If you keep your eyes open around town this summer, you’ll find two mobile food operations making the rounds.
Both Iron Grate BBQ Co. and Red Light Ramen, the late night ramen shop at Ardent, have begun taking their wares on the road and will serve barbecue and ramen, respectively, at various events all summer long.
Iron Grate BBQ Co. set up with its trailer and "Roxanne" portable smoker at Sierra Nevada Beer Camp this weekend and will keep regular hours at the Newaukee Night Market this summer. Chef Aaron Patin says it will also serve barbecue at the Ray’s Wine & Spirits Growler Gallery second anniversary party on June 18 beginning at 5 p.m. Watch for additional updates on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Redlight Ramen also made an appearance this weekend at Sierra Nevada Beer Camp. The mobile unit will be open for service from noon to 1:00 am, every Saturday, at Central Standard Craft Distillery located at 613 South 2nd Street in Walkers Point.
Chef Justin Carlisle of Ardent and Red Light Ramen says the ramen truck will also make the rounds this summer at various special events. Watch the Facebook and Twitter feeds for details.
Carlisle says he’s also anticipating setting up shop for Red Light Ramen in a brick and mortar location relatively soon. You can watch OnMilwaukee for details on that happy news when it comes to pass.
In the meantime, you can find Red Light Ramen beginning at 11:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday evenings at Ardent, 1751 N. Farwell Ave.
Likewise, Iron Grate BBQ Co. serves the goods Friday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at its brick and mortar location at 4177 S. Howell Ave.
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.
