At the Outpost Community Creatives event last May, the sound of crunching was almost as constant as the chatter. That’s because shoppers couldn’t get enough of Teddy’s Tallow Chip, small-batch, hand-crafted potato chips fried in grass-fed tallow from Wisconsin farms.
Golden, crisp, and dusted with just the right amount of salt, the chips carried a deep, rich aroma that hinted at their farm-to-fryer origins.
The Horvath family, who makes the chips, had only come to share a taste of their creation. But their booth quickly became one of the busiest spots in the store.
“They were going through their chips like gangbusters, and we took note,” says Margaret Mittelstadt, Outpost Director of Community Relations. “So we pulled aside some of their chips and made sure our buyers had the opportunity to taste them. People loved them, so we brought them in as one of our newest vendors.”
Teddy’s is just one example of how Community Creatives works its magic. The quarterly event opens Outpost’s aisles to local artists, crafters, and makers, giving them a real-world stage to test their wares with shoppers and sometimes, to land a spot on Outpost’s shelves.
The next event takes place Saturday, Aug. 16, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Bay View and Mequon Outpost locations. The lineup includes:
Bay View
- Te’Koa The Natural Way
- Nomadic Clay
- Nourish Empty Bowls
- Aunt Manda’s Gingery Beverages
- ECO Art by JBM
Mequon
- Cardboard Monet
- Mystic Phoenix Studio
- Saints Preserve Us
- The Opulent Bee
- Mi Casita Herbs
More than one-third (34%) of Outpost’s 2024 sales came from local and regional vendors, many of whom first connected with the co-op through events like Community Creatives. Notable alumni include TrueMan McGee’s Funky Fresh Spring Rolls, Jacqulyn Tucker’s Emmanuels Mix, and Sister Ro and Brother Alfonzo’s Herbs ‘N Lather body care collection.
“We’re always looking for new people to submit applications to participate in the Community Creatives events,” says Mittelstadt. “There are so many gems out there, and there’s all sorts of magic that comes out of these events.”
For more information, including how to apply as a vendor, head to the Outpost website.
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.