By Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor Published Feb 02, 2022 at 1:01 PM

It’s almost time for WMSE’s Rockabilly Chili, the annual fundraiser which pits over 30 Milwaukee venues against one another in a competition to win Milwaukeeans’ votes for "best chili."

This year’s event, which is presented by Lakefront Brewery, takes place on Sunday, April 10 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the MSOE Kern Center, 1245 N. Broadway. During the event, attendees will cast their votes for winners in five different categories, including best meat, best vegetarian, most unique chili, best heat and best vendor display.

Beans & Barley clownsX

Participating restaurants for this year's event include:

  1. Beans & Barley
  2. The Bay
  3. Buckatabon Tavern & Supper Club
  4. Cafe Corazon
  5. Crafty Cow
  6. The Diplomat
  7. Freshchef Meal Prep
  8. HB Milwaukee INC.
  9. Hector's A Mexican Restaurant
  10. The Lafayette Place
  11. Lakefront Brewery
  12. LuLu Cafe & Bar
  13. Maxie's
  14. Motor Restaurant
  15. The National Cafe
  16. Nessun Dorma
  17. Plant Joy
  18. Public Table
  19. Semolina MKE
  20. Smoke Creek
  21. Story Hill BKC
  22. Transfer Pizzeria Café

Get your advance tickets!

Advance tickets, which include four chili samples, are currently available for $15 each online. Or, for a limited time, you can grab an extra special deal and purchase eight tickets for $100 (that’s just $12.50 each). Tickets sold at the door will be $20 each, so it pays to grab them up now.

Important note: Proof of vaccination is required for all attendees over 12 years of age.

Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor

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.