It’s no secret that, in general, chefs are incredible drinkers. Between the long hours spent on their feet in hot kitchens, the chaotic work atmosphere, and the generally thankless aspects of the job, its hard to keep up with chefs once they finally get a chance to unwind at a bar after their shift ends. That doesn’t mean we can’t try to match their pace.
Last summer, Milwaukee Record filmed the pilot episode of a new series called Shot For Shot With Chefs. The booze-fueled and food-focused web series features hapless host Tyler Maas talking about the ins and outs of Milwaukee dining with a local chef over some drinks. Okay, lots of drinks. The format is broad and the conversation will touch a variety of areas, but there’s one rule: when the chef drinks, Tyler also has to drink.
The first installment features Goodkind co-owner/chef Paul Zerkel, a respected name in Milwaukee dining and a legendary drinker by his own right. After two-plus hours together and 17 shots apiece, we emerged with a few minutes of interesting, informative, and entertaining footage. We also left with the harsh realization we can’t do that to ourselves again. At best, the series will need some re-tooling to move forward. At worst, this could be the one and only episode.
Join Milwaukee Record at The Cooperage on Monday, June 4—during Downtown Dining Week—to watch the first (and possibly last?) episode of Shot For Shot With Chefs. Starting at 7 p.m., The Coop will host a premiere event featuring a pop-up menu crafted by Zerkel and Taco Moto chef Mitch Ciohon, specialty cocktails from Great Northern Distilling, draft beer from Company Brewing, and a “Zerkel” special that consists of a High Life and a shot of whiskey. At sundown, we’ll talk about (the parts we can remember from) that drunken night with Zerkel and director Samantha Kirchoff, show some outtakes that didn’t make the final cut, and debut the first Shot For Shot With Chefs.
If that’s not enough to get you to attend this free event, maybe this teaser we filmed after the shoot was over will sway you. We’ll see you there! Shot For Shot With Chefs is sponsored by Boone & Crockett, Company Brewing, and Great Northern Distilling.