FAQs for this weekend’s Food & Wine Experience
Any time is good for sampling Wisconsin foods and beverages. But the Journal Sentinel Food & Wine Experience this weekend is an especially great time.
So many foods, wines, beers and cocktails, plus chef demos, celebrities and more — all in one place. Questions? We’ve got answers. What is it exactly? The Food & Wine Experience (formerly Savor Milwaukee, formerly Wine & Dine Wisconsin) is a two-day eating and drinking extravaganza, an opportunity to sample fare from a wide swath of Milwaukee-area restaurants and other food vendors plus wines, beers and spirits. This is the ninth annual event.
Where is it? The Wisconsin Center, 400 W. Wisconsin Ave. Once you’re inside, follow the signs and head up the escalator.
When is it? This weekend! Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, noon to 4 p.m. Sunday.
Can I still get tickets? Of course! Just go to foodandwine.jsonline.com and click on “buy tickets.”
Advance tickets to a single day of the Grand Tasting are $50; to both days, $75; to Saturday’s Critic’s Choice, an extra $30. At the door: $60 general admission; add $35 for Critic’s Choice.
Discounted tickets ($7.50 off general admission) are available for JS Insiders, current Journal Sentinel subscribers who have activated their accounts online. (Log in at jsonline.com/insider.)
What is Critic's Choice? This is a separate area, offered Saturday only, from noon to 3 p.m., with samples from 20 restaurants on Carol Deptolla’s Top 30 lists. Tickets are an extra $30 on top of general admission.
Which restaurants are in Critic’s Choice this year? See our list below. But there will also be plenty of restaurants represented on the main floor.
What celebrities will be there? Three national food experts will be on hand.
Duff Goldman, a.k.a. Ace of Cakes, will do a cooking demo at 11:45 a.m. Saturday and participate in a meet ’n’ greet/ book signing at 2 p.m. that day (separate $60 ticket, which includes his cookbook).
Shaun O’Neale, 2016 “MasterChef” winner, will do a demonstration at 2 p.m. Saturday and also meet ’n’ greet/ book signings at 3 p.m. Saturday and 1:30 p.m. Sunday (books will be sold).
On Sunday, Martha Stewart Living food and entertainment editor Sarah Carey will do a demo at 12:30 p.m.
Will there be other chef demonstrations? Yes. Local chefs will appear on the Chef ’s Demonstration Stage both days, and the Libations Stage will highlight beers and cocktails (yes, with samples). Once again, Milwaukee Area Technical College will do hands-on classes on their stage; this year’s lineup — tarts, street tacos and cupcakes (sign up as soon as you arrive, as slots fill quickly).
I’m not a big wine person. Will there be anything else to drink? Oh, yes.
You can try beers in two large areas — Taste of Great Brewers and Stella Artois Belgian Beer Garden — and at other booths including Goose Island, Milwaukee Brewing, Founders Brewing, Good City Brewing and more.
For spirits etc., look for Soul Boxer Cocktail Co., 45th Parallel Distillery, Cider Boys Cider Co., Rabbit Hole Distilling and Great Lakes Distillery.
But if you DO love wine, various Wisconsin wineries and wine businesses including Parallel 44 Vineyard and Winery, Door Peninsula Winery, von Stiehl Winery, and Captain’s Walk Winery, Forgotten Fire Winery, French Bebe Beverage Co. and Vines to Cellar Winery will be on hand. And Total Wine & More, the superstore chain, will sponsor a Wine Cellar area on the main exhibit floor and also pour wines in Critic’s Choice.
Is Cheese Island back? Yes, there are two cheese islands, sponsored this year by Pick ’n Save under the brand “Cheddarheads Cheese Co.” with a variety of Wisconsin’s favorite dairy food for sampling.
Is there any extra charge for samples? None whatsoever. Once you’re on the main floor, or in Critic’s Choice, all foods and beverages are yours to enjoy, free of charge.
Are glasses and plates provided? Glasses, yes; you’ll be handed your wine glass before you enter. Special plates that let you hold food and glass in one hand can be purchased on site.
Can kids come? No, sorry. This event is for adults only, ages 21 and up.
Where do I park? Good question! The closest area is the official convention center ramp (enter on Wells St. between 4th and 6th streets. Otherwise, both street parking and public ramps and surface lots are a short walk away.