Amilinda's Rising Stars pop-up dinner will feature 5 up-and-coming Milwaukee chefs

Rachel Bernhard, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Guest chefs for Amilinda's Rising Stars pop-up dinner include (clockwise from upper left) Sammi Sandrin of Midwest Sad, Trevor Carper of Amilinda, Adam Kemmler of 1033, Jesse Wendell of Uncle Wolfie's and Elijah Loebbaka of the Nite Wolf.
Guest chefs for Amilinda's Rising Stars pop-up dinner include (clockwise from upper left) Sammi Sandrin of Midwest Sad, Trevor Carper of Amilinda, Adam Kemmler of 1033, Jesse Wendell of Uncle Wolfie's and Elijah Loebbaka of the Nite Wolf.

It’s been a banner year for Milwaukee dining recognition, between “Top Chef: Wisconsin,” local restaurants getting nods in national publications and a handful of hometown chefs making the semifinal and final round in the 2024 James Beard Awards.

One of those chefs is Gregory León, owner of Amilinda, 315 E. Wisconsin Ave., and while he’s grateful for the recognition he’s received over the years, he’s creating a platform for up-and-coming chefs to showcase their talents in the kitchen.

On April 29 Amilinda will host the Rising Stars pop-up dinner, a five-course menu presented by five chefs across Milwaukee.

Participating chefs include Amilinda Sous Chef Trevor Carper, 1033 Executive Chef Adam Kemmler, Nite Wolf Executive Chef Elijah Loebbaka, Uncle Wolfie’s Breakfast Tavern Executive Chef Jesse Wendell and Midwest Sad bakery chef/owner Sammi Sandrin, who will open a brick-and-mortar carryout shop at 770 E. Wisconsin Ave. this spring.

“I’ve been thinking a lot lately about all the press we’ve received for the restaurant, but I’m usually the only one who gets mentioned. That happens all the time with restaurants, but there are so many talented chefs and cooks who don’t get a lot of exposure,” León said. "These chefs are working their tails off in the kitchen, and they deserve to get a little more recognition."

The Rising Stars dinner is designed to let the chefs flex their cooking chops. Each chef will cook and serve one course, with Carper creating an additional welcome bite for guests. The menu includes:

  • Kemmler: Hokkaido scallop, marinated cucumber, jalapeno/cilantro emulsion, prawn stock tempura and yuzu kosho salt

  • Loebbaka: Foie-nton, duck consomme and black truffle mayu

  • Carper: Keralan curry short ribs, Sticky coconut rice, fried roti and pol sambol

  • Wendell: Smoked nettle dao xiao mian noodles, ramp shacha, pickled ramps, soy marinated morels, chili crisp and fried shallots

  • Sandrin: Matcha and roasted white chocolate cheesecake, sesame and honey brittle crust and pomegranate coulis

The dinner takes place from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. April 29. Tickets are $130 per person with an optional drink pairing available for $40. They can be purchased online at exploretock.com/amilinda.

León said he hopes to bring in other rising-star chefs in the future, turning the dinner into a regular series, potentially held monthly or every other month.

“I’d love to constantly invite people who are working their tails off in the kitchen and aren’t getting the recognition they deserve,” he said. “All the money from the dinners will go directly to the visiting chefs.”

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Amilinda's Rising Stars pop-up dinner to feature 5 Milwaukee chefs

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