A blackboard at the Cafe lists local farmers and producers that Zahm and his team source their ingredients from. He loves the challenge of unique ingredients that grow well for the farmer, and invite the opportunity for him to play as a chef. Chef Zahm has a sourcing philosophy he calls DUET – Difficult Us, Easy Them. The menu changes daily, dictated by season and sourced ingredients from farmers, and often isn’t finalized until the afternoon. The Cafe is a powerful affirmation of a way of life that people feel a strong emotional connection to.” Local Ingredients Invite Culinary Creativity “People travel a long way because they want something that is real and tangible, authentic. “The community needed a vibrant place that reeked of soul,” said Zahm. Against all odds, they created a farm-to-table destination restaurant that draws regular patrons from as far as Madison and Chicago and have nurtured a diverse food shed that provides nearly 100% of the cafe’s ingredients. Luke and Ruthie Zahm moved their family from Madison to Vernon County in 2013, drawn back to their home region by the vibrancy of the local food movement.

I look forward to the next chapter in my role as a food storyteller and focusing on my extraordinary new role as father to my newborn daughter,' says Cherek.That is exactly why Viroqua is home to the Driftless Cafe. 'As host of 'Wisconsin Foodie' for the past 11 years, it has been a deep and abiding honor to represent my state's food ways through the stories of its farmers, artisans, makers and chefs.

Tickets are available for purchase here.Ĭherek will continue to be engaged in the Wisconsin food scene post-'Foodie.' The dinner will feature Pleasant Ridge Reserve by Uplands Cheese cheesemaker Andy Hatch, among several exceptional offerings for Foodie fans in attendance.

In addition to several exciting events happening this summer, a special dinner celebrating Zahm is planned for Saturday, Aug. 'We will continue to break bread as friends, and he will always be a part of the 'Foodie' family even as we continue to learn, grow and expand our culinary horizons.' 'Kyle was the first face of 'Wisconsin Foodie,' and played an integral role in helping thousands of Wisconsinites fall in love with local food and culinary culture,' notes Arthur Ircink, founder and director of 'Wisconsin Foodie.' He replaces Kyle Cherek, previous host of 'Wisconsin Foodie.' Zahm has been previously featured on 'Wisconsin Foodie,' such as season 11, episode 13, 'Love Letter to Summer,' and is most known for his ever-changing menu of local foods at the Driftless Cafe, which showcases the bounty of the Driftless region, highlighting local farms by spending 85 percent of its food budget on ingredients that are sourced within a 100-mile radius of the restaurant. 'I’ve enjoyed my guest role with Foodie immensely I can’t wait to continue to explore and create broader awareness of the culinary scene with viewers as permanent host of Wisconsin Foodie.' 'As a kid growing up in a small, rural town in Wisconsin, I found my identity in food,' Zahm said. He is a two-time winner of the Edible Madison Local Hero Award, and was named a 2017 James Beard Best Chef Midwest semifinalist, a rarity for small-town culinary talent. Zahm is the owner and head chef of Driftless Cafe, which he has operated with his wife in Viroqua, Wisconsin since 2013. 'Wisconsin Foodie ,' the Emmy Award-winning production aired locally on Wisconsin Public Television, announced today that Chef Luke Zahm will formally join the show as the host for the 2020 season.

Wisconsin foodie list