Four top Milwaukee chefs just got back from a trip to Milan, where they represented Milwaukee by creating and serving delicious dishes at the James Beard American Restaurant at Expo Milano 2015.

The chefs included Adam Siegel, corporate chef for The Bartolotta Restaurants; Nick Wirth of Bacchus; Miles Borghgraef of Lake Park Bistro; and Aaron Bickham, assistant corporate chef for The Bartolotta Restaurants.

They accompanied Paul Bartolotta, co-owner of The Bartolotta Restaurants, who was honored to be chosen as one of the U.S. representatives. 

Held every five years, the Expo – which welcomes participants from 145 countries – runs May 1 through October 31. The 2015 Expo is expected to draw 20 million people from around the world.

Operating under the theme food: Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life, the aim of the Expo is to create a unique experience for visitors and increase their awareness of healthy sustainable food.  Supporting themes focus on accessibility to healthy, safe food; the environmental, social and economic sustainability of the food chain; and the preservation of taste and of food culture.

Throughout the duration of the Expo, the James Beard American Restaurant provides daily service in downtown Milan at the Seven Stars Galleria, part of the Galleria Vitterio Emanuelle II, one of Europe’s oldest outdoor malls.

It serves as an exclusive platform for America’s culinary talent and innovation, thanks to a rotating cast of renowned American chefs  from across the United States, including Michelin starred restaurants, World’s 50 Best Restaurants, International Culinary Center alums, and James Beard Awards winners including Tory Miller of L’Etoile in Madison, as well as Ming Tsai, Tom Colicchio, Rick Bayless, Barbara Lynch and David Kinch.

If you follow The Bartolotta Restaurants on social media, you may have seen some of the photos they shared from their trip. Some were mouth-watering; others were thought-provoking.  So, I thought I'd I ask the chefs to elaborate on some of the highlights from the trip. Here's what they shared:

"It is one thing to do an off premise event, its another to prepare one that is a different country in, literally, a foreign kitchen. The five of us pulled of the prep and all was great, We were ready for the two dinners on Friday and Saturday." –Adam Siegel

Thanks to Paul Bartolotta for an incredible dinner at #JBAR: "Flavor is something you need to taste to remember." pic.twitter.com/Kxja4TM1AU — USA Pavilion 2015 (@USAPavilion2015) May 22, 2015

"[When we left Venice, we] ... headed for Imola, near Bologna. In Imola is Ristorante San Domenico, a very famous restaurant. This is where Paul Bartolotta started his training in Italy and eventually became the chef de cuisine under his Maestro Valentino Marcetillii, in total Paul worked there for about seven years. I later went there under Paul's direction and worked for a year in 1998-99. This was my first visit back since leaving." –Adam Siegel

​"Some of the most memorable moments for me include working in the James Beard restaurant in Milan, with a view of the historic 7 Seas hotel and city through the kitchen windows along with the indescribable view of the archway and Galleria Emmanuelle from the suite windows that has been shut down for the past 60 years. It was fascinating to learn that the same person did the metal work on the Eiffel Tower." – Nick Wirth

"[The Expo at Milan is] ... like a giant Epcot without rides as you walk into each country’s buildings and see there exhibits. Over 100 countries represented, each built these massive structures that were all focused on feeding the planet. USA had food trucks and a vertical garden that moved towards the sun on one of the walls. All very cool!"  – Adam Siegel

"It’s really hard to pinpoint any one favorite thing from our trip to Italy, there is so much beauty, culture and art throughout the country… But, one thing that really made an impression on me is when we went to Tuscany. We spent the day eating at a restaurant called Da Delfina. It sits at the top of a hill in an olive grove. The lunch consisted of regional fare and used the olives, olive oil and Chianti from their groves and vineyards on which the restaurant looks out over. Throughout that lunch I was really blown away by the love and care they all put into all that they do. It really showed the pride that has been passed down for many generations." – Aaron Bickham

"We went to eat lunch at a famous, very old Seafood Trattoria called Trattoria Madonna, the waiter who helped us worked there 54 years, he was great. We ate baby octopus, mantis shrimp, cuttlefish cooked in its own ink with polenta, baby sole, the best wild clams I ever ate in my life." – Adam Siegel

"The  incredible seafood that we ate throughout the trip is something that will not be forgotten, from fresh scampi in Bergamo, to baby octopus and bite-sized soft shell crab in Venice, and the most amazing crispy focaccia from Manuelina of Milan." – Nick Wirth

"Other very notable meals and experiences were dining at San Domenico in Imola with the most impressive wine cellar I have ever seen, including bottles from Napoleon's private collection. The Luncheon we had at Delfino of Tuscany overlooking Valleys of Grape vines and Olive trees in the foothills of the Alps is really hard to beat. The Expo was very eye opening to see the variety of expressive architecture that was used to define each cultures personality and most prosperous traits. Overall, this whole trip was an experience not to be forgotten." – Nick Wirth

For more photos of the Milan trip, check out the Twitter feed from The Bartolotta Restaurants.