Flavors of Milwaukee
At the Milwaukee Public Library, food isn't just sustenance – it's an avenue for building community, sharing culture, and cooking creativity. From the Makerspace to the Community Meals program, Chef Sharrie Agee brings innovation to the table in a way that can make everyone feel at home. We sat down with Sharrie to learn more about her journey, her culinary inspirations, and her favorite recipes to share with you.
Q&A with MPL's Chef Sharrie
Q: How did your journey in the culinary world begin? Was there a specific moment or experience that sparked your passion for food?
A: My passion for crafting food and serving others began as a child watching my mother and older sister cook for our family. I would eagerly watch my mother masterfully put ingredients together that resulted in sparking my inner challenger to create the same or greater level of delicious food. My father also had his specialties that I would try to duplicate. I remember watching Julia Childs on TV and later, the Food Network channel, which then led to me vicariously living through the celebrity chefs as I began my recipe trials in the kitchen at home. My culinary spark fueled my desire to learn all about ingredients, origins of food, cooking techniques and the science behind food. I am truly fulfilled when I experience the emotion connected to those who eat my creations. I love creating a new (and often recalling an old) fond food memory to those whom I serve.
Q: Milwaukee is known for its rich culinary traditions, from classic bratwurst to iconic cheese curds. How do you incorporate local flavors and ingredients into your recipes?
A: MPL is, in my opinion, an unlimited hub of information...including its patrons. I develop the food programming concepts and recipes based on origin books and cookbooks as well as information shared from patrons. In particular, I connected one of the community meals I created, the Master Chef Challenge program, with local chefs who use flavors loved by Milwaukeeans, to battle for the winning title. I built the Snack Hack program curriculum to include classic Midwestern ingredients throughout its year-long series.
Q: Could you tell us more about the MPL Makerspace and the Snack Hacks program? What role do they play in your broader mission at MPL?
A: Mitchell Street Library’s Makerspace is a creatives concept located in the lower level. The Makerspace includes the Cargill Community Kitchen which provides the resources to execute food programming, such as Snack Hack. We now have two weekly series on Tuesdays: Snack Hack 2.0 from 12:00-1:00 pm (adult program) and Snack Hack: Kids Kitchen from 3:30-4:30 pm (school age/families/general interest). The Snack Hack series provides a lesson on a culinary and/or nutrition topic, a recipe ‘walk-through’, a cooking demonstration, and a snack. The curriculum I created is structured to teach the weekly lessons within a block system. There’s a total of 4 blocks and as each lesson builds on itself, attendees will learn how our bodies use food, the digestive system, the components of food, cooking techniques, and world cuisines. The Snack Hack programs were a foundation to accomplish the mission of ‘bridging the gap’. Since the pandemic, patron counts have dropped, and the goal has always been to bring community members back to MPL. I took this challenge and set my course forward with strong dedication to take what was started at Mitchell Street and revamp and restructure it by expanding and enriching food programming as a safe space for patrons to return to. Community members have a desire to connect with others and to learn...both of these are fundamentally woven in food programming. My only ‘push’ to attendees is encouraging them to read and take advantage of all the resources at MPL.
Q: Your Community Meals program has become a staple in the library. What inspired you to launch this initiative?
A: I wanted to elevate the concept of the former ‘Family Fun Night’ that was a part of food programming pre-pandemic. FFN was a monthly program that attracted all ages but focused on community members with children. This platform provided me the model to draw in a larger pool of patrons compared to the smaller attendee count of the weekly food programs. Taking a creative approach to what would interest community members on having a meal at the library versus at home or a restaurant was the birth of the community meals. I wanted to provide an avenue for fellowship, engaging activities/games and a comforting, authentic meal.
Q: You’ve mentioned before that food is about bringing people together. Could you share a story about a memorable moment or event where food created a meaningful connection?
A: A simply stated yet profound expression of a patron’s connection to food is when they shared that they chose Snack Hack as their self care. To me, this by far is the most meaningful connection where food has played an integral part in their overall wellbeing and sense of community.
Q: What advice would you give to someone looking to explore cooking at home, especially when working with seasonal ingredients or trying new flavors?
A: I recommend giving yourself grace and patience when growing your cooking skills. It takes understanding where you are with your level of knowledge and skill in making food and determining where you want to be. Use resources that will guide you in new areas of cooking, whether it be a different style of cuisine, an unfamiliar ingredient or even a piece of equipment or kitchen tool that could very well become your learning curve. Be open to learn, be open to make mistakes (some of the BEST recipes originated as mistakes!) and be open to stepping outside your comfort zone.
Q: If you could guest cook with anyone else in the kitchen, who would it be & why?
A: Hands down, Chef Carla Hall! She is an absolute inspiration to me in how she didn’t limit herself to being one dimensional. Her cooking style, personality and overall talent is admirable and naturally draws people in. Even though I would initially be nervous, Chef Carla’s personable spirit would calm my nerves, and we have a ball in the kitchen! It would be an awesome and heartfelt honor to cook alongside her.
Q: With so many unique food traditions in Milwaukee, what’s a recipe that holds a special place in your heart and you often recommend to others?
A: One of my all-time favorite recipes that’s also perfect for this season is White Chicken Chili. I love the earthy balance of cumin and the heat of the chilis. The comfort of seasoned chicken and freshness of cilantro pairs deliciously well with the crispy, salted tortilla strips as the garnish. I regularly emphasize ‘everything in moderation’ but one bowl of this creamy, rich White Chicken Chili is not enough!
Chef Sharrie’s Signature Recipe - White Chicken Chili
This hearty and comforting white chicken chili uses locally sourced ingredients to celebrate the flavors of the season & is one of Chef Sharrie’s signature recipes. Perfect for cozy nights or sharing with friends and family, this dish is a reflection of Sharrie’s approach to food – warm, nourishing, and flavorful!
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, cut into ½-inch cubes
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 (15.5 ounce) cans great Northern beans, rinsed and drained
1 (14.5 ounce) can chicken broth
2 (4 ounce) cans chopped green chiles or 2 fresh jalapenos, diced
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
1 cup sour cream
½ cup heavy whipping cream
Instructions:
Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add chicken, onion, and garlic; cook and stir until chicken is no longer pink in the center and juices run clear, 10 to 15 minutes.
Stir in beans, chicken broth, green chiles, salt, cumin, oregano, black pepper, and cayenne pepper; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until flavors have blended, about 30 minutes.
Remove chili from heat; stir in sour cream and whipping cream until incorporated.
Serve hot and enjoy!
To take this creamy white chicken chili over the top, serve each bowl with a dollop of sour cream and fresh jalapeno slices for a little extra heat. Tortilla strips or chips add a welcome crunch, if you have them on hand.
Store the creamy white chicken chili in a shallow, airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. Reheat on the stove or in the microwave.
Whether you're new to the MPL community or a regular at the library's food programming events, there's always something to savor. We kindly welcome our Milwaukee community to our FREE upcoming food programs!
Snack Hacks
Each Tuesday 12-1pm & 3:30-4:30pm, Mitchell Street Branch
Snack Hack explores the world of food through cooking demonstrations that focus on nutritional elements, food groups, cooking principles, and the history of food. Learn how food is grown, the cultural connections to what we eat, how food works in our bodies, and how to prepare meals at home, as well as the differences between vitamins and minerals, braising and sautéing, and fiber and protein. Snack Hack also reveals the culinary world through library resources. Attendees will have the opportunity to enjoy eating snacks created each week & all supplies are provided.
Explore Wisconsin’s Culinary Heritage at MPL
- Historic Recipe File
Many of Milwaukee’s favorite foods appear in the recipes in the Historic Recipe File. This collection provides a fascinating glimpse into the local and ethnic foods that were popular in Milwaukee from as long as 50 years ago.
- Books To Help You Cook!
Interested in exploring more about Wisconsin's food traditions? MPL’s extensive collection of cookbooks offers a deep dive into the state's culinary history. From classic supper club dishes to modern interpretations, the library collection has something for every foodie:
Wisconsin Supper Club Cookbook
The Flavor of Wisconsin
Milwaukee Food: A History of Cream City Cuisine
The Coincidence of Coconut Cake
Through her dedication to sharing the culinary arts, Chef Sharrie is a driving force behind MPL’s food programming. By blending education, culture, and community, she brings people together around the table in a way that nourishes both body and mind. Whether you’re a seasoned cook or someone who’s just beginning to explore the kitchen, there’s always something to discover at the Milwaukee Public Library.
We invite you to join us at our upcoming food programs, where Chef Sharrie and the Milwaukee Public Library team will continue to inspire, educate, and feed our passion for food!