Each week on This Bites, dining critic Ann Christenson from Milwaukee Magazine and Radio Milwaukee's resident foodie Tarik Moody dig into the city's culinary and restaurant culture to help you find new spots, old favorites, and the best ingestibles around Milwaukee.
This week's episode discussed big news for Milwaukee and Wisconsin. James Beard Award finalist announcements. Wisconsin landed five nominees across five categories, and Milwaukee is right at the center of it. 1033 Omakase, the intimate Walker's Point counter spot from Chef Worawit Boonyapituksakul (Chef Ray), earned a nod for Best New Restaurant, putting it alongside heavyweights in Houston, New York, Philly, and D.C.
This Bites actually covered the opening back in December 2024 as one of the most exciting new concepts in recent Milwaukee memory, so seeing it on the national shortlist hits different.
Meanwhile, Zak Baker of Ca'Lucchenzo in Wauwatosa is a finalist for Best Chef: Midwest, carrying the flag for the entire state against a strong field from Minneapolis, St. Louis and Omaha.
Add in Door County's Cultured Bakery, Sway Brewing & Blending, and Madison's Hastings Cameron, rounding out Wisconsin's five finalists, and you've got a picture of a state that the national food world is watching with real attention.
Winners will be announced June 15 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
Elsewhere in this episode:
- The third annual MKE Wine Weekend runs April 9–13 across multiple venues, featuring internationally recognized sommelier Cha McCoy, a free screening of the documentary Blind Ambition with Zimbabwean winemaker Tinashe Nyamudoka, and the GoodLand Wine Expo showcasing more than 60 wines from under-recognized producers. Tickets are available now with a $10 discount on Signature Trio bundles through April 5.
- Nite Owl is back for its 78th season across from the airport on Layton Ave., with co-owner John Roepke still behind the grill since 1958. Same burgers, same flat-top, same rule: they close when the beef runs out, so get there early.
- We pour one out for Rare Steakhouse, which closed its downtown Milwaukee location just shy of its 10th anniversary.
- And Eagle Park Brewing & Distilling scooped up SoulBoxer Cocktail Co., launching a new wave of canned cocktails — including a Brandy Old Fashioned, Bourbon Old Fashioned and Lakehouse Lemonade — that started hitting shelves this week.
Ann and I like to think we have our own signature style, although for the life of me, I can't imagine what it is. Still, we're glad you enjoy it and hope you're a subscriber to the podcast so you don't miss an episode.
