Want to pull out all the stops this holiday? Some of Milwaukee's most talented chefs have shared their favorite holiday side dish recipes with us. So, throughout the month of December, we'll share their takes on holiday-worthy fare.
Chef Thomas Hauck of Circa 1880 says his in-laws do most of the cooking around the holidays, but he always tries to help out with a side or two.
"My sister and brother-in-law are quite the cooking couple, and for the holidays they really go to town. So, I tend to just lend a helping hand and do a little side work, my favorite being pan-fried Brussels sprouts topped with bacon and blue cheese."
Pan-Fried Brussels Sprouts
–Brussels sprouts
–bacon
–blue cheese
Slice the sprouts as thinly as you can with a very sharp knife. Cut the bacon into larger-sized batons, this way they will not over-cook and become too hard later. Cook the bacon until it starts to become crisp, then add the shredded sprouts and cook until they are evenly browned and crisp throughout. Place into your favorite bowl and generously top with your favorite blue cheese, then place briefly under your broiler to melt the cheese and enjoy.
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.
