Bucks bring local food to concession stands

Press Waffles, Sprecher Brewing Co. and Milwaukee Pretzel Co. are among the local concession subcontractors that will sell its products at the BMO Harris Bradley Center this season as the Milwaukee Bucks focus on partnering with more locally-source food vendors.

“Its about partnering with our community and exposing people to local food,”Dave Zakroczymski, BMO Harris Bradley Center executive chef said.

Milwaukee-based Press Waffles, the Bucks’ newest food partner this season, has sold its Belgian-style waffles at farmers markets, festivals and private events since it opened in 2015 and recently, it started a food truck operation.

“Milwaukee is such a unique city as far as food goes,” Press co-founder Aaron Rosko said. “Its nice to bring that inside the arena and provide a more authentic flavor of the city as opposed to things you might be used to getting at sporting events.”

Rosko said he looks forward to start selling his products to a broader audience beyond the farmers market crowd. At its second-level concession stand, Press will offer its brioche dough waffles with toppings including Nutella, locally-sourced goat cheese, and bacon.

Bradley Center has also partnered with the Harley-Davidson Museum’s MOTOR restaurant to host executive chef, Josh Peterson– the first local chef of this season’s guest chef program. On Oct. 31, brisket sliders, ribs and cookie dough dippers from MOTOR will be available for season ticket holders in the arena’s club areas. 

Sprecher root beer floats and Sprecher orange cream floats will also be available in the arena’s club spaces and Bavarian pretzels from Milwaukee Pretzel Co. will be available throughout the Bradley Center.

“Its about our heritage, its about Milwaukee, its about what the city stands for,” Zakroczymski said. 

The arena’s new “MKE Test Kitchen” will feature specialty foods on a 10-game rotation starting with smoked brisket and pulled pork nachos on house made potato chips and chorizo, barbecue pulled chicken and ground beef street tacos.

Zakroczymski said the Bradley Center’s new food offerings this season are a push to bring more people into the arena before games. 

“The Bucks do a great job of having the live entertainment, having things to do throughout the arena,” Zakroczymski said. “We want to draw people in so that they can enjoy that a lot more than just five minutes before tip off.”