This summer, Milwaukeeans had the unique opportunity to experience the inaugural Indulge Milwaukee, which took place Aug. 20-21 at American Family Field.
Hosted by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association Education Foundation with presenting sponsor Badger Liquor, the event featured food from over 30 Milwaukee restaurants and 11 Wisconsin cheesemakers along with beverage pairings, culinary and mixology demonstrations and a one-of-a-kind on-field VIP experience.
Orchestrated to celebrate the city’s extraordinary food scene, Indulge Milwaukee drew a crowd of over 2,000 attendees, every one of whom contributed to an even greater goal: the generation of $139,000 for the Wisconsin Restaurant Association Education Foundation.
To date, the WRA Education Foundation has awarded over $950K in culinary scholarships and oversees ProStart Wisconsin, a successful state-wide program run by the Foundation which is implemented in school districts including Milwaukee Public Schools. In doing so, they’ve supported efforts to attract, train and lift up individuals looking for careers in hospitality.
“Indulge Milwaukee not only highlighted Milwaukee’s diverse and innovative food scene, it was an investment in the future of the hospitality industry,” notes Connie Fedor, executive director of the Wisconsin Restaurant Association Education Foundation and lead event organizer, who also expressed thanks to the many partners who assisted in making the event possible.
“We’re grateful for the support of presenting sponsor Badger Liquor and other corporate sponsors, as well as participating specialty food vendors, wine and spirit exhibitors and restaurant partners,” she said, noting the contributions of American Family Field and the Milwaukee Brewers, whose venue partnership contributed to the creation of a memorable and successful event.
For a complete list of participating restaurants and sponsors, visit indulgemilwaukee.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.
