Dinner series featuring ‘Top Chef’ contestants coming to DanDan, EsterEv

You’ve seen many of them compete side-by-side with Milwaukee chef Dan Jacobs on Season 21 of “Top Chef,” but throughout 2024, you can dine with some of the “Top Chef” contestants and other award-winning chefs from across the country as part of two chef series hosted at Milwaukee’s DanDan, 315 E. Erie St., and Ester Ev, 2165 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.

Presented by Organic Valley, the chef series will see Jacobs and DanDan and EsterEv co-owner Dan Van Rite welcome some of the country’s best culinary talent at 11 special meals throughout the year.

The EsterEv Guest Chef Series kicks off in the restaurant’s new Bay View location on April 30 at 6:30 p.m. On select Tuesdays throughout the year, diners will be served 10 to 12 dishes over eight courses determined by the visiting chefs. The price for each dinner is $150 per person with an optional beverage pairing for on additional $80 per person.

Tickets for the EsterEv Guest Chef series are available to purchase now on Tock.

Guest chefs for the EsterEv Chef Series include:

• April 30: Amanda Turner (Olamaie, Austin, Texas) - “Top Chef” Season 21 contestant

• May 7: Kevin D’Andrea (FoliePop’s, Austin, Texas) - “Top Chef” Season 21 contestant

• Aug. 6: Danny Garcia & Sumaiya Bangee (Saga Hospitality Group, New York, NY) - “Top Chef” Season 21 contestant

• Sept. 17: Jorge Guzman (Petite León, Minneapolis) - James Beard Award nominee

• Oct. 15: Savannah Miller (M Tempura, Durham, North Carolina) - “Top Chef”

Season 21 contestant

• Nov. 24 –– Cole Ersel (Milkweed Collective, Milwaukee)

The DanDan Dim Sum Guest Chef Series kicks off May 5 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. On select Sundays throughout the year, diners will be served seven dishes over four courses determined by the visiting chefs. The price for each meal is $100 per person.

Tickets for the DanDan Dim Sum Guest Chef series are available to purchase on Tock.

Guest chefs for the DanDan Dim

Sum Guest Chef Series include: h May 5: Soo Ahn (Adalina, Chicago) - “Top Chef” Season 21’s surprise 16th contestant

• Aug. 4: Manny Barella (Jaguar Bolera and Camp Pickle, Denver, Colorado) - “Top Chef” Season 21 contestant

• Sept. 8: Sean Pharr (Mint Mark and The Muskellounge, Madison) - James Beard Award nominee

• Oct. 27: Michelle Wallace (B’tween Sandwich Co., Houston) - “Top Chef” Season 21 contestant

• Nov. 3: Cesar Zapata (Phuc Yea, Miami)

PROVIDED BY AXEL STRAT MEDIA Chefs Dan Van Rite and Dan Jacobs will host 11 talented chefs from across the nation at two dinner series hosted at their restaurants DanDan and EsterEv throughout 2024.

PROVIDED BY DANDAN The 2024 DanDan Sim Sum Guest Chef Series begins May 5, bringing five of the nation’s top culinary talents to Chinese-American restaurant DanDan in Milwaukee’s Third Ward.

The 2024 EsterEv Guest Chef Series will welcome six of the country’s best culinary talents to fine-dining restaurant EsterEv’s new Bay View location.