Looking for a roundup of Milwaukee food and drink news? Then take a bite of our cleverly titled, bi-weekly Food/Drink Roundup! This week: RNC news!
• The Republican National Convention is in town this week, and Milwaukee culture is officially On The Map! National—hell, global!—news outlets have been tripping over themselves writing about our fantastic neighborhoods, our beautiful beaches, our vibrant art scene, and our…oh, wait. It’s mostly been about piles of pasta on a wooden board.
Yes, an X post from Chicago news anchor Brandon Pope went viral earlier this week, praising Milwaukee’s “UNDERRATED” food scene and showing off a “pasta flight” from Brady Street restaurant Dorsia. Behold:
Milwaukee’s food scene is UNDERRATED and deserves respect. Crew dinner last night. Yes, this is a pasta flight. pic.twitter.com/youC7pFdTk
— Brandon Pope TV (@BpopeTV) July 15, 2024
And, well, people had opinions. “These ‘Pasta Flights’ From Milwaukee Are Making People Very, Very, Very Mad,” proclaimed BuzzFeed. “The internet can’t handle Dorsia serving pasta flights on wooden boards,” proclaimed OnMilwaukee. “Oh god, we forgot this place is named after the place in American Psycho,” proclaimed us.
At least Dorsia owner Jeno Cataldo has a sense of humor about the whole thing. “I’ll need to call you back,” he told OnMilwaukee. “I’m at the hardware store picking up some two-by-fours for dinner service.” [BuzzFeed, OnMilwaukee]
• How are the rest of Milwaukee’s restaurants, bars, and other businesses faring during the RNC? Surely the promised 50,000 people and the estimated $200 million economic boost have been a huge boon for local spots! Especially those downtown! Let’s check some headlines…
• “‘A complete dud’: Restaurants and businesses around Fiserv Forum are struggling.” [WUWM 89.7 FM]
• “Need a Reservation? Downtown Restos Have a LOT of Them.” [Milwaukee Magazine]
• “Downtown Milwaukee bars, restaurants report slow sales from the RNC. Business improving for some.” [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
• “RNC 2024 Day 3: Letdown for Downtown Milwaukee businesses.” [620 WTMJ]
• “Downtown Milwaukee restaurants still hope to attract RNC customers.” [Milwaukee Business Journal]
• “Ambrosia Events sees last-minute RNC business, but not what was promised.” [Milwaukee Business Journal]
• So, um, there you go. Support your local businesses, Milwaukee. Be like Bert Lauderdale: drink the beer and eat the food for those who aren’t.
#BertAlert update on the lack of economic influx, brother.
Gimme a hell yea @milwaukeerecord #weatheryoulikeitornot #news pic.twitter.com/fmcnSpOCbI— Bert Lauderdale ⚡ (@BertWeather) July 17, 2024
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