The Waffle House may seem an unlikely source of inspiration for chefs in a northern city like Milwaukee, especially when you consider there are no Waffle Houses in the state of Wisconsin. But the folks from Milwaukee Chefs for Homeless Vets are hoping the Southern-style fare will entice even the cheesiest of Cheeseheads to come out and support their cause.
The "Waffle House Re-Imagined" culinary event will feature 11 chefs, creating food and drinks inspired by some of the most popular dishes from the 24-hour diner.
"It's still breakfast either way. Breakfast is breakfast no matter where you go in the country."
Paul Zerkel from Goodkind in Milwaukee's Bay View neighborhood is one of the chefs involved with the event, and the Southern chain wasn't a big part of the Wisconsin native's culinary upbringing.
"From what I've been told it's very iconic in the South, I've only been in a couple of them myself but evidently that's the place to go," Zerkel admits. But as a professional chef, he has no doubt he can replicate and elevate the comfort cuisine. "It's still breakfast either way. Breakfast is breakfast no matter where you go in the country."
Proceeds from the event will go to the Milwaukee Homeless Veterans Initiative, an organization that works with homeless and at-risk veterans to help them find housing, medical care, and other necessities.
"There's a misconception among our society that veterans are taken care of from the moment they step foot back home and that they don't have the same struggles and problems that people that haven't served in the military have," says Sobieski. "So from the get go a veteran may be less likely to ask for help or assistance because of that misconception and also the pride factor."
"There's a misconception among our society that veterans are taken care of from the moment they step foot back home."
Sobieski says it can be difficult for veterans who are often viewed as heroes, because asking for help can be seen as a sign of weakness. Still, many veterans are at a heightened risk for becoming homeless. In fact, in the United States one of every 10 homeless adults is a veteran.
"It's not like a lot of people would necessarily know that the homeless individual that they see in the community is a veteran. It's not a very proud feeling for anybody to experience that, so they don't necessarily broadcast that they're a veteran," she says.
The benefit dinner will be Monday, May 23 and comes at a cost of $150 a plate. To put that into perspective, each plate will allow the organization to buy supplies for 3 veterans in need.
