MILWAUKEE — Lupi & Iris is one of 10 national finalists for best new U.S. restaurant by the James Beard Foundation. The restaurant opened in May of last year.
The fine dining destination in downtown Milwaukee is co-owned by chef Adam Siegel and Milwaukee developer Michael DeMichele.
In 2008, Siegel won a Beard Award for Best Chef: Midwest, for his work at Lake Park Bistro on Milwaukee’s east side.
“I’m thrilled, it gives you a sense of accomplishment like no other to be recognized as one of the possible top 10 new restaurants in the country,” said Siegel.
The restaurant is named after Siegel’s father-in-law, Ron Lupi and DeMichele’s grandmother, Iris Ciarniello. Siegel said despite his immense passion for the culinary industry, family is his priority.
Siegel said he credits his success to his wife Daria and his kids, Zach and Georgia.
“I have a huge passion for food, but I have an even bigger passion for my family, because my family defines me. Food doesn’t define me, food is what I enjoy, food is what I crave and gives me life, but family is why I do what I do,” said Siegel.
Lupi & Iris is a contemporary restaurant with a focus on Mediterranean, French, Italian and Spanish-inspired cuisine.
Siegel said opening on the heels of the pandemic was a risk, but one worth taking.
“I really believed in the location and really believed in what we were trying to do with this place, and Milwaukee kind of needed something like this at the time,” said Siegel.
Siegel said he’s humbled by the national recognition. He said his best advice for new chefs coming up in the ranks is not to get distracted by trends.
“Stay focused and put the phone down. You’re not going to learn everything on TikTok, you’re not going to learn everything by social media. You are going to learn by getting your hands dirty and really paying attention,” he said.
The James Beard Award winners will be announced on June 5 in Chicago.