Milwaukee Hosts 2026 Annual International Food Wine and Travel Writers Association Conference
The 2026 Annual International Food Wine and Travel Writers Association was hosted at the Potawatomi Hotel in marvelous Milwaukee, home to great food and drink, amazing architecture, arts, historic lighthouses, friendly folks – and the World Champion Milwaukee Brewers! We enjoyed lots of great food and drink, including the newest fine dining restaurant in Milwaukee, High Stakes by Paul Bartolotta, and Mader’s, the “Most Famous Restaurant in Wisconsin.” We toured a historic lighthouse, visited famous breweries, made a trip to City Hall, and so much more.
Paul Bartolotta’s New High Stakes Steakhouse
The lucky folks at IFWTWA attended a fantastic dinner at the recently opened High Stakes Steakhouse, the latest fine dining establishment owned and operated by the culinary genius Paul Bartolotta. Guests enter the front doors into the fabulous Peacock Lounge, a beautiful introduction to the High Stakes Restaurant. A life-size peacock perched with cascading multicolored tail feathers greets customers along with a striking blue lacquer bar.
The striking interior of the lounge and dining room was designed by Jay Franke Design. Franke designed both the main steakhouse and the adjacent Peacock Lounge, drawing inspiration from 1930s Art Deco glamour and classic London lounges. The amazing décor set the stage for the outstanding food and service we experienced at High Stakes that evening.
I was excited about experiencing this wonderful new venue by Paul Bartolotta, an experienced chef with a first-class resume. After stints in New York, Italy, France, Milwaukee, and Las Vegas, the multiple James Beard recipient returned to Milwaukee. Bartolotta recently added High Stakes to his portfolio.
The steak was amazing! Chef Bartolotta’s Signature Filet Mignon, a tender Filet of Beef, Porcini Mushroom Bone Marrow Herb Crust, and Barolo Wine Sauce served with Potato Mousseline and Wilted Spinach was superb. The robust 2023 Sangiovese-Syrah, Rocca delle Maice from Italy, was the perfect pairing. Dessert was the delicious Baba Au Rhum Martinique, with White Chocolate-Crème Chantilly and Martinique Dark Rum.
My steak meal at High Stakes was one of my favorite meals in Milwaukee. The pan-seared Salmon and the Creamy Risotto some of my table ordered also looked delicious. Take a chance at High Stakes – it’s a sure bet.
Mader’s Restaurant, The “Most Famous Restaurant” in Milwaukee
Since opening in downtown Milwaukee over 120 years ago, Mader’s has been voted “Most Famous Restaurant in Wisconsin”. I first became acquainted with Mader’s from stories told by my father-in-law, who worked at Mader’s when he was going to Barber’s School in Milwaukee back in the 1940s. We enjoyed authentic German cuisine including hearty schnitzel, giant pretzels, potato pancakes, craft beers, and a delicious fresh-baked apple strudel. My schnitzel was tender and flavorful, and paired perfectly with the potato pancakes and German craft beer.
There are many delicious desserts on the menu, but I had to go with the legendary Apple Strudel with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. If you decide to go with the fresh-baked apple strudel, order it when you order your main meal since it takes a little extra time to warm up and plate.
In addition to authentic German food and drink, Mader’s Restaurant features a stunning collection of art, coat of arms, vintage chandeliers, traditional beer steins, antiques, suits of medieval armor, and other Bavarian decor. For a true taste of Germany, Mader’s should be at the top of your list.
Third Ward Public Market Food Court and Shops
Milwaukee’s Third Ward Public Market offers a lively dining experience featuring diverse food options, casual eateries, and inviting spaces. After decades of decay and negligence after WWII, the urban rehabilitation and revitalization of Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward is widely celebrated as one of the most successful turnaround stories in the American Midwest. The Third Ward has been completely transformed into a popular hub for the arts, dining, tourism, and upscale residential living.
St. Paul Fish Company, La Masa Empanada Bar, Forage Kitchen, Foltz Family Market, and Alan’s Smokehouse are just a few of the many popular eateries in the market. Other vendors include the Thief Wine Shop & Bar, The Spice House, Oro di Olivia, Freese’s Candy Shoppe, and others are conveniently located inside the market. While much work has already been completed, ongoing construction and street reconfiguration projects continue to further improve the Third Ward.
Wisconsin Wine and Cheeses
When you hear the name Wisconsin, we often think of the fabulous cheese the state is famous for. At the IFWTWA Conference, we were fortunate to learn about and sample wonderful Wisconsin wines and cheeses. Master Cheesemaker Chris Renard’s of Renard’s Cheese provided an informative insight into the cheese-making process and cheeses made in Wisconsin. We learned that Wisconsin is the only state in the US that has a Master Cheesemaker program, and leads the nations in creating some of the best cheeses in the nation.
We also had Chauncey Behm, Chief Growth and Innovation Officer and a partner from Pine River Cheese Spread tell the interesting story of the evolution of cheese spreads in the state of Wisconsin. These popular cheese spreads (yes, they are made with real cheese) include flavors like Kickin’Mango, Maple Bacon, Cranberry Jalapeno, and Raspberry Chipotle. Pine River served us Arancini, flatbread pizza, and short rib sliders made with their award-winning cheese spreads.
North Point Lighthouse in Milwaukee
The historic North Point Lighthouse in Milwaukee stands as a beautiful reminder of the city’s maritime past. Founded in 1888, North Point Lighthouse is a historic maritime landmark in Milwaukee’s Lake Park. Standing 74 feet tall, this iconic iron tower offers panoramic views of Lake Michigan and the city skyline. Mary Meegan, the delightful historical guide and curatorial committee member at North Point, led us on an insightful tour of the lighthouse and its history.
Frank Lloyd Wright Affordable Homes in Milwaukee
Frank Lloyd Wright’s houses on Burnham Street in Milwaukee showcase his vision of affordable, practical housing through distinctive Prairie-style architecture. Starting in 1911, Wright developed an extensive housing program designed to bring affordable, high-quality modern homes to the working class. His innovative system utilized kits of precut standardized lumber to make construction efficient and to reduce material waste and labor costs. However, the program was halted because of World War I. After the war, Wright and his partner never restarted the program, and fewer than twenty of these homes were ever built.
We toured four of these homes built on Milwaukee’s historic Burnham Block in 1915. They had many of the earmarks of Wright’s larger, more famous homes like Falling Water and Taliesin, but are simpler and smaller for the budget-conscious homeowner. Prominent features of these homes include bold horizontal lines and low profiles, an open floor plan, and the hearth as the visual anchor. They also bring the outdoors in, using native materials and custom built ins.
City Hall, Once the Tallest Inhabitable Building in the World
Milwaukee City Hall, completed in 1895, is a magnificent Flemish Renaissance-style landmark designed by Henry C. Koch. At the time of its construction, Milwaukee City Hall was the tallest inhabitable building in the world. This 41,000-ton brick-and-stone building sits on a foundation of 2,584 white pine wooden poles driven deep into the mud. The foundational engineering concept used for Milwaukee City Hall is very similar to the system that supports the city of Venice in Italy’s shallow waters.
We had fun ringing the large bell in the bell tower. Named the Solomon Juneau Bell in honor of Milwaukee’s first mayor, this massive, 22,500-pound bell is ten times the weight of the famous Liberty Bell in Philadelphia.
Women’s Club of Wisconsin Celebrates 150th Anniversary
Our closing ceremony was held at the beautiful historic Women’s Club of Wisconsin on Kilbourn Avenue, one of the nation’s oldest continuously operating women’s clubs. The club features historic rooms, a Grand Ballroom that holds up to 200 guests, a dining room, work areas, and valet parking. IFWTWA was privileged to have Carrie Matteson, President of the Woman’s Club of Wisconsin, as Keynote Speaker for our 2026 Annual Conference.
Milwaukee Soldiers Home
Milwaukee Offers the Best of the Wisconsin
Come to Milwaukee and treat yourself to all this wonderful Midwestern city has to offer.
Thanks to Visit Milwaukee for hosting me. All opinions are my own.
