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Ten years ago, Forage Kitchen opened its very first restaurant on Madison’s State Street with a simple but ambitious goal: serve real, nutritious, feel-good food made with local ingredients. This October, the fast-casual favorite is celebrating its milestone anniversary with a full month of special events, giveaways and community partnerships across its Madison, Milwaukee and Champaign, Illinois locations.
Since launching in 2015, Forage has grown from a single storefront to a regional brand known for customizable salads, grain bowls, wraps and soups that highlight seasonal and local ingredients. For founder Henry Aschauer, the 10-year mark is as much about gratitude as it is about growth.
“Making it to ten years has only been possible with the love and support of our community and the passion of the people behind Forage Kitchen,” Aschauer said. “This anniversary is more than a celebration, it’s also a chance to give back to our guests and to local non-profits who are working to strengthen our food systems.”
Events and celebrations
Throughout October, guests can take part in special anniversary happenings, including:
- Forage Run Club: Group runs hosted with Forage team members and wellness partners. (5K and 10K distances; dates to be announced.)
- Fitness Funday at Flynn Creek Farm: On October 11, Forage Rewards members are invited to enjoy free 30-minute workouts with wellness partners.
Families can also join in the fun: every Sunday in October, kids eat free with the purchase of a regular bowl, wrap or plate.
Supporting local food systems
In keeping with Forage’s mission to connect communities with sustainable, local food, $1 from every Power Bowl sold in October will be donated to nonprofits working to strengthen local food systems:
- Madison: REAP Food Group
- Milwaukee: Fondy Food Center
- Champaign: University of Illinois Sustainable Student Farm
“From day one, we’ve been committed to building partnerships with local growers and food leaders,” Aschauer said. “Celebrating our 10th anniversary by supporting these organizations continues that commitment while fueling our guests and communities for the next ten years.”
Giveaways & perks
Forage Rewards members will enjoy a host of exclusive offers, including:
- 10 Days of Giveaways: Sept. 30 through Oct. 10, daily $100 gift card winners
- Oct. 2: $1 Kombucha, Refreshers & Tepache
- Oct. 7: $1 Local Bakery Cookies
- Oct. 10 and Oct. 29: Member Appreciation Days featuring 20% off purchases
Plus, Forage will surprise guests with anniversary gifts all month long:
- Oct. 1-7: Golden Ticket gifts
- Oct. 2: Limited-edition stickers for first 100 guests at each location
- Oct. 9: Free T-shirts for first 10 guests at each location
All anniversary details, including how to join Forage Rewards, can be found at eatforage.com.
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.
