Journal Sentinel’s culinary event goes upscale
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s annual culinary event is 10 years old, and it’s getting a major facelift.
Previously held over a weekend in November or late October, this year’s Wine & Food Experience will be held on Sept. 22, one day only, from noon to 4 p.m.
And instead of in an exhibit hall at The Wisconsin Center, it will be held outdoors, at the Reed Street Yards Park across the river from the Harley-Davidson Museum.
Only top Milwaukee-area restaurants will be invited to participate, serving their fare with fine wines and local craft beers, and the entire extravaganza is designed to provide a higherend, more upscale experience.
“Critic’s Choice was always the most popular part of the event,” said Journal Sentinel consumer brand manager David Jones, referring to the separately ticketed area featuring restaurants from dining critic Carol Deptolla’s Top 30 lists. Realizing that, organizers decided to build the event around those better restaurants.
“This isn’t beer and pretzels,” Jones said.
The event will be held rain or shine, with all of the major venues set up under tents. There will be seating outdoors if the weather is pleasant.
Attendance will be limited to about 1,500 total attendees, with tickets sold at three levels. General admission to the Grand Tasting, providing access from 1 to 4 p.m., will be $85. VIP Grand Tasting tickets, at $120, come with one hour early admission, access to the VIP lounge with its tastings of premium beverages and hors d’oeuvres and more.
Chef’s Package tickets at $180 add to the VIP package a personal meet and greet and autograph signing with the celebrity chef, still to be named.
As in past years of the event, variously called Wine & Dine Wisconsin, Savor Milwaukee and the Food & Wine Experience, this year’s event will include a cooking demonstration stage featuring a mix of local chefs and the national celebrity, as well as the popular hands-on stage sponsored by Milwaukee Area Technical College. Sushi Island and Cheese Island will return, and there will be live music.
Tickets are expected to go on sale in the next couple of weeks at wineand food.journalsentinel.com.