Hey, I’m here to talk about surely one of the city’s most-talked-about people – chef Dan Jacobs. The co-owner of local restaurants DanDan and EsterEv – and a contestant on this season’s “Top Chef” – is going to be real busy this year. Not only is he gearing up for the reopening of EsterEv in a new space (2165 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.) in Bay View, he and partner Dan Van Rite are hosting a series of meals featuring guest chefs, including some fellow contestants from “Top Chef.”
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
Kicking it off is the EsterEv Guest Chef Series held on select Tuesday nights (6:30 p.m.) beginning in late April and running through November. Here is the schedule:
- April 30 – Amanda Turner (Olamaie, Austin, TX), also on “Top Chef”
- May 7 – Kevin D’Andrea (FoliePop’s, Austin, TX); also on “Top Chef”
- August 6 – Danny Garcia & Sumaiya Bangee (Saga Hospitality Group, New York, NY), Garcia is a “Top Chef” contestant as well
- September 17 – Jorge Guzman (Petite León, Minneapolis, MN)
- October 15 – Savannah Miller (M Tempura, Durham, NC); “Top Chef” contestant, too!
- November 24 – Cole Ersel (Milkweed Collective, Milwaukee, WI)
Each dinner features eight courses and 10-12 dishes. The cost is $150 per person (plus $80 for optional beverage pairings).
Tickets are available on Tock: www.exploretock.com/esterev.
The DanDan Dim Sum Guest Chef Series is happening on select Sunday mornings, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. The four-course meals feature seven dishes; the cost is $100 per person. (360 E. Erie St., Third Ward)
Here is the lineup:
- May 5 – Soo Ahn (Adalina, Chicago IL); eagle eyes will have noted that Ahn is a contestant on “Last Chance Kitchen,” which is tightly connected to “Top Chef”
- August 4 – Manny Barella (Jaguar Bolera and Camp Pickle, Denver, CO); yep, a “Top Chef” contestant
- September 8 – Sean Pharr (Mint Mark and The Muskellounge, Madison, WI)
- October 27 – Michelle Wallace (B’tween Sandwich Co., Houston, TX); you bet she’s on “Top Chef”
- November 3 – Cesar Zapata (Phuc Yea, Miami, FL)
Tickets can be purchased here: www.exploretock.com/dandan.
