Visit Milwaukee today announced the release of the print edition of “Milwaukee Flavor: The Cookbook,” a collection of over 90 recipes and personal stories from more than 55 local chefs. The book, which is now available for purchase at Boswell Book Company, celebrates the city’s diverse culinary scene and arrives just in time for fall and holiday gifting.
“’Milwaukee Flavor: The Cookbook’ is more than a collection of recipes; it is a celebration of the people, places and traditions that make our city’s food culture unique. Each page tells a story of creativity, resilience and community, and we are proud to share this piece of Milwaukee with residents and visitors alike,” said Josh Albrecht, chief marketing officer at Visit Milwaukee.
The cookbook was originally introduced in May 2024 as a free digital collection. Written by longtime Milwaukee Magazine dining critic Ann Christenson and photographed by Wisconsin native Kevin J. Miyazaki, the project highlights the creativity and spirit of Milwaukee chefs in a format that blends recipes with personal stories. Beyond the recipes, each entry weaves in family traditions, culinary inspirations and cultural roots, giving readers a deeper sense of the people behind Milwaukee’s vibrant dining scene. The print version brings that content to life in a keepsake edition.
Two-time James Beard Award-winning chef and co-founder of The Bartolotta Restaurants Paul Bartolotta penned the foreword and Visit Milwaukee’s Creative Director Kathryn Lavey guided the design to ensure a broad representation of voices across the city’s food community. The book will also serve as a signature gift for media and meeting planners, allowing Visit Milwaukee to showcase the star power and diversity of the city’s restaurant scene in a new format.
To celebrate the release, Visit Milwaukee has planned a series of events, including the Milwaukee Flavor: Live! cooking demonstrations, created in partnership with Milwaukee Public Market, with chefs featured in the cookbook. Limited tickets remain for the final event in this series, which takes place October 8 and features chef Kyle Knall, whose restaurant Birch has earned widespread acclaim and whose new restaurant Cassis opens later this year. The event will include live cooking demonstrations, a tasting and conversation with the chef himself. Attendees will also have the opportunity to purchase the cookbook.
Another highlight will be the Milwaukee Flavor: Chef Talk at Boswell Book Company on Nov. 17 at 6:30 p.m. The free event will feature a four-chef panel moderated by Boswell’s Daniel Goldin. Panelists include Karen Bell of Bavette La Boucherie, Arielle Hawthorne of Twisted Plants, Stephanie Kegel of Kegel’s Inn and Tony Kora of Rice n Roll Bistro and Wauwatosa’s KIN by Rice n Roll. The discussion will be followed by a book signing. Capacity is limited to 250 guests and seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
“Milwaukee Flavor Live and our new Chef Talk event at Boswell give people two immersive ways to connect with the chefs featured in the cookbook. These events allow the community and visitors to taste, learn and celebrate what makes Milwaukee’s dining scene so distinctive,” Albrecht said. “We are thankful to Daniel and his team at Boswell for partnering with us to make the Milwaukee Flavor: Chef Talk possible and for their ongoing commitment to celebrating local voices and stories.”
The print edition of “Milwaukee Flavor: The Cookbook” is available for purchase at Boswell Book Company.
View and download more images of the cookbook here