07.14.2023

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Today’s Forecast

35º | Cloudy | 15% chance of sleet | Sunrise 7:28 a.m. | Sunset 4:39 p.m.

🎬 Get ready for your close-up, Madison

Bravo’s “Top Chef” is coming to Madison

Former contestant Kristen Kish is returning to “Top Chef,” this time as the host. | Photo by Natalie Engel

Bravo’s “Top Chef” is filming its upcoming season in Madison. The 608’s flourishing food scene is infused with farm-fresh ingredients and a variety of traditional practices, which are a few aspects that drew the show to the city. Production will also be making stops in Milwaukee and Door County.

Each season brings together a dozen or so professional chefs to compete for the title of Top Chef. On-location seasons pull inspiration from the host city for the Quickfire and Elimination cooking challenges that are scored by a panel of judges.

After 19 seasons, Padma Lakshmi is leaving the series and passing the hosting torch to Season 10 winner Kristen Kish. She’ll be joining Tom Colicchio and Gail Simmons, who are both returning as judges.

Filming for Season 21 will be taking place in late summer and/or early fall of this year. The season is expected to air during spring of 2024.

⏳ Quickfire Challenges

During Quickfire Challenges, chefs have about an hour to create a dish that meets specific requirements During “Top Chef: Houston,” one Quickfire Challenge entailed chefs putting a unique twist on queso and pairing it with something other than tortilla chips.

608 Quickfire Challenge | Ranch Required
Are you really Midwestern if you don’t ask for a side of ranch at every meal? We want to see the contestants do a curd + ranch crawl to inspire their own version of deep-fried-something paired with homemade ranch.

608 cheese curd — It’s not a trip to Madison without cheese curds.
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Photo by Great Dane Pub

❌ Elimination Challenges

Elimination Challenges are similar to Quickfire Challenges, but are more complex and require more time. An Elimination Challenge during the Houston season had contestants fish in the Gulf of Mexico to prepare fresh seafood creations to serve at a local restaurant.

608 Elimination Challenge | Farmers’ Market Mania
If Madison’s farm-to-table scene is what drew Top Chef to the isthmus, we think a market challenge is a must. Chefs could be given a time limit to traverse the Dane County Farmers’ Market — during busy hours — to create a multi-course meal.

Asked

What Madison restaurants do you want to see featured on the upcoming season of “Top Chef”?

Let us know

Events

Friday, July 14

Adaptive Family Swim Night | Friday, July 14 | 5-7 p.m. | Goodman Pool, 325 W. Olin Ave., Madison | Free | Zero-depth entry, an aquatic lift, and water wheelchairs will be available.
Summer 2023 Exhibitions Reception | Friday, July 14 | 5-8 p.m. | Overture Center, 201 State St., Madison | Free | This reception + artist talk celebrates the Summer 2023 Overture Galleries.
Cheshire Cat Comedy Presents: Aidan McCluskey | Friday, July 14 | 8:30-11 p.m. | The Forward Club at Breese Stevens Field, 917 E. Mifflin St., Madison | $15 | Cheshire Cat Comedy brings together a hilarious lineup of the Midwest’s funniest, headlined by Aidan McCluskey.*

Saturday, July 15

BGCDC White Party | Saturday, July 15 | 6-11 p.m. | McKenzie Regional Workforce Center, 5225 Verona Rd., Fitchburg | $65+ | This year’s White Party will be held at the McKenzie Regional Workforce Center to celebrate its grand opening.
Madison Mallards vs. Traverse City | Saturday, July 15 | 6:05 p.m. | Warner Park, 2920 N. Sherman Ave., Madison | $6.08 | Come out for a pregame celebrity softball event featuring Badgers alumni, with proceeds benefitting the Alec Ingold Foundation.*

Sunday, July 16

Blooming Butterflies | Sunday, July 16–Sunday, Aug. 6 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Olbrich Botanical Gardens, 3330 Atwood Ave., Madison | $0-$8 | View the 19 different species of free-flying butterflies in the tropical Bolz Conservatory.
Movie at the Glen: “Back to the Future” | Sunday, July 16 | 5-7 p.m. | The Glen Golf Park, 3747 Speedway Rd., Madison | Free | Enjoy a free outdoor screening of the classic sci-fi film.
Madison Mallards vs. Traverse City | Sunday, July 16 | 12:35 p.m. | Warner Park, 2920 N. Sherman Ave., Madison | $6.08 | Fans are invited to celebrate and make Maynard’s 22nd birthday magical.*

Monday, July 17

A Wild Rumpus | Monday, July 17 | 5 p.m. | Haen and Reindahl Parks, 7702 Tree Ln., Madison and 1818 Portage Rd., Madison | Free | Let your kids explore the practice of AnjiPlay.
Chair Yoga + Gentle Movement | Monday, July 17 | 10:30 a.m. | Lakeview Library, 2845 N. Sherman Ave., Madison | Free | You’ll focus on range of motion, breathing, and balance.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

Shop

🏠 Products to enhance your home

Upgrade every room of the house with our top picks for home

A corner bench outside with blankets, pillows, and a table of candles and wine glasses.

Set the mood for your next outdoor wine night with our top picks for patio. | Photo by Peter Goldberg via Pexels

Elevate your humble abode by updating old appliances and investing in the best of today’s smart home technology. Or simply indulge in redecorating (that’s not a four-letter word in your house, is it?).

Browse the items that will level up every room of your house.

SAMSUNG The Frame TV, $1,497.99 — Finally get a magazine-worthy living room with a TV that looks like a picture frame and displays art when it’s turned off.

Wireless charger stand, $29.99 — Say goodbye to wires + charge your Airpods, Apple Watch, and phone all in one place.

Shop for patio, bedroom + beyond

News Notes

Development

Plans to revamp Madison’s largest low-income housing complex, the Triangle, are in full swing. The $300 million redevelopment will increase the current 336 units to over 1,200. Phase one is expected to be completed by 2026, with the entire project finished by 2034. (Madison.com)

Community

City officials will hold a meeting on Monday, July 24 to provide an update on the Lake Monona waterfront transformation. Stop by the Monona Terrace from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. for a presentation from the Sasaki design team followed by a Q+A session. (Channel 3000)

Cause

The Boys + Girls Clubs of Dane County received a $300,000 donation from American Family Insurance to sustain the AVID/TOPS program, which helps students prepare for college and beyond. This falls during the week of events celebrating the grand opening of the McKenzie Regional Workforce Center. (NBC 15)

Open

Hank’s is now open at 4102 Monona Dr. From the owner of Mint Mark, Hank’s serves burgers, fries, shakes, and fish fry. The restaurant is takeout only, but customers are invited to order food to eat at the adjoining Muskellounge and Sporting Club.

Biz

The Common Council approved a $300,000 Request for Proposals to manage the BizReady program, aimed at supporting local BIPOC entrepreneurs. The program will be part of the city’s Small Business Equity and Recovery initiative. Interested organizations can contact Saran Ouk for more information.

Finance

This leading balance transfer card offers 0% intro APR for guess how many months… with no annual fee. (Hint: It’s one of the longest 0% intro APR periods we’ve seen.) Details revealed here.*

Job

Passionate about storytelling, news, and Madison? We’re hiring a City Editor to plan, write, edit, and publish the most relevant and engaging daily content about our city. See details + apply.

Events

🧺 Plan Ahead: ULGM’s Unity Picnic

The Urban League of Greater Madison’s Unity Picnic is coming up

Get there early, food is served until 5 p.m. or until it runs out. | Photo by Hedi LaMarr Photography | Photo by Hedi LaMarr Photography

Mark your calendars for the Urban League of Greater Madison’s (ULGM) 9th annual Unity Picnic next Saturday, July 22.

Stop by 2222 S. Park St. from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. next Saturday to enjoy an afternoon full of free family fun. Bring your appetite — the picnic fare will consist of classic barbecue mains, sides, and desserts from BP Smokehouse and Kipp’s Catering.

Look forward to:

Face painting
Resource tables
Photo station
Live music

This year’s Unity Picnic is special as it will also serve as a first look at the nearly complete Black Business Hub.

ULGM’s CEO Dr. Ruben Anthony is eager to showcase this $20+ million dollar project, which will offer resources for Black and other BIPOC entrepreneurs to expand and accelerate all types of businesses — from small to established.

Answered

Yesterday we asked what your favorite late-night takeout spot is, and here’s what you said:

608 takeout replies — The people have spoken, Paul’s takes the takeout cake.
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Graphic by 608today

It looks like our Paul’s Pel’meni dupe recipe got some of our readers craving the savory dumpling dish. A few write-ins included:

La Bamba | 710 S. Gammon Rd.
This spot is known for “burritos the size of your head,” and is open until 3 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Paradise Lounge | 119 W. Main St.
Before you call it a night, soak up your sins with one of Madison’s favorite burgers.

Tornado Steakhouse | 116 S. Hamilton St.
Stop by from 10:30 p.m.-12 a.m. to browse the late night lounge menu.

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Ally

From the editor

Here are a few of my guesses for restaurants that “Top Chef” will feature — DelecTable, Himal Chuli, L’Etoile or Graze, and State Street Brats. and they’re totally going to do a farmers’ market challenge, right?

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