Taste of the Draft: Port Washington restaurant ready for spotlight
Moonlight Tavern in Port Washington will participate in the NFL's inaugural event
Moonlight Tavern in Port Washington will participate in the NFL's inaugural event
Moonlight Tavern in Port Washington will participate in the NFL's inaugural event
The NFL plans to raise tens of thousands of dollars for school children during Draft week in Green Bay, with an inaugural fundraiser celebrating Wisconsin's supper clubs.
Moonlight Tavern in Port Washington is the only restaurant in the Milwaukee area selected to participate in the first-ever Taste of the Draft.
From handmade cheese curds to brandy old fashioneds, Moonlight Tavern knows all about Wisconsin delicacies.
This beloved supper club is the type of restaurant Anders Dowd always hoped to own. He worked in restaurants in Port Washington, Downtown Milwaukee and Cedarburg before he and his wife, Ashley Heun, purchased Moonlight Tavern.
"In 2024 we had an opportunity to take over this space. We serve steaks, filets, tenderloin, prime rib, obviously very popular in a supper club setting."
Less than a year after purchasing the restaurant, Heun stumbled upon an interesting Facebook post.
"Ashley was on on one of those supper club Facebook pages, and saw a post about, hey, we're looking for supper clubs to sign up for this event we're doing," he explained.
"They usually do Taste of the NFL the week of the Super Bowl, and this is the first time doing it in the draft," he added.
Moonlight Tavern is one of only 20 Wisconsin restaurants selected for Taste of the Draft, described as the "ultimate celebration of Wisconsin supper clubs." Special guests include celebrity chef Andrew Zimmern and Milwaukee's own Paul Bartolotta.
Tickets are $800 each, a steep price, but proceeds benefit children across the state.
"Taste of the Draft is the biggest charitable event the week of the NFL draft for GENYOUTH, so their goal is to end student hunger," Dowd said.
While Moonlight Tavern is known for it's steaks, prime rib and other supper club classics, Dowd and his chefs wanted to do something out of the ordinary for the event.
"The dish we're serving at Taste of the Draft is our best seller outside of the steaks, it's a parmesan-crusted salmon."
The NFL's catering company will prepare the salmon dishes, following Moonlight Tavern's exact recipe.
As they count down the days till their biggest dinner yet, Dowd, a born and raised Wisconsinite, says he is beyond grateful for the opportunity.
"Honestly, it's an honor of a lifetime," he said.
For more information about Taste of the Draft, click here.
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