Milwaukee Magazine | Tastemakers 2021

PARTNER CONTENT

2021

TASTE MAKERS We’ve rounded up Milwaukee’s movers and shakers and pried into their psyches to see what makes them tick. Prepare to be dazzled!

By EVERETT SULLIVAN Photos by LINDA SMALLPAGE, BOUTIQUE PHOTOGRAPHER

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PARTNER CONTENT

TASTEMAKERS 2021

Alex SAZAMA

C

EXECUTIVE CHEF, Hospitality Democracy Restaurant Group (Blue Bat Kitchen, Onesto, Smoke Shack, AJ Bombers)

On any given day, Alex Sazama could be experimenting with a spicy take on BBQ-sauce-smothered baby back ribs, rolling out a new tequila cocktail with a plate of tuna poke nachos, or putting the final touches on a deliciously modern twist on spinach gnocchetti. As the executive chef at Hospitality Democracy restaurant group, he wears many hats – from Blue B at’s tequila-focused global cuisine menu, to AJ Bomber ’s smash-style burgers and cheese curds, to Smoke Shack’s hearty barbecue, to Onesto’s upscale Italian. “I went to a symposium with other chefs from around the country,” he says. “They were all amazed that I wasn’t restricted to one cuisine all the time. That was an epiphany – to see the endless possibilities in my position.”

PERSONAL STYLE:

Spicy

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TASTEMAKERS 2021

PERSONAL STYLE:

Classic with a Twist

Beth JAWORSKI REAL ESTATE AGENT, Shorewest Beth Jaworski loves selling real estate, and it shows. With almost 30 years of experience, she is at the top of her game, and her skills have never been needed more than in the current market. “Helping people is my passion,” she says. “And I am blessed with the most amazing clients. What I really treasure is how many of my clients have come to me time and time again over the years, for not only themselves, but for their parents, their siblings, and now many of my past clients’ children are buying homes, too. That level of trust and those relationships are simply the best.”

City Guide 2021

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PARTNER CONTENT

TASTEMAKERS 2021

Dan JACOBS & Dan VAN RITE OWNERS AND CHEFS, DanDan and Fool’s Errand “We work well together because we’re both very different,” says Dan Jacobs.

“It’s like yin and yang,” adds his partner Dan Van Rite.

The two Dans are the owners and chefs behind the popular AmericanChinese joint DanDan, and now the newly-opened Fool’s Errand in the Third Ward, serving up comfort food like steak Diane, matzo ball soup and fried chicken with their undeniably unique twist.

“Being a restaurant owner is so different from what people expect,” Jacobs says. “People think of a glamorous lifestyle, but we’re in the trenches. My day starts at 9 a.m. and I get home after 10:00, but we don’t really notice the time because we love what we do. Every day is a new adventure.”

PERSONAL STYLE:

Yin & Yang 16

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PARTNER CONTENT

TASTEMAKERS 2021

PERSONAL STYLE:

Confident

Chris ZAJDEL OWNER, Skiin Anti-Aging Lounge Confidence is Chris Zajdel’s business.

“The best part of my job is making people feel great about themselves,” she says. “They see something in themselves that they might not have seen before.” As the owner of Skiin Anti-Aging Lounge, Zajdel takes her mission of supporting women seriously, and it extends beyond her clientele. One example is supporting her team’s growth by providing ongoing education and 100% reimbursement of attended education. Olivia Folmer joined the Skiin team and wanted to have a focus on eyes with doing microblading, shading and lash lifts, and tints. With Zajdel’s belief in her, Folmer was sent to Arizona where she studied one-on-one with industry experts. “I am always motivated by the chance to support other growing skin care professionals and watch them reach their full potential,” Zajdel says.

City Guide 2021

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