Empty Bowls wouldn’t be the fun event it is without the generosity of many local talented chefs and restaurants. Each year we invite a diverse line-up of restaurants representing a variety of flavors and cultural backgrounds, in addition to showcasing some Milwaukee favorites and some “rising stars”. THANK YOU to our vendors for making this event possible!
Lakefront Brewery - Beer and Soup Vendor
Handcrafted beers since 1987! Not to mention a world famous brewery tour. Enjoy their beers at the event!
Mealwaukee
Mealwaukee is a pre-made meal pick up service founded by local registered dietician, Kate. Meals are chosen and cooked with a focus on quality, nutritious ingredients AND taste.
Visit the site here!
Hot Dish Pantry
Scratch-made Midwestern comfort food at it’s finest!Hot Dish Pantry is the brainchild of two Milwaukee kids just trying to bring a bit of nostalgia to your life. Are they serving tater tot hot dish? Yes, yes we are. Are they also serving scratch made pierogi with creative and varied flavors? You bet! Chef Nathan Heck and Laura Maigatter are pleased to welcome you into their little slice of Wisco!
Visit the site here!
Glorioso's Italian Market
Glorioso’s Italian Market is a family-owned business located on Brady Street since 1946. Purveyors of old-world Italian specialties in the heart of Milwaukee’s East Side. Fresh, handmade sausages, mouthwatering deli creations and piping hot pizza are just a few of their specialties.
Visit the site here!
Breadsmith
Breadsmith specializes in handcrafted, European-style artisan breads made in the tradition of old world master bakers. Their breads and sweets are baked fresh from scratch, using only the highest quality ingredients, with no additives or preservatives. They not only make each loaf by hand, we use a five-ton, European hearth stone oven for all our baking.
Visit the site here!
Braise Local Food
A Milwaukee Farm-to-Table restaurant and Culinary School feeding people well and teaching people of all levels how to improve their culinary skills. Owned by James Beard award-nominated Chef Dave Swanson and his team.
Visit the site here!
The Soup Market
Four locations across Milwaukee, Farmer’s Markets, Sendik’s Food Markets, office catering, wholesale production, and homemade root beer! Learn more about the 19 year journey of the Soup Market and our commitment to quality stock.
Visit the site here!
Beans & Barley
Started in 1973 as a small neighborhood health-food store with a half-dozen crocks for bulk goods and two coolers, Beans added slowly to its list of products as customers requested. In 1979, believing that, just like everyone else, “health-food” shoppers would appreciate quick, hot food in the middle of a busy day, we started serving food. The food was good, people stopped in to shop AND eat.
Visit the site here!
MOR: Gluten-free Bakery
At MOR, with one dish at a time, they focus on texture, taste, and visual appeal while mindfully creating selections based on seasonal freshness in their dedicated gluten-free environment.
Visit their website here!
Maxie's from Black Shoe Hospitality
Maxie’s opened its doors on May 5th, 2007, serving Southern-inspired “from-scratch” cooking. Maxie’s is located in the old Vespalec family grocery store and Gerry O’Brien’s Meat Market at the corner of 68th Street and Fairview Avenue, immediately north of Interstate 94 and the 68th Street off-ramp. Maxie’s offers full-service bars and dining on two levels.
Maxie’s Southern inspiration includes the “Low Country” cooking of the Carolinas, Creole and Cajun cooking of Louisiana, traditional slow-smoked Southern barbeque, and Southern comfort cooking of all kinds. We feature a raw bar serving fresh oysters and shrimp flown in 5 days a week from some of the best fish purveyors on the east coast.
Find them here!
Wendy Mireles at Cafe Corazon
Café Corazón was opened by George and Wendy Mireles in 2009. Pulling inspiration from their time living in the San Francisco Bay Area, they sought to bring fresh Latin cuisine to Milwaukee. Using beef and produce from Wendy’s family’s farm, supporting local farmers, and growing produce at their own urban garden, Café Corazón has been committed to serving the freshest local fare for both meat eaters and vegan/vegetarians. Cafe Corazon was voted Milwaukee’s best Mexican in 2018.
Visit their website here!
Outpost Natural Foods Co-op
Milwaukee’s coop-owned natural food and organic grocery store, featuring quality organics, and vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and other specialty diets. Outpost is also a supporter of local good food initiatives that support healthier food systems and access in Milwaukee.
Visit their site here!
The Real Good Life
Made-from-scratch meals delivered right to you!
Visit their site here!
Driftless Cafe
With over 200 certified organic farms in Vernon County alone, The Driftless Cafe utilizes the vast bounty and passion of the local farming community.
Visit their site here!
Hacienda Taproom and Kitchen
Located in Milwaukee’s East Side neighborhood, Hacienda Taproom & Kitchen is a dedicated space for all things Hacienda. We feature 11 beers on draft, bottles and cans to-go, seltzer based cocktails, wine, N/A options, and a full kitchen featuring delicious Texicana inspired food thoughtfully curated to pair with Hacienda beer.
Visit their site here!
Motor Restaurant
We are an iconic Milwaukee eatery with a Midwestern attitude. We care about our guests and aim to deliver a fun and relaxing experience that tourists and locals will rave about.Offering genuine hospitality, engaging programming, spirited food and beverage, iconic décor, and the best patio in Milwaukee – we excel in providing a space to make memories.
Visit their site here!
Emerald City Catering
Our goal is to prepare delicious food that nourishes your soul as well as your body. Steve remembers the comfort of home-cooked meals and strives to bring that same comfort to your event, large or small. Let us take care of you. Whatever your cultural tradition, our objective is to fill you with love and bring your favorite family dishes to the table.
Visit their site here!
Mazorca Tacos
Owned and operated by the same individuals who brought you Zocalo Food Truck Park. Delicious tacos and Mexican food.
Visit their site here!
Bartolotta Restaurants
The Bartolotta Restaurants is a nationally recognized restaurant and catering organization co-founded by restaurateur Joe Bartolotta and his brother, two-time James Beard Award-winning Chef Paul Bartolotta. Since the opening of its flagship restaurant, Ristorante Bartolotta dal 1993, The Bartolotta Restaurants has grown to become the premier culinary brand in the Greater Milwaukee region, offering first-class service and cuisine across a portfolio of 17 one-of-a-kind restaurants and catering facilities, including fine dining, upscale casual, upscale food hall, pizzeria, and quick-casual concepts.
Visit their site here!
Friedens Food Pantry - Pantry Staple Creation
Restaurant industry vets Caitlin and Valerie, Friedens’ volunteer and staff respectively, will use fresh ingredients sourced directly from our food pantry to make a delicious creation on a budget that could be enjoyed by community members who shop at our community food centers.