Around the country, restaurants led by Native chefs are reimagining what “American” food means. In doing so, they are also reclaiming an important culinary culture that has been long buried and inaccessible, even to Native people.
In the Midwest, that includes folks like Sean Sherman, founder of The Sioux Chef, Owamni and the Indigenous Food Lab in Minneapolis. But it also includes up-and-comers like Bryce Stevenson, a native of Red Cliff, Wisconsin who also happens to have deep ties to Milwaukee.
This week, we’re sitting down with Stevenson, who candidly shares his personal story, from growing up on a reservation in Northern Wisconsin to beginning his journey to reconnect with his Native roots.
Along the way, he shares his food story, from his motivation to enter the restaurant industry to the experiences that led him to pursue a better understanding of indigenous foodways. Stevenson also paints a picture of what guests can expect at his first restaurant, Miijim, which will open this spring on Madeline Island, a sacred cultural hub for the Ojibwe.
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Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with each and every dish. She’s had the privilege of chronicling these tales via numerous media, including OnMilwaukee and in her book “Milwaukee Food.” Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or recording the FoodCrush podcast, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
