Wisconsin Foodie
Press Release

New Season of Wisconsin Foodie Debuts New Host Chef Luke Zahm

New Episodes of Wisconsin Foodie Air Thursdays on Public Television Starting January 16

By - Jan 15th, 2020 08:40 pm
Luke Zahm. Photo by Pat McDonnell/Wisconsin Foodie.

Luke Zahm. Photo by Pat McDonnell/Wisconsin Foodie.

Milwaukee, Wis. (January 15, 2020) – Wisconsin Foodie debuts its 12th season with a new host Chef Luke Zahm, James Beard-nominated chef and owner of Driftless Cafe in Viroqua, Wis. Wisconsin Foodie is a two-time Emmy-award winning independent television series dedicated to discovering the stories behind the food we eat. New episodes will be released weekly on Thursdays starting January 16.

HOW TO WATCH: New episodes of Wisconsin Foodie will be released weekly on Thursdays at 7:30pm on PBS Wisconsin and at 9:30pm on Milwaukee PBS. The show also airs regionally on Chicago PBS and Twin Cities PBS. Viewers are encouraged to check local listings on the Wisconsin Foodie website www.WisconsinFoodie.com for additional air dates and times. Watch anytime on the Wisconsin Foodie YouTube Channel YouTube.com/wisconsinfoodie to watch episodes and behind the scenes footage.

“In our twelfth season we continue to celebrate the food-forward stories of our state that are shaped by this land told by a collection of Wisconsin’s finest farmers, food producers and chefs,” said Arthur Ircink, founder and director of Wisconsin Foodie. “As a chef, Zahm brings a new dynamic to the show with a true understanding of and appreciation for rural Wisconsin. His creative energy helps shape a new identity for the show with a season of experimentation, exploration and fun.”

In June 2019, Zahm was formally announced as host for the upcoming season. Chef Zahm and Ircink collaborate on each episode telling stories from Wisconsin’s food landscape.

“The show is a celebration of the spectrum of food culture in our state and the cultural warriors that have maintained traditions many of which have spanned generations,” Zahm said. “I’ve had the opportunity to immerse myself in the state’s strong, vibrant culture to help create broader awareness for our viewers of the stories of these places and the people. I want to shout from the rooftop to the rest of the world just how truly amazing Wisconsin is.”

Zahm makes his debut in the first episode showcasing Miesfeld’s, a family-owned and operated meat market since 1941 in Sheboygan, Wis. Zahm tries his hand at making their world championship brats and meets third-generation owner Chuck Miesfeld and general manager Richard Sachse to get the history on how the meat market has made their mark on the country’s sausage capital. Subsequent episodes wander through the state highlighting foodie-focused tales while showcasing the culinary characters and products of Wisconsin.

Wisconsin Foodie Episode Guide – Season 12
January 16 – Miesfeld’s Meat Market (Sheboygan)
January 23 – Dim Sum + Give Some Gala and Fauntleroy Conscious Carnivore (Milwaukee)
January 30 – Uptowne Cafe & Bakery and Cameron Park Farmers Market (La Crosse)
February 6 – Serbian Days Festival and Three Brothers (Milwaukee)
February 13 – City Bakery and West Side Bakery (Sheboygan)
February 20 – Lombardino’s and Dinner at Frank Lloyd Wright‘s Taliesin (Madison)
February 27 – Deer Creek Cheese, Henning’s Cheese and 3 Sheeps Brewing Co. (Sheboygan)
March 19 – SapSap Pop-up Dinner (Racine)
*Additional episodes to be announced

Special viewing events will be held throughout the upcoming season including Burger/Bingo & Wisconsin Foodie Streaming Parties at Driftless Café on Thursdays from 5-9pm. Wisconsin Foodie will stream live at 7:30pm with bingo to follow at 8pm. The event will raise money for a local charity. Additional events to be announced.

About Luke Zahm
Luke Zahm is the owner and head chef of Driftless Café in Viroqua, Wis. He is a two-time winner of the Edible Madison Local Hero Award, and was named a 2017 James Beard Best Chef Midwest semifinalist, a rarity for small-town culinary talent. Zahm and his wife Ruthie Zahm have owned and operated Driftless Café since 2013. Zahm was previously featured on “Wisconsin Foodie,” such as season 11, episode 13, “Love Letter to Summer,” and is most known for his ever-changing menu of local foods at the Driftless Cafe, which showcases the bounty of the Driftless region. The restaurant highlights local farms by spending 85 percent of its food budget on ingredients that are sourced within a 100-mile radius of the restaurant. They live in Avalanche with their three children Ava, Ben and Silas.

About Wisconsin Foodie
Wisconsin Foodie is a 30-minute food show with the philosophy of showing people where their food comes from. From the farm to the kitchen, Wisconsin Foodie tells the stories from the ground to the plate. The team at Wisconsin Foodie includes founder and director Arthur Ircink, host Luke Zahm, story producer and editor Ryan Sarnowski, editor and cinematographer Nelson Schneider, colorist Rob Due, and cinematographers Pat McDonnell and Wes Tank. Wisconsin Foodie would like to introduce the newest major underwriter Organic Valley Co-op and welcome back those companies have supported the show over the years: Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, New Glarus Brewing Co., Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, FaB Wisconsin, Specialty Crop Craft Beverage Collective, Society Insurance, Freshwater Family, Central Wisconsin Craft Collective Farms, J. Henry & Sons Bourbon, Marcus Hotels & Resorts, 91.7 WMSE, and Edible Milwaukee.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.

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