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Milwaukee foodies seeking an extraordinary culinary experience and winter escape will find it just two hours north in central Wisconsin. And when they get there, they’ll also find a familiar (and celebrated) face from the city’s restaurant scene.
The fourth annual Friends of James Beard Chef Invitational returns to Sand Valley from Feb. 27 to March 1 for another three-day celebration of Midwest culinary excellence.
This isn't a typical chef dinner. It’s a full weekend when the region’s most celebrated James Beard-nominated talents gather amid 12,000 acres of prehistoric sand dunes blanked in snow. While the setting is expansive, the event itself is an intimate affair that brings together eight innovative culinary voices for an immersive experience that goes far beyond the plate. The impressive roster, which is headlined by one of Milwaukee’s own, includes:
- Ross Bachhuber of Odd Duck
- Tory Miller of L’Etoile (Madison)
- Damarr Brown of Virtue (Chicago)
- Chris Jung of Maxwells Trading (Chicago)
- Mindy Segal of Mindy’s Bakery (Chicago)
- Amanda Rockman of Rockman Coffee (Austin, Texas)
- Karyn Tomlinston of Myriel (St. Paul, Minn.)
- Jack Wenz of Sand Valley (Nekoosa, Wisc.)
On top of the collection of talent bringing their diverse perspectives on cuisine, the event goes far beyond the usual culinary experience by unfolding like a carefully crafted tasting menu.
Each evening features hosted dinners and dine-around experiences across the resort where the culinary artists will collaborate and create dishes showcasing the bounty and creativity of the Midwest. Guests will watch live chef demonstrations while gaining insider knowledge and techniques from masters of their craft, and wine tastings will provide perfectly paired moments with every menu.
Then there’s the location — an ingredient that literally sets this event apart from the dining scenes in places like Milwaukee, Madison and Chicago. While the restaurants in those cities are incredible, the upcoming invitational brings world-class cuisine to Sand Valley’s serene winter landscape.
And with the event stretched across three days, guests will have plenty of opportunities to explore indoor and outdoor activities — yoga, court tennis, fat-tire biking, hiking through the groomed trails, curling on a frozen pond, stargazing over the dunes and more. Inviting outdoor spaces with fire pits accompanied by warm drinks are all within close reach and offer another place for guests to connect, adding to an unforgettable weekend.
Tickets for the fourth annual Friends of James Beard Chef Invitational start at $1,250 per person (lodging not included). Guests also have the option of adding the new Bubbles, Brine & Black Gold experience for $195, featuring premium Champagne paired with oysters and caviar from the legendary Browne Trading Company.
For more information, visit the event’s webpage or call 866-780-9656.