Milwaukee’s Best Sauce Contest

Welcome to Festa Italiana’s official
Milwaukee’s Best Sauce contest!

Presented By St. Rita Square

St. Rita Square is back on the hunt to find Milwaukee’s Best Sauce…and this year we have expanded our contest to include both meat and meatless Italian red sauces. Ten fantastic chefs have moved on from the preliminary round to the Best Sauce finals that will take place on Saturday, September 9 from 11am – 1pm at Festa Italiana. The public is invited to join us at Festa to vote for your favorites and help us determine our ultimate winner. We will award three People’s Choice winners and our celebrity judges will select one overall Judge’s Choice winner. Cash prizes, trophies and bragging rights are at stake!

Milwaukee's Best Sauce Contest

  • Date

    Saturday, September 9, 2023
    11:00am – 1:00pm

  • Location

    Cucina Tent at Festa Italiana
    Italian Community Center, 641 E. Chicago Street, Milwaukee

  • Timing

    Public Tasting: 11:00am – 1:00pm
    Judging: 1:00 – 1:20pm
    Awards Presentation: 1:20pm

Finalist Competition on Saturday, September 9 at Festa Italiana. This is a free public tasting to vote for Milwaukee’s Best Sauce.

  • Contestants or their representatives should arrive between 10:15 – 10:30 to drop off their sauce in the Cucina tent.
  • Bring 3-gallons of sauce in a Nesco or slow cooker to keep warm. Also bring a serving ladle.
  • Public tasting will conclude at 1pm and celebrity judging will commence.
  • Votes will be tabulated, and results announced soon thereafter.
  • All contestants or their representatives should be back at the Cucina Tent by 1pm on 9/9 for judging and to hear results.
  • People’s Choice winners will be named for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place as well as one overall Judges’ Choice winner.
  • All contestants must be present to win.
  • Any award recipients who are not present will be bypassed and we will move to the next winner on the list.

Questions? Contact Julie Gey at (414) 485-6600 or [email protected]