Farm-to-table dining is easy in Madison. Both the Overture Center and Monona Terrace offer acclaimed locally sourced catering programs that can be personalized for groups.
Through a partnership with Food Fight Restaurants and Catering, the Overture Center can accommodate events and performances for as many as 1,500 guests.
Madison’s walkable downtown is full of food trucks, ethnic restaurants and the impressive Dane County Farmers Market on Capitol Square, which operates on Saturdays, April through November.
“So many of the downtown restaurants are sourced from within 90 miles of Madison,” says Janine Wachter, director of convention and event services for the Greater Madison CVB.
Two big names in town are Graze and L’Etoile, both by James Beard Award-winning chef Tory Miller.
“You can see him at the farmers market on Saturday walking around with his cart,” Wachter says, “If you followed him around you could guess what’s on the menu for the week.”
Graze is a pub-inspired restaurant named for its strong belief in the superiority of grass-fed beef and rotational grazing. Plus, the dishes are small and meant to offer the opportunity to taste an assortment. More than 200 local vendors provide the chef’s meat, vegetables, fruit and dairy, and their photos and stories are featured on the restaurant’s website.
The more upscale L’Etoile first opened in 1976 and offers private dining space for up to 50 guests, and a three-course dinner by Chef Miller is delicious option for small groups.
