Just a few days before Christmas, Chef Ray and his business partner Cherry Phetleung gave our city a gift by welcoming their first guests to 1033 Omakase as part of its soft opening. The non-numerical part of the restaurant’s name means “I leave it up to you,” reflecting the control that diners turn over to the chef as part of their experience.

For this initial phase, 1033 Omakase will offer just three seatings per night Wednesday through Saturday, with a maximum of six guests per seating. The experience is $119 per person, and you can book your spot via Resy.

Moving from a new spot to an old favorite, Azhar Shah and his family reached out to the community this week with a plea to help Pakistani restaurant Shah Jee stay on its feet. Their goal is to raise $180,000 for operating costs and maintenance needs, so if you have the means to help a longstanding member of Milwaukee’s restaurant community, please head over to the fundraising page and give what you can.

We’ll wrap up this final installment before the holiday with a trio of dispatches from Ann’s desk at Milwaukee Magazine. First up is her glowing review of The Commodore, the newest jewel in The Bartolotta Restaurants’ culinary crown. The adjectives describing her experience should give you a sense of the place — “elegant,” “delectable” and  “revelational” among them.

We also have quick chats about two items you’ll only find in the pages of Milwaukee Magazine’s desserts issue: her interview with the pastry chefs from Ester Ev, and an instructional on how to poach a pear and make Creme an Glaise.