Lao cuisine is definitely having a moment. And when it comes to creative Lao fare in Southeastern Wisconsin, restaurants including Sweet Basil and SapSap are assisting in familiarizing a cuisine which has long taken a backseat to other Southeast Asian fare.
This week on FoodCrush, we sat down with Victoria Sithy, co-founder of Sweet Basil and Alex Hanesakda of SapSap to chat about food, family and tradition and how all of the above have shaped the way they approach their work in the restaurant space.
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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.
