Bring your appetite for discovery to Tosa Restaurant Week and get a taste of Wauwatosa’s delicious dining scene. From comforting classics to creations from James Beard-nominated chefs, you’re sure to please your palette and get some great deals at the same time.
One participating restaurant, Ca’Lucchenzo, has been making the headlines as their chef and co-owner Zak Baker has been named as a semifinalist for Best Chef: Midwest from the James Beard Foundation, a milestone that puts Wauwatosa on the map for many foodies.
As diners explore new flavors and favorite spots during Tosa Restaurant Week, we got the inside scoop from Zak about the moment he heard the news, the philosophy behind Ca’Lucchenzo’s ever-evolving menu, and what you can expect to sample during Tosa Restaurant Week.
Congratulations on being named a James Beard Foundation Awards semifinalist for Best Chef in the Midwest. Take us back to the moment you heard the news. What was your reaction?
We had been closed a few days for a break, so my brain was already focused on the prep work I had to do that morning. A very close friend actually broke the news to us while we were getting ready for the day. While it wasn't really on my radar, it is a huge honor.
Ca’Lucchenzo has become a standout in Wauwatosa’s dining scene. For someone visiting for the first time, how would you describe your cooking philosophy?
We are an ingredient-driven kitchen. We take inspiration from my time spent working in Italy. My food is more defined by what I leave off the plate than by what we add to it.
When you’re developing a new dish, where does the inspiration usually begin—an ingredient, a technique, a memory, or something else?
Almost always an ingredient. I like to order the ingredients that excite me from my farmers and purveyors, which forces me to constantly create new dishes.
Tosa Restaurant Week encourages diners to explore and try something new. Is there a particular dish on your menu that you’re especially excited for guests to experience? What makes it special?
My menu is ever changing, so the menu during dining week will reflect the best of what we can procure that week.
For diners mapping out their Tosa Restaurant Week plans, what do you hope they take away from a meal at your restaurant—beyond the plate?
When you come to Ca'Lucchenzo you experience a place where the people care deeply about the food we cook and the experience we provide. We want to be amazing every single night.
If you’re hungry for more deals and dining, we hope to see you enjoying Ca’Lucchenzo and many of the other great Wauwatosa establishments participating in Tosa Restaurant Week.