Eleven top Milwaukee chefs will host a benefit dinner Monday May 23 with original gourmet dishes inspired by the popular Waffle House’s menu to raise funds for the Milwaukee Homeless Veterans Initiative.

Two of the event’s chefs are vets, some of the kitchen staff are recent vets and other chefs are in military families. The chefs and staff want to raise money for homeless vets, inspire recent vets to get back on their feet and make more people aware of the Milwaukee Homeless Veterans Initiative (MHVI) and encourage greater community involvement.

“Milwaukee Chefs for Homeless Vets: Waffle House Re-Imagined” takes place from 6:30 p.m. – 10 p.m. at Merriment Social, 240 E Pittsburgh Ave., Milwaukee.

The evening will feature the chefs at stations serving their unique Waffle House-inspired creations. Another station will serve Waffle House-inspired adult beverages. Tickets are $150 and include food and drinks (wine, beer and cocktail options). Seating is limited. For more information and to buy tickets online, visit: http://www.mkehomelessvets.org/event-chefs-for-vets.htm

Participating chefs are:

• Andrew Miller, chef and co-owner of Merriment Social and Third Coast Provisions.
• Justin Carlisle, chef and owner of Ardent; National Guard veteran, finalist twice for a James Beard Foundation Award.
• Susie Fortman, personal chef, OEF Army veteran.
• Erik Hansen, chef at Supper.
• Thomas Hauck, chef and owner of c. 1880 and Karl Ratzsch’s; James Beard Foundation Award nominee.
• Aaron Patin, chef and owner, Iron Grate BBQ Co.
• Rosy Rodriguez, chef at Company Brewing.
• Dan Van Rite and Dan Jacobs, owners/chefs at Dandan.
• Paul Zerkel and Lisa Kirkpatrick, chefs and co-owners at Goodkind.

Proceeds will benefit Milwaukee Homeless Veterans Initiative’s outreach, home support
program, emergency food pantry and Women Veterans Initiative, which have helped 2,600 veterans and families since 2008, and its new initiative, VetsNet. VetsNet is a collaborative effort with a dozen governmental and non-profit partners that offers a wide range of services to veterans and military families in crisis.

News release at: https://app.box.com/s/8kmini8lch0fzibstaao1c6hizjhn6co