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More than 30 Milwaukee-area chefs, including from DanDan Milwaukee, The Bartolotta Restaurants, Lupi & Iris and Sanford Restaurant, came together Sunday for a fundraiser to raise money to fight Kennedy's Disease. Check out the attached slideshow to see photos of the tasty event.
Many of the chefs, who had either been finalists or won James Beard awards, came together to help one of their own — Dan Jacobs, the co-owner of DanDan in Milwaukee's Third Ward, who has Kennedy's Disease. The event drew more than 400 Milwaukee business and community leaders to try the delicious samples at the Milwaukee Athletic Club in downtown Milwaukee.
The chefs included Paul Bartolotta of The Bartolotta Restaurants, Gregory León of Amilinda, Adam Siegel of Lupi & Iris, Justin Aprahamian of Sanford Restaurant, Dane Baldwin of The Diplomat, Karen Bell of Bavette La Boucherie, Kyle Knall of Birch, Thomas Hauck of Taverne at Woodlake in Kohler, Adam Pawlak of Egg & Flour Pasta Bar and several top chefs from the Chicago and Madison areas.
Jacobs and his business partner Dan Van Rite, semifinalists multiple times for James Beard Foundation award recognition, including in 2024, own and operate DanDan, 360 E. Erie St., and EsterEv, also at the same address but with plans to open in a new space at 2165 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. in Milwaukee.
Jacobs was recently announced as a contender on Season 21 of Bravo’s "Top Chef," which was filmed in Milwaukee.
The partners opened DanDan in 2016, the same year Jacobs was diagnosed with Kennedy's Disease, a genetic, neuromuscular disability that "slowly deteriorates one's ability to walk, speak, swallow and use your hands," notes a website for the fundraiser, called Dim Sum Give Some.
"In light of my diagnosis, my mission has evolved to inspire people who are differently abled to pursue their passions, especially in the culinary world, where physical constraints can be a big barrier,” Jacobs said in a press release.
Dishes included seared sea scallops with sautéed porcini mushrooms, parmigiano reggiano and black truffle mushrooms from The Bartolotta Restaurants and white sweet potato with trout roe, dill and sake lees cream from Lulu Cafe & Bar in Milwaukee.