Loosen up your belts — it’s Food Slam time

Ask yourself: Do I enjoy eating? If the answer is yes, you and your taste buds will want to attend WMSE’s ninth annual Food Slam, returning this Friday to give the gift of Milwaukee’s best food to its hungriest citizens. Two dozen local restaurants will hand out a variety of samples, with myriad options for carnivores and vegetarians alike; whether you’re a health nut or harboring a sweet tooth, you won’t go home hungry.

Some the eateries featured this year are Beans and Barley, The Milwaukee Ale House, Nanakusa Japanese Restaurant, Mamasita’s Tamales, and many, many more with gastronomic offerings as eclectic as WMSE’s music library.

Taking the food “sampling” to a whole new level is the Local Yokel Team Challenge, a behemoth competition the likes of which might leave you sated and satisfied for the whole day — or swearing off food forever.

Meet the Local Yokel, a burger of mammoth proportions that literally comes with instructions on how to actually get it into your mouth. What’s on it, you ask? Lettuce, BBQ pork, a burger patty, bacon, Swiss cheese, caramelized onions, mushrooms, beer-battered jalapeño sticks, Ranch dressing, a sunny side up egg, a bun – topped with… wait for it… a breakfast sausage garnish. Let that sink in for a minute.

The Local Yokel can be found both at Comet and Honeypie Café, and $2 from every sale will go to WMSE. Brave souls with high metabolisms and plenty of elastic in their waistbands can put together teams of up to ten people — the goal being to try and eat as many of these intimidating burgers as you can before the Food Slam. The winning team will get free entry, a cartoon caricature of each member, $50 to Comet or Honeypie and t-shirts for the whole gang. Size XXL, we imagine.

But the Food Slam isn’t just a great place to stuff your face; when your food baby becomes large and unwieldly, bid at the silent auction, featuring unique items donated by local businesses such as Rishi Tea, Anytime Fitness and The Establishment. Throughout the night, WMSE staples Tom Wanderer and Wax Addicts Sam and Mickey will be spinning sweet jams.

There’s also a cash bar, so you can have what the French call a “digestif” with beer from the Milwaukee Brewing Company and a selection of fine Argentinian wines from Trapiche.

The Food Slam is close to selling out, so if you haven’t got your ticket already, we suggest you hurry up — there’s a good chance that getting tickets at the door will not be an option. If you’re lucky enough to get in, remember to bring two or more non-perishable food items — the Food Slam is partnering with the Hunger Task Force. Not only will your donation of canned goods go to Milwaukeeans in need, but you’ll also get one complimentary beverage ticket for your kindness.

The Food Slam takes place on Friday, Oct. 1 from 6 – 10 p.m. at the Grohmann Museum (1000 N. Broadway — on the MSOE campus). The price of tickets is $30 and the event is open only to attendees 21+.