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This week, we're excited to introduce you to James Beard finalist, Chef Justin Carlisle. Justin is the owner and driving force behind @ardentmke . If you haven't been to Ardent, you are missing out on one of the best dining experiences you will ever have. Chef Justin and his wife also own, @redlightramenmke and @thelaughingtacomke . Each restaurant offers authentic flavors that will have you coming back for me. ⠀ ⠀ What inspired you to open Ardent? ⠀ "Five years ago I opened Ardent as a small tasting menu restaurant. Not always the smartest thing to open first. A lot of it was a dream, also an ambition and I was getting to that age to do it and take a risk, or not do it." ⠀ What's your big dream for your Ardent? ⠀ "We have multiple businesses since opening Ardent, including Red Light Ramen, as well as my wife opening Laughing Taco. Hopefully the businesses will provide security for myself and my family later in life. At some point down the road, another dream is to be able to slowly hand over our businesses to partners and employees who have been with us. They can one day create their own visions because those people have helped make the restaurants what they are today."⠀ ⠀ What's your favorite thing about doing business in Milwaukee?⠀ "I like the size of Milwaukee, right around 600,000 people and I think a lot of people in our industry are moving to mid-sized cities. This is largely because it’s a lot more feasible to create the dream here. In Milwaukee, we’re still in a transition stage. I’ve seen it over the past 8 years I’ve been here. It is blue collar but also getting revitalized. It’s great to be a part of that change and giving the public more options." ⠀ Thank you, Chef Justin Carlisle for sharing your story! ⠀