Reporter Jelissa Burns is looking for reader suggestions as northeast Wisconsin's new food and drink reporter

Hello northeastern Wisconsin; my name is Jelissa Burns, and I'll be serving up your favorite food and drink news.

If you've seen my name under any headlines in the past year, it was likely a story about the housing market, inflation prices or economic developments in the area. I've been the Post-Crescent's personal finance reporter for a little more than a year now and have enjoyed my time learning about, and reporting on, the economic status of the Fox Valley.

Covering what Wisconsin grocery stores can save shoppers the most money during inflation, housing unit developments in the Fox Valley and experts economic predictions for the new year has given me great insights into the community, which I hope to carry into my new role. I even did a story last summer on tipping culture and how Wisconsinites feel about the tradition.

Before coming to Appleton, I was the streetwise reporter for the Sheboygan Press, where I covered stories like a homeless, wheelchair-bound mother looking for housing for her family and affordable housing aiding the city's decreasing population.

I moved to Oshkosh in 2016 to attend the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh for my degree in journalism and have lived there since. I interned for a short time at the Fox Cities Magazine during my time in school and found myself working in Sheboygan not too long after graduating in 2021.

Although I've familiarized myself with a good majority of Oshkosh and the Fox Valley through my time here, there's still a lot about these cities I need to discover, including the food and drink scene.

I always get a little excited when I discover a new themed restaurant, a cute niche café or diner that's become a staple of its community, which is why it only makes sense that I make the transition to cover food and drink for the Fox Valley and Green Bay areas.

As the regional food and drink reporter, I'll be focusing on highlighting signature foods and drinks from local restaurants, diving deeper into the history of restaurants and their owners and covering all things food-related for local festivals and events. I'll be reporting on why there might be a lack of certain chain restaurants in the area or looking at how Wisconsin food performs on the national stage.

I'm based out of the Post-Crescent, but my reporting will cover northeastern Wisconsin, from Fond du Lac to Door County and all areas in between.

My goal is to take a closer look into the food scene, not just report on new restaurant openings — that territory is already covered by Buzz reporter Alexandria Bursiek Kloehn in the Fox Valley and Streetwise reporter Ariel Perez in Green Bay.

Seeing as I am still fairly new to the area, having grown up in Racine, I would love to hear any and all suggestions our readers might have for me.

Do you know someone who has owned a restaurant for a while and deserves to be appreciated for their contribution to the area? Have you heard of a local restaurant that's unveiling a new signature wine or beer? Ever tried a meal at a restaurant that just can't be replicated anywhere else? Maybe your favorite place is run a little differently than normal and you believe it should be highlighted?

These are all topics I am interested in diving into more, and your suggestions can bring them to light.

Please feel free to DM me on X (Twitter), email me or text or call me with any tips and story ideas you may have for my new role.

I look forward to giving you more insights on your favorite restaurants, and maybe helping you find new ones, too.

Reach Jelissa Burns at 920-453-5107 or jburns1@gannett.com. Follow her on X (Twitter) at @burns_jelissa or on Instagram at burns_jelissa.

This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Meet Jelissa Burns, the Appleton, Green Bay area food & drink reporter