What is Indulge Milwaukee? Everything you need to know about the food, wine and spirits festival coming to American Family Field.
Have you ever wanted to enjoy samples from 35 of your favorite Milwaukee restaurants and dozens of wine and spirit brands all in one place?
And what if that place was in the stands of American Family Field?
If so, Aug. 20-21 is your lucky weekend.
The Wisconsin Restaurant Association Education Foundation and Badger Liquor are hosting the first Indulge Milwaukee food, wine and spirits tasting event at American Family Field.
Inspired by high-end food and beverage festivals like Chicago Gourmet and Aspen Food and Wine, Indulge will bring 35 of Milwaukee's locally owned restaurants and 60 local, national and international wine and spirit brands to the home of the Brewers.
Additionally, the event will feature samples from 10 award-winning Wisconsin cheesemakers.
Attendees can also see food and drink demonstrations by industry experts, such as seventh-generation Jim Beam master distiller Fred Noe and Larry O'Brien, one of 269 Master Sommeliers in the world.
When is Indulge Milwaukee?
Saturday, Aug. 20 from noon to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 21 from noon to 5 p.m.
Tickets are good for only one day of the event.
Where is the event?
American Family Field, 1 Brewers Way in, Milwaukee.
How much are tickets?
Regular-admission tickets are $150 and allow you to access samples from 35 restaurants, 60 beverage brands and 10 cheesemakers. You can also see culinary and mixology demonstrations from industry experts.
VIP tickets are $350 and include everything in the regular-admission package in addition to an exclusive, two-hour VIP experience.
VIP attendees get an on-field dining experience in the dugout catered by the Bartolotta Restaurants and 12 wine and spirit brands, each offering pours not typically available in stores.
Tickets are available online.
Who benefits?
All proceeds from Indulge Milwaukee benefit the WRA Education Foundation, which oversees workforce development programs for future restaurant workers, including the ProStart program.
ProStart is an instructional and mentorship program that prepares high school students for careers in the restaurant industry and hosts high school culinary competitions. It is available in more than 115 high schools statewide.
ProStart "is really helping us to attract future workers," said Connie Fedor, executive director of the education foundation. "That's one of our goals with (Indulge), really investing in the future of restaurants and attracting workers, because that's the No. 1 issue in a lot of our restaurants. They don't have the staff."
More than 70% of U.S. restaurants are understaffed, according to a September 2021 National Restaurant Association survey of 4,000 restaurant operators.
More:35 restaurants, 60 beverage makers and 10 cheesemakers will be at the first Indulge Milwaukee
Which restaurants will be there?
Antigua Latin Inspired Kitchen
Aria at Saint Kate
Bacchus – A Bartolotta Restaurant
Bartolotta’s Lake Park Bistro
Black Shoe Catering
Blue’s Egg
Bridgewater Modern Grill
Brunch
Buckatabon
Buttermint Finer Dining
Café Benelux
Café Hollander
Canal Street Cafe
Carnevor
Centraal Grand Café & Tappery
The Cheel
DanDan
Dorsia
The Firepit
Harbor House
Joey Gerard’s – A Bartolotta Supper Club
Mason Street Grill
Maxie’s
Miller Time Pub
Milwaukee Chophouse
Mo’s a Place for Steaks
Mr. B’s – A Bartolotta Steakhouse
Onesto
Ristorante Bartolotta
Ruyi
SafeHouse
Smoke Shack
Story Hill BKC
When are the culinary and mixology demos?
Demos will take place from 1-4 p.m. each day.
Saturday demos
2 p.m. — "An Elevated Cabernet Sauvignon Experience: Featuring Mountain Grown Cabernets" with Larry O'Brien, Master Sommelier of Jackson Family Wines.
4 p.m. — "Whiskey Heads & Tales with Fred B. Noe; seventh generation Master Distiller of the world’s #1 selling bourbon, Jim Beam."
Sunday demos
2 p.m. — "The Flavors of Nature with Seedlip Non-Alcoholic Spirits" with Aria Accetta, Seedlip brand ambassador.
4 p.m. — "From Washington to Wisconsin: Tasting the Single Vineyards from Chateau Ste. Michelle" with Alan Clemmensen of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Everything you need to know about Indulge Milwaukee
