April 28. 

In addition to two levels of vendor sampling, Wisconsin Foodie Smörgåsbord will culminate in a latte throwdown featuring area baristas showing off their latte art skills and sharing their creations with the audience. The winning barista and his or her respective coffee shop will be featured in a future edition of "Edible Magazine." Baristas interested in participating can reach out to Melissa@EdibleMilwaukee.com

Participating vendors

Tickets will be available at two levels, general admission and VIP (see more details below). Each ticket level will offer access to sampling from a wide variety of Wisconsin-based vendors.

General admission vendors include:

  • American Skillets
  • Anarchy Acres
  • Big City Greens
  • Bittercube
  • Ciderboys
  • Clock Shadow Creamery
  • Colectivo Coffee
  • Discourse Coffee
  • Edible Milwaukee
  • Great Northern Distilling
  • Hatched
  • Honestly Cranberries
  • Hsu's Ginseng
  • J. Henry & Son's Bourbon
  • Kohler Cravier Chocolate
  • Landmark Creamery
  • Mamma's Southeast Asian Cuisine
  • Mr. Dye's Pies
  • Nueske's Applewood Smoked Meats
  • O'so Brewing Company
  • Potosi Brewing Company
  • Roots Chocolate
  • Rushing Waters Fisheries
  • Sassy Cow Creamery
  • Stevens Point Brewery
  • Top Note Tonic
  • Underground Meats
  • Uplands Cheese
  • Usingers Famous Sausage
  • Valley Fish and Cheese
  • Von Stiehl Winery
  • Wollersheim Winery

VIP Level vendors include all of the above, plus:

  • Bacchus
  • Bavette la Boucherie
  • Birch & Butcher
  • Blue's Egg
  • Braise
  • Café Manna
  • Centro Café
  • Company Brewing
  • DanDan
  • Goodkind
  • Heritage Tavern
  • Iron Grate BBQ
  • Lake Park Bistro
  • Maxie's
  • Ono Kindz Grindz
  • Skaliwags
  • Story Hill BKC
  • The Blind Horse
  • The Rumpus Room

Tickets

Tickets are available at two levels. General admission tickets, which will include access to all first floor vendors are available for $65 each. VIP tickets, which provide access to all first floor vendors, as well as additional venues on the mezzanine level are available for $85 each. Tickets are available for purchase online

In an extended celebration of Milwaukee Day (414 Day), guests can take 41.4% off GA tickets by using code: 414FOODIE. The offer is valid through April 28 at 11:59 p.m.

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.