Lake Park Bistro’s new chef, a casserole cook-off event, and more food and drink news

Chef Amanda Langler is keeping it in the family with her latest venture as executive chef for Bartolotta’s Lake Park Bistro, 3133 E. Newberry Blvd. 

Langler has worked for The Bartolotta Restaurants group for more than 13 years, serving in various leadership roles, most recently as executive chef at Mr. B’s – A Bartolotta Steakhouse in Brookfield. 

“Amanda is one of the most creative, consistent, and respected chefs on our team, and she has succeeded in every step of her culinary journey,” Bartolotta Owner and Co-Founder Paul Bartolotta said in a statement. “This is a full-circle moment, as Amanda’s first chef position within our company was at Bartolotta’s Lake Park Bistro. I could not be more excited to work with her in this new role and see her further elevate the authenticity of Milwaukee’s most beloved bistro.” 

The French bistro has been a fine-dining destination in Milwaukee since it opened in 1995, and Langler looks forward to maintaining the hospitality the restaurant is known for. 

“It’s an honor to return to the place where I started so many years ago, and I look forward to elevating the restaurant’s reputation even further while treating our guests to the one-of-a-kind Bartolotta hospitality that they’ve come to know and love,” Langler said in the statement. 

A German Christmas at EsterEv 

Milwaukee chefs Dan Jacobs and Dan Van Rite (DanDan, EsterEv) are teaming up with chef Cole Ersel (Milkweed Collective catering) for a traditional German Christmas dinner experience in the cozy dining room of EsterEv, 360 E. Erie St. 

The dinners will be held Dec. 8 and 9, with seatings both nights at 6 p.m., 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. 

The special six-course menu will include: 

• Snacks: smoked trout rillette, pretzeled eclair, sour cream and onion dip, deviled egg 
• First course: porcini mushroom soup 
• Second course: liverwurst 
• Third course: trout 
• Main course: dry-aged duck, kasespatzle 
• Dessert: fermented chilled peach, clafoutis, palmier, lebkuchen 

Beer pairings from Goose Island Brewery are included with the meal. 

The special holiday dinner is $125, with a $50 deposit due at the time of booking. All deposits will be applied at the end of the evening.   Reservations for parties of two to four can be made online at exploretock.com/esterev. Call EsterEv for parties larger than four: (414) 488-8036 

The great casserole cook-off 

A new cooking competition puts the almighty casserole at the forefront at “Casserole Call,” a daylong celebration of the Midwest’s most cherished comfort food. 

Presented by Milwaukee Record, the event takes place at the Central Waters Milwaukee Taproom, 1037 W. Juneau Ave., from noon to 5 p.m. Dec. 10, and will feature a range of Milwaukee-area restaurants and businesses vying for the coveted title of Milwaukee’s Best Casserole, to be decided by attendees. 

Local businesses competing in the casserole cook-off include Archie's Flat Top, Beans & Barley, Crafty Cow, Flour Girl & Flame, Hot Dish Pantry, Red Maple MKE, Riverwest Co-Op, Semolina, The Real Good Life, Tots on the Street and Trouble Makers Cocina. 

Tickets cost $12 in advance and $15 the day of the event. Included in ticket price are three casserole sample vouchers. Additional sample vouchers can be purchased for $1 each. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Kinship Community Food Center. 

To purchase tickets, visit brownpapertickets.com/event/6169601. 

The Pasta Tree adds Sunday brunch 

The Pasta Tree Restaurant & Wine Bar, 1503 N. Farwell Ave. is celebrating its 40th year in business this year, and to add to the celebration, the east side restaurant is introducing weekly Sunday brunch service beginning Nov. 26. 

Chef Suzette Metcalfe said this is the first time The Pasta Tree has offered brunch in many years, and she is excited for diners to join the restaurant on Sundays from 10:30 to 2 p.m. 

The Pasta Tree is known for its homestyle Italian dishes served in a quaint and cozy dining room. For brunch, guests can expect a menu of traditional favorites with Italian-inspired flair. Options could include baked eggs Italian style, fresh fruit tarts with Italian cream, carbonara, and pasta dishes with meaty “Sunday sugo” sauce. 

Desserts and special brunch cocktails, including bottomless assorted Italian bellinis, will also appear on the menu. 

Reservations are recommended and available online or by phone. See pastatreemilwaukee.com or call (414) 276-8867.