Wisconsin Chefs Making Waves

While Wisconsin has long been known for its quality cheese and beer, chefs here are elevating these and other local ingredients to create outstanding cuisine showcasing the craft culture of the state. From a bakery that mills its own flour to a restaurant that started as a food cart to a chef who doubles as the host of “Wisconsin Foodie,” these rising stars of the food world are ones to watch. Read on to discover Wisconsin chefs making waves and where to try their award-winning cuisine.

Madison Chefs

Itaru Nagano and Andrew Kroeger - Fairchild

In 2023, five Madison chefs were named semifinalists for James Beard Awards, resulting in the city’s best-ever showing in the award program that’s known as “the Oscars of the food world.” The award for Best Chef Midwest went to the duo Itaru Nagano and Andrew Kroeger, who opened their restaurant Fairchild in 2020. They are the third and fourth chefs to accept a Beard Award for a Madison-based restaurant; the first two were both from L’Etoile — Odessa Piper, the restaurant’s founder, won in 2001 and her successor, chef Tory Miller, won in 2012.

Visit Fairchild to sample the award-winning fare that prioritizes local ingredients often sourced from the Dane County Farmers’ Market. With dishes ranging from octopus carpaccio and sweetbreads to bacon-wrapped cod served with clams and potatoes, you and your group will have a tough time deciding on just a few dishes.

Tory Miller - L’Etoile, Graze

A staple of the Madison restaurant scene, Chef Tory grew up working in his grandparents' diner in Racine before moving to New York to attend the French Culinary Institute and work his way through some of the city's finest kitchens. 

Stop in at L’Etoile, where Chef Tory is head chef, for a wide-ranging tasting menu that includes suckling pig and caramelized leek agnolotti with sticky toffee pudding for dessert. And don’t forget the wine! L’Etoile’s impressive wine program was also a Beard finalist in 2022.

For something slightly more casual, visit 2012 Best Chef Midwest Tory’s other restaurant: Graze. Here, dishes are inspired by the New York gastropub scene and plates are made for sharing with friends.

Jamie Hoang - Ahan

Also in 2023, Chef Jamie Hoang was named a semifinalist for a James Beard Award in the category of Emerging Chef. Her restaurant, Ahan, began as a food truck serving Asian-inspired cuisine that quickly gained popularity. In 2020, Ahan (which means “food” in Laos) opened their brick-and-mortar location serving curries, pho and other recipes passed down from Chef Jamie’s mother. Share a meal here with your favorite people and see why Chef Jamie is one of the U.S.’s top chefs.

Andrew Hutchison - Madison Sourdough

Freshly baked bread, anyone? Another James Beard Award nominee of 2023 was Andrew Hutchison in the category of Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker. Hutchison is a co-owner and baker at Madison Sourdough, a popular bakery, cafe, mill and patisserie in Madison’s Willy Street neighborhood. Almost half of the bakery’s flour is milled in-house, allowing the business to work directly with local grain farmers and request specific wheat. 

Enjoy breakfast or lunch at the cafe and be sure to glance through the back windows to watch the bakers work their magic. If you’re interested in making your own bread, check the Madison Sourdough website for community baking classes. 

Sean Pharr - Mint Mark

In 2024, chef Sean Pharr of Mint Mark made the semifinalist list for the James Beard “Best Chef Midwest” Award. This is the second time the trendy Madison spot owned by Pharr and two other business partners has been longlisted. 

Visit with friends to sample the produce-forward menu that features dishes such as escargot fries, Welsh rarebit and bangers and mash. Pair with an extensive bar program and hip, lively atmosphere and you’ve got an unforgettable night out. 

Milwaukee Chefs

Paul Bartolotta - Bartolotta Restaurants

Four-time nominated and two-time James Beard award-winning Chef Paul Bartolotta is the co-founder and owner of The Bartolotta Restaurants, a beloved restaurant group in the Greater Milwaukee region. Chef Bartolotta’s culinary skills have earned him numerous accolades from the Michelin Guide, New York Times, the Distinguished Restaurants of North America (DiRoNA), AAA and more.

Originally from Wisconsin, what started with Ristorante Bartolotta dal 1993 has since grown to include 17 award-winning restaurants and catering facilities including Bacchus – A Bartolotta Restaurant, Bartolotta’s Lake Park Bistro, and Harbor House. You may have even seen him on foodie TV shows like Top Chef and Iron Chef. Visit any of these iconic Milwaukee spots to treat your tastebuds to authentic Italian cuisine. 

Viroqua Chefs

Luke Zahm and Mary Kastman - Driftless Cafe

Beyond Wisconsin’s biggest cities, there are many more talented chefs to be found. In Viroqua, a small town within Wisconsin’s Driftless Region, you’ll find a restaurant named for the landscape whose menu changes daily according to the freshest ingredients available. 

Chef Luke Zahm is co-owner of Driftless Cafe, a farm-to-table restaurant that spends 85% of its food budget on ingredients that are sourced within a 100-mile radius of the cafe. In 2017 he was a semifinalist for the James Beard Best Chef Midwest award, and he currently hosts the popular TV program “Wisconsin Foodie.” Executive Chef Mary Kastman was also named a finalist for the same award in 2022. 

While the menu at Driftless Cafe changes daily, you can always find fresh sourdough crust pizza, out-of-this-world charcuterie plates and dishes like organic beef tenderloin with butter-whipped potato and kale. 

Searching for more award-winning eats? Explore fine dining in Wisconsin’s small towns.