A 1991 graduate of Park High School, Seidel was nominated this year as a James Beard Foundation Award semi-finalist for Best Chef Southwest. Later this week, he will participate in Aspen's annual Food & Wine Classic.
He owns Fruition, a 52-seat, award-winning restaurant in Denver that has been featured in Bon Appetit, Gourmet and USA Today.
And where does he like to eat when he's back in Wisconsin? Seidel cites Kopp's custard and Wells Brothers pizza.
Go here for Food & Wine's article about Seidel -- and also for one of his recipes.
Read more about him here in the Journal Sentinel.
The city's second taste of fame this morning comes via a different sort -- thanks to Kristin Bauer, who plays the vampire Pam in HBO's series True Blood, which opened its third season on Sunday. Pam co-owns the vampire bar Fangtasia in the series, and this is going to be her year to take charge.
Kristin's career began in 1994 with an episode of L.A. Law, and she spent a year on the Fox comedy, The Crew. But her most memorable character -- until now! -- was as "Man-Hands Gillian," Jerry's girlfriend on Seinfeld.
The Journal Sentinel profiled her this weekend, and there's more about Kristin and the sexy character she plays on HBO's website here.
