El Rey celebrates 45 years, Milwaukee Taco Fest and more food and drink news
El Rey Family Market will celebrate 45 years of business on May 13 with a community fiesta from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at all four south side stores. The daylong event features a cake cutting at 1 p.m., with mariachi performances from noon to 3 p.m., followed by a piñata break for children ages 10 and younger.
Inspired by their family-owned corner grocery store, Ernesto Villarreal and his brothers Heriberto and Armando opened a small store to supply Mexican goods and spices in 1978. The brand has grown to include a corn tortilla factory and stores at 916 S. Chavez Drive, 1320 W. Burnham St., 3524 W. Burnham St. and 5200 W. Oklahoma Ave.
Milwaukee Taco Fest set for June 17
There's a fiesta on the lakefront on June 17: Milwaukee Taco Fest. The festival is held in two sessions, lunch from noon to 3 p.m., and dinner from 5 to 8 p.m., at Maier Festival Park, south gate, 100 N. Harbor Drive.
All tickets include admission to the event, taco tickets, access to food booths and a full bar, live music, yard games and freestyle wrestling matches from Mondo Lucha. VIP tickets allow a one hour early entry for lunch or dinner, and additional taco tickets and drink options.
Tickets cost $25 for general admission, $50 for a VIP package. New this year is a Super VIP package for $125, which includes unlimited bar privileges in a private lounge. For a list of vendors and ticket options, visit milwaukeetacofest.com
Wisconsin State Fair Culinary Competition entry deadline is May 24
Do you love baking and cooking as a hobby and have a recipe to share? The Wisconsin State Fair welcomes amateurs and first-timers to enter the Culinary Competitions Contests. Entry categories include canning, breads, cookies, pies, cakes, decorated cakes and many new “Seasoned with Creativity” themed categories for 2023.
Enter by May 24 for the competitions you want to enter. Entry drop-off occurs on select days in July and August, in preparation to be showcased at the Wisconsin State Fair. For complete rules, visit wistatefair.com/competitions/culinary/
Wisconsin has 5 new Master Cheesemakers
Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin and the University of Wisconsin Center for Dairy Research announced the 2023 graduating class of Wisconsin Master Cheesemakers, earning certifications in cheddar, blue cheese, mozzarella and curds.
The Masters medal was awarded to: Kirk Auchue of Saputo Cheese and Black Creek in Fond du Lac, certified in cheddar; Timothy Stearns of Land O’Lakes in Kiel, certified in cheddar; Tony Hook of Hook’s Cheese in Mineral Point, certified in blue; Ben Shibler of Pagel’s Ponderosa/Ron’s Wisconsin Cheese in Kewaunee, certified in mozzarella; and Master Cheesemaker Ryan LaGrander of LaGrander’s Hillside Dairy in Stanley, earning an additional certification in cheddar and curds.
The Master Cheesemaker program was established in 1994, and Wisconsin is the only state in the U.S. with this level of certification, according to the Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin. A licensed Wisconsin cheesemaker must have over 10 years of experience before being considered for the three-year program in making specific varieties of cheese. Read more about Wisconsin’s master cheesemakers at www.wisconsincheese.com/the-cheese-life-blog
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: El Rey celebrates 45th anniversary, more Milwaukee food and drink news
