MILWAUKEE — Chef Dan Jacobs has been busy since earning a top-three spot on season 21 of “Top Chef,” which featured many locations across Wisconsin.

He said being on the Bravo network cooking show was one of his longtime dreams. Jacobs credited all the people who supported him in his career with helping him fulfill it.

Now, he’s returning the favor by helping other chefs fulfill their dreams.

Jacobs invited Kitty Storey, 17, from Wauwatosa to come cook with him at one of his Milwaukee restaurants, EsterEv. Together, they filmed the 204th episode of Kitty Storey’s show, “Cooking with Kitty.”

Kitty Storey, who has Down syndrome and autism, has earned quite a following on YouTube with her show. 

“This is an inspiring thing to be able to do,” said Jacobs. “I have a lot of requests for my time, but this is one of the things I really wanted, because to me, this is what it’s all about. This is why I went on ‘Top Chef.’ This is why I do the things I do, because I want to be able to show that anybody can do anything.”

Kitty’s mom, Kim Storey, helps her daughter put the show together. She shoots and edits every episode. Kim Storey said having her daughter was the best thing that ever happened to her.

(Spectrum News 1/Wendy Strong)

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“How thankful I am that I get to be her mom, and that she was born to us,” she said.

Kim Storey said that her daughter was born prematurely, weighing only two pounds. She said the first time Kitty’s grandmother held her, she remembered her saying, “she’s just a baby kitty.” After that moment, the name stuck.

Kim and Kitty Storey started cooking together during the pandemic as part of a school assignment. It was a challenging time, as Kitty Storey’s school went entirely virtual. Kim Storey said she soon realized it was an opportunity to inspire and educate others by sharing the cooking segments.

“We’re doing it to give representation to people in the disability community, and a lot of people don’t realize that people with Down syndrome can also have autism,” she said.

(Spectrum News 1/Wendy Strong)

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Jacobs has a similar mission. He was diagnosed with the neuro-muscular disorder, Kennedy’s disease, eight years ago. Among the many challenges it presents, it affects the use of his arms and legs. It’s something he talked about on “Top Chef.”

“I love the idea of being a spokesperson, or somebody who inspires people who are differently abled,” he said. “It’s hard. None of this stuff is easy, like I wake up and I want to go back to bed. At the same time, you got to get up. You got to do what you got to do, because I do love this, and I love the fact that I’m inspiring other people.”

In his quest to inspire, Jacobs said he gets inspiration from Kitty Storey.

“Just her willingness to jump in and do anything, like I had her rolling out gnocchi. She takes instruction really well,” said Jacobs.

(Spectrum News 1/Wendy Strong)

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While filming the latest episode of “Cooking with Kitty,” Jacobs shared some advice with Kitty Storey and her mom.

“Don’t let anybody ever tell her no, that she can’t do something. Also, do what you love. Don’t do it just because you have to do it. Do it because you love it,” he said.

Highs in the mid 80s and sunny skies on Saturday!

We could see a couple of rain showers or thunderstorms in Northeast Wisconsin Saturday evening. No severe weather is expected.
This is due to a cold front draped over Northern Wisconsin. The front is also bringing some wildfire smoke to much of the Upper Midwest! This will cause minor impacts to Wisconsin – air quality could decrease.

Sunday comes with a chance for isolated showers across the neighborhoods with highs near 80 degrees.
Mostly Sunny conditions on Monday as highs climb into the low 80s.
A couple of rain showers and storms as we head into next week. Tuesday looks to have the best chance for widespread rain.

After a two-week break, we chug on with our positional Wisconsin Badgers Mr. Rushmores.

Today features a vitally important but recently star-deprived position: wide receiver. I suspect that this will create some robust discussions like running back, fullback, and quarterback did, so let’s get cracking.

Al Toon

I submit that there hasn’t been a Badger pass catcher in the history of the program as talented as 1995 UW Athletics Hall of Famer, Al Toon.

The two-time All-Big Ten first-team wide receiver was the complete package: size, speed, hands, and intangibles (not a bad arm, either), and left Madison for the Jets with then school records in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns.

The fact that concussions robbed him of realizing his full NFL potential after being taken No. 10 overall and making three Pro Bowls is sad, but the fact remains that Toon’s contributions to the Wisconsin program (including wide receiver Nick Toon) are unmatched by any other Badger wideout.

Pat Richter

I’m going to address the elephant in the room right away: Richter was technically a tight end, but the reality is that he played wide receiver for Wisconsin (and was formally called a wideout later during his NFL career). I even saved him for this Mt. Rushmore rather than putting him on my TE one.

Although I submit that Richter’s finest moment came in early 1990 as Athletic Director when he made a very special hire, he was also one hell of a wide receiver for the Badgers.

A three-sport (!) varsity guy for Wisconsin and 1991 school Hall of Famer, Richter did his finest work as a football wide receiver, where he was a two-time first-team All-American and went for 11 catches and 163 yards in a 1962 Rose Bowl loss to USC.

He then parlayed his Badger career into an eight-year NFL stint after being selected in the first round by Washington in 1963.

Richter has been a legendary figure in Madison for over 60 years and led the athletic department’s 1990s renaissance until he retired as AD in 2006. Just an absolute stud.

Lee Evans

This 2016 UW Athletics Hall of Fame member just did it all for Wisconsin.

His 3,468 yards and 27 touchdowns both still stand as school records, and he was part of one of the most iconic moments in program history in a 2003 upset of No. 1 Ohio State.

Evans still holds both of the top two single-season receiving yardage marks in program history. Not even a torn ACL in 2002 could derail his rising star, and Evans parlayed his Badger success into a solid eight-year NFL career where he retired with 6,008 yards and 43 touchdowns.

Fun fact: Evans once had 5 touchdowns in a single game vs Michigan State. For reference, six receiving touchdowns led the Badgers in 2023.

Brandon Williams

Here’s where things get really hard. Jared Abbredaris has a very good argument for this spot, but in the end, Williams just barely gets the nod for his pure production and consistency with a bit less talent around him than Abbredaris had.

Williams’ touchdown numbers (10) weren’t splashy, but he was an unrivaled chain mover and always seemed to make key grabs.

202 catches for almost 3,000 career yards over four seasons are just a testament to his value and consistency. He currently sits No. 3 all-time in receiving yards and is tied for No. 1 in catches in school history.

Just Missed: Abbredaris. He deserves his own tier and if this were a 5 man mountain, he’d be on it. This is the first Mt. Rushmore snub that I actually feel badly about.

Honorable Mentions: Chris Chambers, Tony Simmons, Lee DeRamus, Alex Erickson.