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There's no shortage of articles and television shows that showcase the dishes that chefs love to cook at their restaurants. But, what do they love to eat at the end of their exhausting 16-hour days? Or on their days off? In this series, we ask Milwaukee area chefs to share three of their favorite dishes from locally owned restaurants.Amilinda
315 E. Wisconsin Ave., (414) 369-3683
amilinda.com
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Chef Gregory León was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, but raised in his father's native country of Venezuela. His culinary career began in the U.S. when he moved to San Francisco, spending nearly two decades cooking and consulting with area restaurants including Poesia, Mirtille and Zuni Cafe.
During a fortuitous trip to Milwaukee in 2012, León fell in love with the collegial restaurant scene in the Cream City. By 2013, he'd hosted his first of many pop-up dinners (including a successful series at The National Cafe), an exercise which gleaned the chef a loyal following and allowed him to build capital to establish his own restaurant.
In 2015, he and his then-partner Orry opened Amilinda, a concept inspired by stints in the Iberian Peninsula. The restaurant showcases the influence of the cuisines of both Portugal and Spain using fresh local meats and produce from Wisconsin. Since opening, León has earned a variety of accolades for his work, including honors as a 2022 finalist for the James Beard Foundation's Best Chef Midwest Award.
What does Chef León eat when he's off the clock? Watch as he tells us all about it.
Video by Courtney Bondar.
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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.
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