After nearly two years in the making, today Visit Milwaukee is proud to announce the digital edition of its first-ever cookbook, “The Milwaukee Cookbook,” which features nearly 100 recipes from over 60 local chefs. Authored by prolific Milwaukee Magazine dining critic Ann Christenson with photographs by acclaimed photographer Kevin Miyazaki, “The Milwaukee Cookbook” celebrates the flavors of Milwaukee in all forms. Now, visitors and locals alike can explore those dynamic flavors through a collection of personal recipes from local chefs who champion Milwaukee's diverse food and restaurant culture every day.
“We’re so proud to launch 'The Milwaukee Cookbook' and know that it will continue to elevate Milwaukee’s reputation as a world-class dining destination,” says Visit Milwaukee’s Chief Marketing Officer Josh Albrecht. “We know that dining experiences drive visitation and spending in Milwaukee, and we’re certain this Cookbook will add to that. We can’t wait for even more visitors to see all that Milwaukee’s amazing chef-driven dining scene has to offer.”
With a foreword penned by four-time nominated, and two-time James Beard award-winning Chef Paul Bartolotta, the Cookbook features recipes for drinks and appetizers, entrees and desserts, all of which have a personal story from the chef that created it. As a project led by Visit Milwaukee’s Creative Director Kathryn Lavey, the Cookbook is designed to capitalize on Milwaukee’s star turn in Bravo’s “Top Chef” while giving visitors nearly 100 more reasons to choose Milwaukee.
The Cookbook will be promoted through Visit Milwaukee’s paid and earned channels as well as through a new food and beverage-themed monthly newsletter, and through a partnership with Foureva Media’s podcast.
The physical edition of the Cookbook will be offered for sale through visitmilwaukee.org in time for the 2024 holiday season.
About “The Milwaukee Cookbook’s” Co-Creators
Kevin J. Miyazaki is a photographer and artist based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His food, travel, portrait and interior photography has been featured in publications including The New York Times, Smithsonian, Food Network, House Beautiful, Architectural Digest, Martha Stewart Living and AARP. He has photographed nine cookbooks, including two for Milwaukee authors: "Good Stock: Life on a Low Simmer", by Sandy D’Amato and "The New Art of Coffee" by Ryan Castelaz. Miyazaki’s artwork has been included in exhibitions at the Museum of Wisconsin Art, the Haggerty Museum of Art, the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, Jewish Museum Milwaukee and the Hyde Park Art Center. His first public art commission, a collaboration with Indian Community School, is on view at the Baird Center in Milwaukee.
A Milwaukee native, Ann Christenson has written about Wisconsin food and food culture since the late 1990s and is the longtime dining editor at Milwaukee Magazine. Christenson was raised on simple Midwestern home cooking (think casseroles made from Betty Crocker recipe cards), burgers from the old Pig & Whistle in Shorewood and pizzas from Zaffiro’s. As a teen, she subscribed to Seventeen magazine and Bon Appetit – the recipes, evocative photos and travel stories in the latter publication helping shape her then-sprouting fascination with the culinary world. Christenson trained as a reporter and is inspired by the literary journalists (e.g., Tom Wolfe) who reimagined nonfiction in the 1960s and ‘70s. Her education has been immersive and includes cooking, reading great food writing (M.F.K. Fisher, Ruth Reichl), traveling, taking cooking classes, and dining – frequently and ardently – in restaurants that represent diverse cultures and traditions.