For the second year running, Chefs Dan Jacobs and Dan Van Rite of Dandan, 315 E. Erie St., and EsterEv, 2165 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., will host nine acclaimed chefs from across the country for a series of collaborative dinners.
The list of guest chefs represents cities across the country and includes Michelin-starred chefs, James Beard honorees, a "New York Times" bestselling cookbook author and two of Jacobs’ colleagues from “Top Chef” Season 21.
Each will spend an evening in Milwaukee cooking for either the Dim Sum Brunch Guest Chef Series at DanDan or the EsterEv Guest Chef Series, both sponsored by Wisconsin brand, Organic Valley.
"Our annual Guest Chef Series brings incredible culinary talent to Milwaukee to create one-of-a-kind dining experiences for our community,” notes Jacobs. “For us, it’s more than just a special dinner—it's an opportunity to push our creativity and collaborate with North America's best chefs, all of which we're proud to consider friends."
Dim Sum Brunch Series
Each of these five-course family-style experiences will take on a unique spin based on the culinary perspective of the visiting chef. All Dim Sum events will be held at DanDan, 315 E. Erie St., from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Cost is $100 per person; beverages are not included. Reservations can be made online.
- March 16: Rasika Ventkatesa (Mythily | NYC)
- May 18: Shota Nakajima (Taku | Seattle)
- Aug. 3: Erasmo Casiano (Xiquita + Lucina | Denver)
- Nov. 9: Eva Chin (Yan Dining Room | Toronto)
EsterEv Guest Chef Series
No two of these tasting menu experiences will be the same as each will reflect the culinary perspective of the visiting chef. All EsterEv guest chef dinners will feature 8-10 courses.
Dinners will be held at EsterEv from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Cost is $140 per person; beverage pairings can be added for +$75 per person. Reservations can be made online.
- Feb. 25: Johnny Curiel (Alma Fonda Fina | Denver)
- April 8: Brian Baxter (The Catbird Seat | Nashville)
- Aug. 19: Mason Hereford (Turkey and the Wolf | New Orleans)
- Sept. 16: Amanda Turner (Olamaie | Austin)
- Oct. 14: Brandon Jew (Mister Jiu's | San Francisco)
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.
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