Here's what it's like to be a 'Top Chef' judge, according to 5 Milwaukee chefs and celebs

Rachel BernhardMilwaukee Journal SentinelRoughly halfway through Season 21 of “Top Chef,” viewers have been taken across Wisconsin, from the Mediterranean fine-dining spot Lupi & Iris in Milwaukee to the Cupola wedding barn in Oconomowoc to modern supper club The Harvey House in Madison.And as we’ve been introduced to these sites, we’ve met some unique Wisconsin characters along the way. Wisconsin cheesemakers were guests at the show’s first-ever cheese festival, a Miller rep lived the high life dining in the Historic Miller Caves, and a Frank Lloyd Wright preservationist welcomed the chefs to the iconic architect’s former home.But a handful of local chefs and celebrities also have been tapped to serve as guest judges to taste, judge and deliberate the food created in the competition. Being so close to the action for this once-in-a-lifetime event, they offer a unique perspective on what goes on behind the scenes and the impact “Top Chef” will have on the state as a whole. Starting with...